Salmon Arm
Around Salmon Arm
Photo: Phil Whitehouse from London, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · British Columbia · 19k people
Salmon Arm
Locals say Shuswap
A lake-lover's paradise in the heart of BC
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Welcome to the Shuswap, where the lake is your backyard and the mountains are your playground. Whether you're here for the houseboats, the orchards, or just the quiet pace, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors. Settle in, grab a slice of pie, and enjoy the view.
Clubs for Salmon Arm
No clubs for Salmon Arm yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Salmon Arm. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Salmon Arm. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Shuswap Lake The heart of the region, famous for houseboating and water sports.
- Mara Lake A quieter lake just south of Sicamous, perfect for swimming and fishing.
- Mount Begbie Iconic peak above Revelstoke, a symbol of the area.
- Revelstoke Mountain Resort Big-mountain skiing with the longest vertical drop in North America.
- Three Valley Gap A preserved ghost town and hotel along the Trans-Canada Highway.
- Enderby Cliffs Dramatic rock face with a popular hiking trail.
- Outdoors Houseboating on Shuswap Lake
- Outdoors Hiking the Enderby Cliffs
- With kids Visit Dutchmen Dairy for ice cream
- With kids Picnic at Canoe Beach
- Evenings Live music at the Salmar Theatre
- Evenings Après ski at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
- Locals love Houseboat marinas
- Locals love Orchard stands
Through the year
- Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival August August
- Salmon Arm Fair August August
- Revelstoke Winter Carnival February February
- Sicamous Days July July
- Enderby May Days May May
The Shuswap has a continental climate with warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The best time to be out is from June to September for lake fun, and December to March for winter sports. Best: Summer is perfect for lake activities, with warm days and cool evenings.
Talk like a local
- “the lake”
- Refers to Shuswap Lake, the central body of water.
- “houseboating”
- A verb for spending time on a houseboat.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Salmon Arm Silverbacks BCHL
- Revelstoke Grizzlies KIJHL
Eat and drink
- Apple pie Local orchards produce apples, a regional staple
- Cherry pie Cherries are another orchard favourite
- Local cider Shuswap cideries are known for their craft ciders
- Kokanee salmon Landlocked sockeye found in Shuswap Lake
- Dutchmen Dairy ice cream Local dairy in Sicamous, a regional treat
Where people go
- Lakefronts and marinas Shuswap Lake is the heart of the region
- Houseboat rentals A signature way to experience the lake
- Ski resorts Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a major draw
- Hiking trails Numerous trails in the mountains and forests
- Orchards and farmers markets Local produce and community gatherings
Heritage and traditions
The Shuswap region is proud of its stunning lake country, rich Secwepemc heritage, and a strong sense of community rooted in orchards, railway history, and outdoor adventure.
Say it like a local: “Arm” — A local term for the Shuswap Lake's many inlets.
Festivals
- Salmon Arm Art Walk July A summer event where local artists display works in downtown shops and galleries.
- Revelstoke Beer Festival September A fall celebration of craft beer from the region and beyond.
- Shuswap Lake Music Festival August A smaller community music event featuring local bands and folk acts.
- Enderby Heritage Days June A weekend of pioneer demonstrations and vintage displays in the historic downtown.
Landmarks with a story
- Revelstoke Railway Museum Housed in a restored CPR station, it tells the story of the railway that founded the town.
- R.J. Haney Heritage Village A living history museum in Salmon Arm with pioneer buildings and gardens.
- Three Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town A preserved ghost town with historic buildings from the early 1900s.
- Enderby and District Museum Displays local pioneer artifacts and First Nations history.
- Secwepemc pictographs at Shuswap Lake Ancient rock paintings on cliffs near the lake, sacred to the Secwepemc people.
Food traditions
- Huckleberry picking and pie Wild huckleberries grow in the mountains; locals pick them in late summer and bake them into pies.
- Smoked kokanee Kokanee salmon are caught in the lake and often smoked, a traditional way to preserve the catch.
- Apple cider pressing With many orchards, families press fresh cider in the fall, a harvest tradition.
- Dutchmen Dairy ice cream A local dairy that has served ice cream for decades, a summer treat.
- Farm-fresh eggs and produce Roadside stands sell eggs, vegetables, and fruit from local farms.
Music and arts
- Roots and Blues Festival A major summer music event in Salmon Arm, drawing folk and blues acts from across North America.
- Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre A venue for theatre, concerts, and community performances.
- Salmon Arm Art Gallery Showcases local and regional visual artists.
A little history
- Pre-contact Secwepemc people have lived in the Shuswap region for thousands of years.
- 1880s The Canadian Pacific Railway reached Revelstoke, sparking settlement and naming the town after a British financier.
- 1890s Salmon Arm was founded as an agricultural community, with orchards and farming.
- Early 1900s The orchard industry boomed, making the area famous for apples and cherries.
- 1970s–1980s The construction of the Revelstoke Dam brought hydroelectric power and jobs.
- Game day Junior hockey games
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Houseboating on Shuswap Lake
- Outdoors Hiking the Enderby Cliffs
- With kids Visiting the Revelstoke Railway Museum
- With kids Hiking the Enderby Cliffs
Residents speak with a standard Canadian accent, using terms like 'eh' and 'pop'. The name 'Shuswap' is pronounced 'SHOO-swap'. Locals often refer to the lake's arms and the surrounding mountains with a casual, outdoorsy vocabulary.
Only here
- Sicamous is known as the Houseboat Capital of Canada.
- The Salmon Arm Wharf is one of the longest wooden wharves in the world.
- Shuswap Lake has over 1,000 km of shoreline, with many secluded arms and bays.
- The name 'Shuswap' comes from the Secwepemc First Nations, meaning 'the land of the Shuswap'.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Shuswap' as 'SHOO-swap' – locals will appreciate it.
- Book houseboats well in advance if you plan to explore the lake in summer.
- Be prepared for cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers; always carry layers.
- In wildfire season (usually July–September), check air quality advisories before outdoor activities.
- Try the local apple cider and huckleberry pie – they're regional staples.
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Nearby
Every areaNorth OkanaganBritish ColumbiaWhere the Okanagan gets down to earth.VernonBritish ColumbiaLakeside living, orchard charmKamloopsBritish ColumbiaWhere rivers meet and champions play.Columbia-ShuswapBritish ColumbiaBig mountains, big lake, big skies.KelownaBritish ColumbiaSun-soaked shores and vineyard rows.South OkanaganBritish ColumbiaOrchards, vineyards, and warm desert lakes.PentictonBritish ColumbiaWhere sun-soaked orchards meet the lake's edgeNelsonBritish ColumbiaWhere mountains meet the lake and art thrives.
Salmon Arm. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.