Houseboating on
Shuswap Lake | Rare
is the vacation that offers it all, and houseboating on the Shuswap
Lake is one of the greatest vacations known to mankind. While cruising
along the 1,000 kilometres of shoreline at your leisure, pause at sandy beaches,
hike up to cascade waterfalls, or explore the many hiking trails accessible from
the lake shore. With 12 km of paved trails, Shuswap Lake may also be the cycling
capital of the BC Parks system. Enjoy the houseboat by day as a home
base for exploring, for water sports, swimming or fishing. By night, tie up in
a secluded cove, and while steaks are sizzling on the barbeque, you can fish from
the stern. As evening wears on, watch the moonlight reflecting on the water, as
dazzling stars appear. The possibilities are endless, the choice is yours, and
you are the Captain. Think about it! Most houseboaters are rental customers
who have come to the beautiful Shuswap Lakes for one relaxing week of fun in the
sun. The houseboat functions as a floating cottage, accommodating up to 20 people
in relative luxury, which can be moved to popular beaches, coves and parks dotted
around the lake's shores. Shuswap Lake is shaped like an addled H and
is made up of four large arms: the Shuswap Lake Main Arm, Salmon Arm, Anstey
Arm, and Seymour Arm. The product of glacial scouring, that also rounded the surrounding
Shuswap Highlands, all four arms converge at Cinnemousun Narrows, northeast of
Sicamous. Situated at the junction of the Shuswap and Mara Lakes in the
Eagle Valley, the community of Sicamous
is known as the Houseboat Capital of Canada, thanks to the more than three
hundred houseboats that are rented out annually from the marinas on Shuswap Lake.
One of the best places to begin exploring Shuswap Lake is at Sicamous, the service
centre for Shuswap Marine Park. Marinas and watercraft rentals are located here.
For a closer look at the lakes, book a passage on one of the three ferries operating
out of this little town, or book one of the houseboats that ply the sundrenched
waters of the Okanagan. In the heart of British Columbia's famous Shuswap
Lake recreation area is the town of Salmon
Arm, the Northern Gateway to the Okanagan. Nestled on the south shores of
Shuswap Lake, ideally situated mid way between Calgary and Vancouver, Salmon Arm
is the largest town in the Shuswap area. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains,
alpine meadows, rivers and forests on the east shore of Shuswap Lake, is the lakeside
vacation community of Sorrento. The
picturesque community has been a longtime holiday destination favoured by those
seeking something different. Sorrento is on the Trans Canada Hwy, approximately
28 kms west of Salmon Arm, and 80 kms east of Kamloops.
Shuswap Lake Provincial Park is wildly popular. Everything you need for summer
fun is right here: houseboating, camping, fishing, paddling, swimming, windsurfing,
water-skiing or just lazy drifting is the order of the day. The park is open in
the fall during the Adams River salmon run. Shuswap Lake Provincial Park is located
at the mouth of Scotch Creek on the north shore of Shuswap Lake. Take
a boat over to Copper Island, just a short ride from the shores of Shuswap
Lake Provincial Park. Copper Island offers 3 kilometres of winding trails that
circle the island, and a trail up to the summit (488 metres) that provides superb
vistas of Shuswap Lake. An impressive variety of plants and animal life are to
be found on Copper Island. Shuswap Lake Provincial
Marine Park is amongst the most popular boating and canoeing locations in
the Southern Interior. Houseboat mooring is prohibited on the beaches of Shuswap
Lake Provincial Park between May and September. However, there are many areas
for overnight mooring between St. Ives and Seymour Arm. Silver
Beach Provincial Park is located at the end of a long, gravel road at the
head of Seymour Arm on Shuswap Lake. Its size and distance from Hwy 1 keep many
visitors at bay. Check it out for yourself; it's worth it. This part of the lake
is blessed with sandy beaches. Houseboaters come here to get away from it all.
The park's forest setting is lovely - Douglas fir interwoven with aspen.
Paddle around the mouth of the Seymour River to watch the salmon spawn from
mid-August to mid-September. Also nearby are the remains of a gold-rush town.
Kamloops trout are a unique strain of trout that put on an eye-popping, acrobatic
performance for fly-fishers skilled enough to hook one. These wild rainbow trout,
native to central and south-central Interior regions of the province, are the
prize in Silver Beach Provincial Park. Herald
Provincial Park is also situated along the shore of Shuswap Lake, on Salmon
Arm. The park is very popular and fills up quickly during July and August. Campsites
are located both at lakeside and a short distance uphill in the cool forest. Swimming,
fishing, and bird-watching are the order of the day here. Herald offers some interesting
hiking, with two distinct geographical units (upland and flat delta) creating
great hiking terrain. There are also Native Indian pithouse depressions, or kekuli,
in the area west of the creek, as well as some old Native cache pits. The park,
situated on the grounds of an old homestead is worth visiting - there's a feeling
about the place as if you've come to visit your grandparents. Houseboating
in other regions of British Columbia Houseboating
on Cowichan Lake and Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island, BC Houseboating
on Powell Lake, Sunshine Coast, BC
Houseboating
on Shuswap Lake, The Okanagan, Similkameen, Shuswap BC |
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