Camping near Salmon Arm

Along the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) that crosses British Columbia from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies, Salmon Arm is set in BC’s Shuswap region east of Kamloops. One of four “arms” of Shuswap Lake, Salmon Arm is the area’s commercial hub. Several provincial parks, camping areas, and day-use beaches are set around the lake, where you can go hiking or boating, and you can stroll along the longest curved wooden inland wharf in North America. Campers can choose from full-service RV parks, with full hookups, firepits, washrooms, and picnic tables, with options for tenting, too.

Summer is peak season in Salmon Arm and the Shuswap region when families flock to the beaches and campgrounds around Shuswap Lake. As in many parts of Canada, fall is a good alternative, with mild weather into October. Spring weather is more variable, and from November through February, temperatures frequently drop below freezing, and snow is possible. You need winter tires or chains to drive the Trans-Canada Highway between October and March.

• While you can find big-box stores along the Trans-Canada Highway, detour into downtown Salmon Arm for more local shops and eateries. West of town, stop into family-run Grass Root Dairies, which makes several varieties of gouda cheese. 
• Another good place to pick up fresh produce and other food supplies is Salmon Arm’s all-organic Farmers Market. It runs every Wednesday from May through October and every second Wednesday November through April.
• To stay on the water, find a Salmon Area houseboat rental and cruise on Shuswap Lake.