Columbia-Shuswap: Lakes, Trails and Culture

Which location suits your plans depends on which of these places you want to visit. Before booking, compare the location of each hotel with the places you plan to visit.

Shorelines, swimming areas and lake access

Shuswap Lake Park has a one-kilometre-long sand and gravel beach with a swimming area marked by buoys. Canoeing is popular there. On Copper Island, also in Shuswap Lake Park, a 2.8-kilometre hiking trail runs through the area. The beach and the trail offer different ways to enjoy a stay by the lake.

Shannon Beach is a park owned by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, with more than 400 metres of shoreline on Shuswap Lake. Cambridge Road Lake Access is a separate site: this lake access point is in Swansea Point and is one of seven access points to Mara Lake. At White Lake, access via Hugh Road Community Park is along a very steep trail. Take this incline into account if you include the site in your plans.

Trails with different levels of difficulty

The Shannon Beach Trail Network includes four kilometres of hiking and cycling trails, along with two loop options. The Sicamous Creek Trails offer a different distance: a short, easy 0.5-kilometre hike through hemlock trees along Sicamous Creek. The trails have parking for 15 to 20 vehicles, a picnic table and a pit toilet. They are developed and maintained jointly by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the Shuswap Trail Alliance and the District of Sicamous.

These details help distinguish the trails by length and type of use: the Shannon Beach Trail Network offers hiking and cycling trails with loop options, while the short Sicamous Creek route is specifically described as easy. For a longer non-motorized connection, the Salmon River Parallel Trail was completed in 2019. It is 3.65 kilometres long and runs between Haines Road and Silver Creek Community Park for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Scotch Creek / Hlina Recreation Trail runs through the forest to viewpoints overlooking Shuswap Lake above Scotch Creek. Its first section reaches the Scotch Creek Lookout. The trail is currently closed due to wildfire damage. The Hlina Loop is a secondary wilderness route and requires experience with off-trail wilderness hiking and route finding.

Seasonal nature and culture

At Tsútswecw Park, a 26-kilometre trail network is used for hiking and mountain biking in summer, and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter. In October, visitors can experience the Adams River sockeye salmon run; the Adams River has one of the largest sockeye salmon runs in North America. The options therefore vary by season, without requiring a particular accommodation location or access to other destinations.

Tsútswecw Park also includes Shuswap cultural sites, including kekulis (pit houses), artifacts and pictographs. These cultural sites are strictly protected. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District has approximately 60 developed parks and 86 kilometres of trails in total; these figures provide an overview at the district-wide level.

Culture and a restaurant visit may also factor into your travel plans: the R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum in Salmon Arm lists a Children's Discovery Centre for the 2026 visitor season. Lunch is served at the museum's Sprig of Heather Restaurant, and the menu has been updated. Take the 2026 season details into account when planning.

Choose hotels based on your own destinations

Then match your hotel location to these destinations and check current access for planned visits. This is especially important for the Scotch Creek / Hlina Recreation Trail, which is currently closed due to wildfire damage.

Discover more destinations: Golden, Revelstoke, Fraser Valley, Squamish-Lillooet, Central Okanagan, Kootenay Boundary, Kitimat-Stikine, Metro Vancouver.

For the broader travel overview: British Columbia.