P34 Goldpan 14

SHUSWAP LAKE

Sunny summers see many vacationers making Shuswap Lake Park their destination. This water playground is popular alike with sunbathers and swimmers, fishers and boaters, naturalists and hikers. Because of this park’s popularity, and to avoid long waiting delays in summer, all sites are available for reservation.

All the sites are suitable for most modern camping units. Group camping area must be booked ahead of time. Campsite reservations are only accepted through discovercamping.ca. The park features, as well as its popular swimming beach, walking and biking trails, including a short self-guiding nature trail. All bikers must by law wear helmets, and all must stay on designated trails in order to avoid damage to natural areas.

Nearby Copper Island is part of Shuswap Lake Park, and features a 2.8 km scenic hiking trail to beautiful views over the lake. Please stay on the trail in order to preserve the fragile environment of this unique part of the park. Camping and campfires are not permitted on the island.

To access Shuswap Lake park from the west: travel on the Trans Canada Highway 10 km west of Chase, cross the Squilax Bridge and travel 18 km to Scotch Creek. The park is 1 km past this community on the north shore of Shuswap Lake. From the east: Squilax Bridge is 40 km west of Salmon Arm on the Trans Canada Highway. All roads to the park are paved.

SHUSWAP LAKE MARINE PARK

In British Columbia’s warm southern Interior lies Shuswap Lake with its sky-blue waters and miles of shoreline, with its sandy beaches and rocky headlands. The 26 individual park sites along its shores, together known as Shuswap Lake Marine Park, have been set aside to provide recreational opportunities for the boating public. Some of the sites are accessible by vehicle, all are accessible by boat. In spite of the number of visitors to this scenic lake each summer, a sense of peace is possible because of the size and shape of Shuswap Lake. There is opportunity to cruise an isolated shoreline, or to fish for Kamloops trout in a quiet secluded bay.

Popular with many families are the clean sandy beaches where safe swimming in warm shallow waters is at its best. Shuswap Lake itself takes the shape of a huge ‘H’ sprawling in deep valleys between the rounded mountains of the Shuswap Highlands. At the centre of the ‘H’ and bringing together its four “arms”, are the Cinnemousun Narrows, both shores of which are protected as parkland. The arms of the lake include the Main Arm, Salmon Arm in the south, Anstey Arm towards the east and Seymour Arm reaching into the north.

All Shuswap Marine parks extend into the lake 100 metres from the foreshore. If you plan to camp, moor, beach or dock your boat overnight, a permit must be purchased in advance from a marina, a tourist information centre, the Shuswap Lake Gatehouse, or at Cinnemousun Narrows or Silver Beach Park. If a campfire is in your plans, use only the designated fireplaces at developed sites, and bring your own firewood, or purchase it at Cinnemousun Narrows and Silver Beach Parks. Cutting of living or dead trees is strictly prohibited. Navagation Aids Number 26 BC Parks Visitors Guide 1-800-667-2179. Shuswap Lake gatehouse has camping permits for purchase. Bears are occasional visitors to many of the parks of Shuswap Lake. It is important that all food be completely inaccessible to bears, and all garbage safely stowed or taken to designated places for deposit.

The lake has a rich history of the people of the Shuswap Nation, evidence of which can be found in ochre pictographs painted on cliffs along the shore, and in the hollows left by winter pit homes that are still visible on some shores. All are protected by law from damage or removal. Caution: because of the size of this lake, waters can become quite rough during high winds. Please practise good boating safety at all times.ALBAS Albas Park is an ideal place to stay while exploring the northern end of Seymour Arm by vehicle or boat. A small camping area at the mouth of Blueberry Creek is situated in a young cedar/ hemlock forest, and is accessible only by water. The section of the park at Celista Creek is accessible by both road and water.

A 3 km trail begins at Steamboat Bay and follows Celesta Creek upstream, crosses the creek and then returns to the lake. It leads to the beautiful cascades of Celista Falls, and passes by interesting remnants of a bygone logging history. This trail is so popular that the impact of many hikers is doing much damage to a spectacular natural area. Please stay on the trail.

Albas is located on the west shore of Seymour Arm on Shuswap Lake, turn off the Trans Canada Highway at Squilax then drive 50 km east on a paved road then 27 km north on gravel. Serious injuries and deaths have occurred in this area — sharp drop-offs and fast water are hazardous. Use caution and supervise children closely.