Set on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake and the South Thompson River, and connected by water and road with Shuswap Lake, the focus is on the outdoors. But Chase offers historic and cultural attractions as well.
Nature is part of the fabric of Chase. In every direction mountains, forest and water dominate the view. Try fish spotting as millions of sockeye salmon swim right past the village on their way to the Adams River in spawning season. Look up at the mountainside south of town and there are the resident Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Birdwatchers get out the binoculars for sightings of ospreys, bald eagles feeding their young, and tundra and trumpeter swans that winter in the area. Within 30km/18.6mi of Chase, four provincial parks protect the region's natural heritage and provide a host of recreational options.
Water Activities
Lounge on the beach, swim in the warm waters of Little Shuswap Lake or take a stroll on the pier at Chase Memorial Park. Boaters can launch canoes, kayaks or motorboats in the same park or a couple of blocks away at Mill Park on the South Thompson River. Water-skiing, wakeboarding and windsurfing are popular on all the local lakes including Shuswap and Adams. Fish here as well or in the myriad small lakes in the surrounding highlands, which are also great for ice fishing. Thrill seekers strap on a helmet and life jacket and take to whitewater for a river rafting adventure on the Adams River.
Land Activities
The Shuswap people maintained well-developed trail systems throughout the region for thousands of years. Today, trails radiate from Chase in all directions, making use of forest pathways, old railway routes, active and abandoned logging roads, and cross-country ski trails. Hike to a waterfall, walk beside a river to view spawning sockeye, cycle through farmland, ride a horse into the forest or jack up the adrenaline on a guided mountain bike ride. For a little more tame adventure, smack a golf ball and follow it around the executive course in the heart of chase or the 18-hole championship course at the other end of Little Shuswap Lake.
Winter Activities
Many summertime hiking trails are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter, including the trails in Roderick Haig-Brown and Shuswap Lake provincial parks, although these trails are not groomed. The Skmana Cross Country Ski Club, only 14km/8.7mi from the village centre, maintains 15km/9.3mi of groomed and track-set trails fanning out from a small warming hut near Skmana Lake with challenges for novice to advanced skiers.
Conditions for snowmobiling are ideal in the highlands surrounding Chase with good powder, a season that reliably lasts from November to May and two distinct sledding areas with terrain suitable for beginners to experts.
History & the Arts
Local history is preserved in a pretty little white church that now serves as the Chase & District Museum & Archives. Read the exploits of the colourful New Yorker who became the town's namesake in the transcribed letters of Whitfield Chase. For a different kind of history lesson, take the 20-minute drive to Notch Hill and check out the car memorabilia, gas station fittings, farm machinery and assorted antiques collected at Jim's Ford Corral.
Artists and artisans thrive in Chase and the neighbouring North and South Shuswap regions. Drop into their studios and watch as they paint or create glassware, jewelry, pottery, leather goods and woodwork.
Shopping
Chase is a small village with limited shopping beyond the basics of groceries, pharmacy and hardware. Look for arts and gifts in unlikely places like a coffee shop. Friday evenings from late-May to mid-September, the farmers market is a good browsing ground with work by local artists and artisans and fresh produce in season.
Festivals & Events
Several festivals and events in and around Chase highlight culture, especially the culture of the three locals bands of the Shuswap First Nations, and nature. Top picks include:
- July: Native dancers and drummers gather from across North America to join in a celebration of the local traditions and for ceremonies and competitions. Bring a camera to capture the action and colour, try Native foods and shop for arts and crafts.
- August: The last Sunday in August join locals for a hometown Corn Festival. Hot buttered corn is the featured attraction along with Aboriginal bannock and salmon. This is a family event with lots of games and unique events like spoon throwing.
- October Every Fourth Year (2010, 2014...): Take part in the Salute to the Sockeye in dominant years of the Adams River Sockeye Salmon Run, when over two million fish return from the Pacific to spawn. Check out the information booths; view the fish and sample bannock from the food vendors.
Stop by the Chase Visitor Centre at 400 Shuswap Avenue for information and brochures.
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