If a holiday on or near water is your idea of heaven, then you must experience the Shuswap. This area in British Columbia’s Thompson Okanagan is renowned for its lakes and beaches, plus all the water-based activities you can imagine, including swimming, waterskiing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and houseboating.
Indeed, this area is so famed for its houseboat holidays that it’s known as the “Houseboat Capital of Canada.” Houseboats of all shapes and sizes ply Mara and Shuswap lakes all summer long.
Find out more about the Shuswap
Shuswap Facts
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The Shuswap encompasses the area around Shuswap Lake, from Falkland north to Seymour Arm, and from near Chase to east of Sicamous.
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The Shuswap’s largest community is Salmon Arm, home to one of North America's longest fishing piers.
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In addition to lakes, rivers and beaches, the area’s terrain consists of flat inland valleys, rolling hills and forest, set against the majestic backdrop of the Monashee Mountains.
Communities
Chase
Chase is located in the Shuswap Highlands, on the western shore of Shuswap Lake. Chase is a top spot in BC for freshwater fishing, house boating and winter sports.
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Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm sits on the edge of Shuswap Lake, one of BC’s most popular recreation destinations.
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Sicamous
Sicamous sits at the junction of Highway 97A and the Trans Canada Highway, on a narrow channel between Mara and Shuswap Lakes.
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Houseboating
You’re on a house, on a boat, on a lake, in the sun. How cool is that?
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H-shaped Shuswap Lake is best known as a houseboating destination and for its sandy beaches.
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Sicamous is the lake’s main houseboat terminus.
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Travel by houseboat around the lake and you’ll find yourself in marvellous Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park, which encompasses 26 sites at various lake points. Try some fishing or zip around on waterskis.
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Be sure to disembark from the houseboat to visit waterfalls, view ancient petroglyphs and appreciate the large, undeveloped marsh, all found along the shoreline.
Birdwatching
Lakes, marsh and grasses. This is birding paradise.
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The Shuswap Lake area supports more than 250 bird species, including great blue herons, ospreys and bald eagles.
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Catch sight of waterfowl, songbirds, flycatchers and finches at Riverfront Nature Park on the Eagle River.
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Salmon Arm Bay Nature Reserve is another excellent birding stop.
See Salmon Run
The Adams River hosts one of the largest, most spectacular sockeye runs in North America. Come see!
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Fish numbers swell significantly every four years, creating optimal viewing opportunities in the channel literally next to the park parking lot (2010 will be a dominant run).
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If you’ve a hankering for adventure, the river is also famed for its whitewater rafting.
Winter Activities
Crisp, clean air and trails galore. Yup, you’re in cross-country ski country.
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Larch Hills is a major cross-country ski area. Situated near Salmon Arm, it offers over 100 km (60 mi) of everything from classic trails to backcountry quests.
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Snowmobiling is also a serious sport here, with trails near Salmon Arm and Sicamous.