Shuswap Lake Marine Park
About this Park
Shuswap Marine is located around the perimeter of Shuswap Lake. It is comprised of 23 sites, all of which are popular for fishing and water sports. Hiking and nature study are popular at some sites. There are sites which are road accessible, but most are water-access only.
Facilities vary from nothing to three or four wilderness tenting sites with a pit toilet. Anglers should take note that Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish!
Shuswap Lake is shaped like an addled H, and is made up of four large arms:
- Shuswap Lake Main Arm
- Seymour Arm
- Anstey Arm
- Salmon Arm
The product of the glacial scouring that also rounded the surrounding Shuswap Highlands, all four arms converge at Cinnemousun Narrows, northeast of Sicamous.
Safety information
Boating
- While boating in the Shuswap, watch for buoys that may indicate divers in area, safe anchorage, or a swimming area where boats are not permitted.
- Please help to prevent the spread of Eurasian Water Milfoil by removing all weeds from your boat and motor before launching and after removing it from the lake.
- Some sites do not have protected beaches. In stormy weather, it is advisable to beach your boat stern-first, and secure it with long ropes from the bow to pegs on the shore. Houseboats should be beached according to instructions received from the rental companies.
- The lake can drop 5 to 10cm daily during the summer. Check your beached boat regularly, to avoid becoming stranded when camping for extended periods at parks with shallow beaches.
- Docks are provided in some areas for small craft only. Do not tie houseboats to these structures period May 15 to Labour Day.
- To report outages about Navigational Aids on Shuswap Lake, please call 1-800-667-2179
Fires and firewood
- Forest fire suppression is difficult in these remote areas. Use extra caution during windy periods. Please refrain from putting glass in fireplaces. Picnic tables can be protected by placing plywood or similar material under campstoves or hibachis.
Phones
- There are no public telephones at these small parks. There is cellular service in the area.
Special notes
Please respect other park users and the environment when visiting Shuswap Lake Marine Park. The below message for park users from BC Parks and the RCMP is intended to clarify what expectations marine park visitors should have. BC Parks is committed to providing quality nature-oriented recreation. We are endeavouring to ensure that all visitors can enjoy the marine parks.
- We are working to ensure that the ecological integrity of the parks is maintained, and that visitors can enjoy a safe and peaceful vacation in any of the 30 parks around the lake.
- Outdoor enthusiasts can expect a quiet holiday as the provincial parks are intended for nature-oriented recreation. People seeking a loud party atmosphere should look at alternative recreation destinations.
- Excessive noise is not permitted at any time. Please be considerate and observe the quiet time from 10pm to 7am.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in provincial parks, except within your campsite.
- Enjoy your visit but please leave the parks as you find them. Firewood must be obtained from one of the many outlets around the lake rather than gathered from the forest. Taking live or dead wood out of the forest removes nutrients needed by plants, insects and fungi that are essential elements of the ecosystem.
- Please be considerate of other people on the lake and treat the natural environment with care. Disturbance of other visitors, cutting of trees or burning of bush wood, and use of fireworks will not be tolerated in any of the marine parks. Violators will face fines and eviction and houseboat renters could well experience termination of their houseboat holiday.
If you observe others violating park regulations or other laws, contact the RCMP (911) with as much information as you can safely record.
We look forward to seeing you on the Shuswap and hope that your visit will be memorable.
Location notes
For sites accessible by water only, launch facilities are located throughout the Shuswap including at Shuswap Lake, Herald, and Mara Parks.
As well, privately-owned marinas and the towns of Sicamous, Chase, Salmon Arm and Canoe all have boat launches. The closest communities to the park are: Seymour Arm, Anglemont, Celista, Scotch Creek, Blind Bay, Eagle Bay, Sicamous, Mara Lake, Tappen, Sorrento, and Salmon Arm.
Activities
- 300:Hunting The discharge and carrying of firearms is permitted in this park for the purposes of hunting during open season. Please consult the BC Government Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information. Contact BC Parks at parkinfo@gov.bc.ca with any specific questions.
- 300:Hiking For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
- 300:Canoeing All water sports are popular at Shuswap Lake.
- 300:Swimming Please be careful when swimming, as most locations do not have designated swimming areas.
- 300:Fishing Shuswap Lake offers excellent recreational fishing opportunities for species such as rainbow, lake and bull trout, as well as kokanee, burbot and whitefish. Lake and rainbow trout can be up to 10 kg. Trolling for deep lurkers is the most popular technique.
- 300:Pets on leash Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
- 300:Waterskiing Waterskiing does occur on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.
- 300:Windsurfing Windsurfing does occur on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.
- 300:Scuba diving Scuba diving and snorkeling occur in Shuswap Lake. Please check with local dive operators for more information.
Facilities
- 300:Picnic areas This park has day-use and picnic areas. Beaches vary from sandy to rocky depending upon location. For location specific information please go to the 23 Locations web page.
- 300:Pit or flush toilets This park has pit toilets, but no flush toilets. For location specific information please go to the 23 Locations web page.
- 300:Boat launch Launch facilities are located throughout the Shuswap including at Shuswap Lake, Herald, and Mara Parks. Also, privately-owned marinas and the towns of Sicamous, Chase, Salmon Arm and Canoe all have boat launches. Transport Canada restricts all power-driven vessels to 10km per hour while operating within 30m of shore on all inland waters of British Columbia. There is an exception which permits vessels to travel perpendicularly away from the shoreline where a higher speed may be required to tow a skier, wakeboard, etc.
- 300:Campfires Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased at Cinnemousun Narrows Park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Location
51.22595, -118.97964 · Thompson Eastern Lakes
