Stroll the Shuswap | A Guide To Wonderful Winter Walks!
This is Me! in one of the many enchanting forests of the Shuswap
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Walking in a winter wonderland….sounds like a mid-winter dream to me! And it is!
We are so fortunate to enjoy such an array of hidden gems, spectacular scenery, and local secrets right at our frosty fingertips.
Bundle up this holiday season for a wonderful winter walk! Enjoy a comfortable, easy pace while connecting to nature and your loved ones (or connect to yourself!). What better way to enjoy the stillness of the winter landscape…the frosty lake, the dusted mountains, the evergreen canopies, or the sound of the snow crunching underfoot. Find those moments of magic.
Come and be inspired by a few of our Favorite Winter Walks to do this holiday season!
Happy cold weather exploring everyone!
Beautiful Blind Bay, B.C.
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Copper Island on a winters morning | Shuswap Lake
Shuswap Adventure Girl
Sicamous B.C. |
Eagle River Nature Trail
Eagle River Nature Trail is truly a Shuswap GEM! We were in absolute awe of the enormous and majestic cedar trees. The old-growth stands of the Cottonwoods, Hemlock, and Cedars will knock your wool socks off!
This is an easy, super enjoyable, family-friendly, flat pathway with a series of well-marked loop trails. There are 6 kilometers of trails along the banks of the Eagle River. The Eagle River flows into Shuswap Lake and is an important spawning habitat for sockeye, coho, and chinook salmon. You can watch for the Salmon here in the fall!
As a family, We spent about 2.5 hours of loving life and enjoying every second in this beautiful and ancient forest. There are remnants of logging from the 1920s and 1930s here, where ginormous cedars were cut down, and now have become nurse stumps (feeding and giving life to the new growth). There are some charming boardwalks and bridges and interpretive signage throughout. We loved the views and the opportunities to explore the colorful Eagle River and the little pond. We went in mid-December and there wasn’t too much snow, I have spoken to locals and this is a well-used walking destination that will be fairly packed down even with more snowfall. I believe that this would be an incredible snowshoe trek and I can’t wait to head back!
You can also make this a doubleheader winter walk and do the trails of Yard Creek Park on the same day.
A Shuswap winter must-do! Live More in Sicamous!
Explore More Local Walks Here:
Sicamous Beach Park | A beautiful waterfront community beach park. There is a great playground here and an incredible beach called Silver Sands that you can walk for miles and miles! Follow the footpath under the bridge to ‘The Main Street Landing’ which is located at the traffic circle and offers a great paved waterfront path to stroll along and take in the water and marine views.
Salmon Arm, B.C. |
Waterfront Raven Trail & Christmas Island
Salmon Arm boasts a lot of things, it is one of the prettiest towns I know! Its inter-city trails and parks are really fantastic and provide us with so many options to choose from. I love to include a nature walk on my town days and one of my favorites is the Waterfront Raven Trail and Christmas Island.
This is an easy, multi-use, multi-season, wildlife viewing trail through an incredible wetland sanctuary. It has beautiful wooden boardwalks and viewing platforms, with over 200 species of birds to watch! You can also head back along the Waterfront Trail and explore Salmon Arms’ famous Wharf. Explore more in the Salmon Arm wetlands!
The Salmon Arm Foreshore Walking Map: Click Here
Please note: There are rules surrounding dogs on the trail. Please read here Click Here
Explore More Local Walks Here:
McGuire Lake | In the heart of Salmon Arm, a stroller and wheelchair accessible paved path, looping a pretty little lake with the beloved water fountain in the middle. This a great family stroll and a place for littles to explore!
Parkhill Way | An easy to moderate, family-friendly loop trail system which wanders through a thick and rich forest of Hemlock and Cedar. Also, enjoy views of Shuswap Lake and Bastion Mountain from its viewpoints!
Little Mountain | A great trail system to add to your day of shopping or errand running for a little connection to nature. It has a variety of short and easy intertwining trails through a Cedar, Larch, and Pine woodland and is good for all skill levels.
Salmon Arm, B.C. |
The Salmon Arm Walkabout
Explore the historic side of Salmon Arm! The R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum have released a walking tour map showing how Salmon Arm was nearly 100 years ago. There are a total of 38 landmarks on the map with historical information on each of the buildings connecting to the map. I truly believe that this should become a full walking, guided tour! I have learned SO much on this adventure and I loved it! Grab a coffee and enjoy a cold-weather winter learning experience in beautiful Salmon Arm!
