Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO)

The access road to this place is a two-way mountain road with breathtaking views. It is located between Osoyoos and Penticton but around 15 min longer than main road (Hwy 97). If you interested to physics or astronomy, you must see this site when you are in this area. To prevent signal interfere, all mobile phones should be turn off when enter to this facility. This is a reson that I don't have any photos from inside this location. Wendel, who was working there for 25 years explained enthusiastically all details about basic of the physics and astronomy. Sometimes those information had too much details that made people with less related knowledge tired!!This facility is open for public only at weekend. Park your car in visitor parking and walk in through the gate for 10 min or less to get into visitor center, where they will welcome you.

This place needs to be visited more. Turn off your cellphones prior to arriving as it interferes with the amazing work they are doing here but everyone there is wonderful and friendly. We had Tim lead our tour who is an astrophysicist and it was very impressive. Highly recommend this little gem of a place to visit and learn about space, the universe, and science.

Beautiful area (driving around here is incredible) but unfortunately the facility is closed to the public at the moment.

Something you don't come across every day. Come on the weekend if you want to have a guided tour. The guides a mostly volunteers, and our guide was a high-school student with the good knowledge of the matter.

Have never been on a tour yet , but I know it has a very interesting purpose and history .If you want a hike , park at the far end of the lake ,towards Oliver, at the info booth ,and walk the road towards the facilities, then follow the trails along the fence all the way to the back . It designated park land..What an incredible view ..You can stand at the end of the km long series of five or six rows of telephone poles ...very trippy.....peace

It was beyond fabulous.The staff we so helpful and full f so much interesting information, I was truly over whelmed.The passion that the scientist had in his work and sharing all his information was wonderful to be apart of.True passion for his work and such pride for the work he was involved in.

We decided after several times over a very long period of time passing by here, that we would stop and check this out.We walk in and check out the visitors centre, and have an employee come out and offer to give us a tour. He says it will take about an hour. We agree and start the tour, and more people start showing up that are willing to join the tour.Well 2.5 hrs later and only 2/3 of the way through the tour we had to excuse ourselves, after others did the same.So if you have an entire day or good part of a day to kill be taught as if in University and not have an actual tour" of the facility and see what they do there

We were fortunate enough to arrive at the observatory right at the start of a tour. It was a fantastic experience - Wendall did a great job of keeping the level just right for the kids in the crows while providing deeper explanations for the adults geeks in the group. Our tax dollars are being very well spent indeed - who knew the Canada is the world leader in solar weather data?

While not a tonne to interact with for kids (or hands adults like me!), the place is super special and really cool technology out there. Interesting history too. Wendell was very knowledgeable and encouraged to talk to us about anything! I will say, with a few more interactive displays, this place could be a major science tourism attraction.

Cool place to visit. Pretty sure they're hiding aliens in there, but can't prove it. Volunteers provide good tours. Worth the drive if you're into space stuff.Be careful not to pick up short greenish hitchhikers around there, they might be escaping the facility.