Shuswap Lake Provincial Park

Shuswap Lake Provincial Park was established in 1956. It is located on the sunny northern shore of Shuswap Lake in British Columbia and is one of the most popular parks in the BC park system.

The park is named  after the Shuswap Indigenous Peoples – the Secwepemc – a Salish Nation made up of 17 Indigenous bands . 

Site Review:

• There are over 330 sites at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park. Most of the sites are unserviced but in the Char Lane and Whitefish Lane campground areas there are some sites serviced with electricity. (Sites #1-19 and sites #23-37 are serviced sites.)
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  There are also 44 double camping sites for those camping with friends or larger family groups.
• There are no pull-thru sites.
• Most sites offer shade throughout the day.
• The ground cover is dirt.
• The site pads are mostly level requiring little adjustment.
• All sites have a picnic table and a fire ring. You should note that the picnic table is made with concrete and is adhered to a cement pad and is not movable.

Comfort Stations:

There are small comfort stations with flush toilets and running water located throughout the park.There is a shower house located in the Char Lane campground area and also one at the end of Sockeye Lane.The shower houses have private shower stalls providing free hot showers.

We stayed on site #14 when we visited Shuswap Lake.

Dump Station/Potable Water:

The park provides a trailer sanitation dump station. It is located near the entrance to the park. There is a sani-station fee of $5 per discharge.You can fill with potable water at the Sani-station.  In addition, in the campground section, there is another trailer fill station where you can fill with potable water.There are numerous cold water taps  located throughout the park as well.

Things to Do:

Hiking:

There are several “walking trails” throughout the park. None are what I would call “hiking” trails. On Copper Island (the island in the middle of Shuswap Lake)  there is a 2.8km trail around the island. The island is accessible only by boat.

Swimming:

There is a 1km sand and pebble beachThe lake is the heart of the park and the beach is an excellent way to enjoy it. In the summer months the water temperature is very inviting for swimmers. There are no lifeguards on duty

Canoeing/Kayaking

Canoeing and kayaking are popular activities at Shuswap Lake. It is a big lake so be mindful of changing wind and weather conditions. Boat, canoe and jet ski rentals are available from local businesses.The park rents kayaks seasonly from a hut located near the beach.Kayaking to Cooper Island and then exploring the island on foot is a popular activity.

Fishing:

Shuswap Lake offers excellent recreational fishing opportunities;  species such as Lake trout, Kokanee and Whitefish are plentiful. Licenses and bait can be purchased locally. There are some additional rules for fishing at Shuswap Lake. Refer to the British Columbia Fishing regulations for limits, closures, and restrictions.

Biking:

The campground roads are paved and nice for cycling. You should note that bicycle helmets are mandatory in BC. There is a gravel trail around the perimetre of the park that is multi-use and is shared by pedestrians as well as cyclists.The public road outside of the campground is flat and has a wide shoulder for cycling.

Boating:

There is a paved boat launch as well as truck/trailer parking. There is no limit to boat size. The parking is free, however overnight parking is not permitted.By all accounts Shuswap Lake Provincial Park is a popular  park. It gets very busy in the summer months. There are signs located near the boat ramp that direct how to prepare and launch your boat so as not to create an unnecessary delay. The lines get long during busy times.

Things to Know:

1. Pets are permitted at Shuswap Lake, but there are restrictions. Pets are not permitted at the beach or on the beach trail. There is however, a pet beach. I like the idea of pet beaches but unfortunately what typically happens is that people want to bring their dogs with them to enjoy a beach day and since their pet is not permitted at the main beach, they then set up with full beach gear (umbrellas, coolers, shade tents etc.) at the pet beach and since the pet beach is usually not that large, it becomes crowded and busy. This restricts people who just want to throw a few sticks for their dogs to catch and cool off. 
2. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am.
3. You can learn about the natural and cultural history of the park at the Nature House, the park’s interpretive centre. You can purchase ice there as well.
4. There is a store loctated across the road from the park entrance where you can purchase forgotten items.
5. There is a fee to use the trailer sanitation dump station. Coins only.

IMO:

We really enjoyed Shuswap Lake Provincial Park. We visited in early May and had no problem getting a site with electric service,  however visiting in the summer would be another story. It is highly recommended that you book in advance. The park is well maintained and the sites are nicely appointed. I have rarely come across fees being charged for dumping your RV sanitation tanks, however the cost isn’t exorbitant and since the camping fees are quite low ($22- $32 a night) the dumping charge doesn’t seem unreasonable. The lake is pristine and suitable for all water based fun. I would definitely recommend Shuswap Lake Provincial Park as an RV Place to Go!