The full map and information sheet is available on the Salmon Arm museum’s website.
Click Here
Eagle Bay | Blind Bay
Wild Rose Bay | The Moss Walk
A short, forested walk down to the water, which features an excellent waterfront spot for exploring and spending the day! Spend a bluebird winter’s morning on a scenic drive along the lake to the end of Eagle Bay Road. The trailhead is easy to find and the trail is well established.
This forested path leads you through a rich and lush canopy of evergreen trees, dusted in snow. The Moss Walk is an additional lakeside loop trail, as its name implies, it is an abundance of incredible mosses draping the rocky outcrops and rock faces and is not to be missed! We were all in awe of this trail’s natural beauty! This is an excellent four-season trail. If Conditions allow, try your hand at snowshoeing here! On the beach, cozy up, breathe in the crisp lake air and enjoy the quietness and spectacular scenery.
Explore More Local Walks Here:
Rocky Martinson Park | Eagle Bay | This is an easy, family-friendly loop trail on an old road that takes you past an old historic root cellar. It is a great walking addition to your day at WildRose Bay.
Rocky Point Road Community Park | Eagle Bay | One of our top favorite community beaches, especially in the wintertime! Take a stroll along the rocky shores, enjoy the splendid views of Copper Island, and breathe in that crisp lake air! A perfect place to watch an early winter’s sunset!
Balmoral Trail System | Blind Bay | Located near the Village Grocer in Blind Bay, the Balmoral Trail System is a great family place to connect with nature, walk a short loop, and learn about different trees and shrubs through the interpretive signage. The Balmoral Bluffs viewpoint is easy to reach and provides a great view of Blind Bays neighborhood. It is wonderful for all seasons, including snowshoeing in the wintertime!
Sunnybrae & Tappen Valley |
Herald Provincial Park & Margaret Falls
Walkthrough the winter wonderland and snow-frosted forest in one of South Shuswap's favorite family destinations. Margaret Falls is a majestic canyon walk through the Reinecker Gorge that boasts high vertical living walls, incredible moss-covered rocks, and charming wooden bridges, it feels like somewhere out of a fairytale! Rich and lush old-growth forest adorn this lovely pathway. In the wintertime, the waterfall may be frozen and is a magical sight to see!
There is an abundance to see along this trail and is one of the best little family spots! It is stroller friendly and easy to walk. A perfect winter adventure for the whole family and a must-do this winter season!
Chase, B.C. |
Chase Creek Falls
Chase Creek falls is a very easy, half-hour return walk to an impressive and beautiful waterfall! The canyon walls towering above are also something to see and bighorn sheep can be viewed here! The short walk boasts loud, thundering water, interesting rock faces and there is even a cave! You can also make this walk longer if you please by adding the Scatchard Mountain Switchback Trail. This is a historic trail up the old road and the first viewpoint, overlooking Chase and the Canyon is only 1 km up the trail. The rock walls, wide-open pathway, and amazing views make this a local favorite! The base of this trail system has a great map and pamphlets to take to help guide you along.
Did You Know?
Chase, B.C. is located at the only water outlet of Shuswap Lake and is the headwater of the South Thompson River. The South Thompson joins the North Thompson River near Kamloops and together they form the beautiful turquoise colored Thompson River. The Thompson River is the largest tributary to the Mighty Fraser near Lytton B.C.
Chase Creek, flows into the South Thompson just below the lake’s outlet. The beautiful little creek flows over three waterfalls in the canyon before flowing through the village of Chase and there are plenty of creekside walks within the village proper.
Explore More Local Walks Here:
Heritage Walk Chase | You can visit the Chase Museum or Chamber Visitor Centre for an interpretive pamphlet written by local historian, David Lepsoe. There is a self-guided walking tour, exploring the village of Chase and all of the charming, historic buildings that are still standing. Chase has historic roots, dating back to 1908 as a lumber town since the time of the Adams River Lumber Company.
North Shuswap |
Quaaout Lodge Grounds | Little Shuswap Lake
Nestled along the shores of Little Shuswap Lake sits, with beautiful pride, the awe-inspiring Quaaout lodge. Its architectural beauty and sprawling forested land have you falling in love at first sight! (well, at least I did). Park the car and take an unforgettable stroll around the grounds. Here you will find some interesting features such as a traditional Kekuli, also known as a “Winterhome”. You can call ahead and book a fireside storytelling experience in the Kekuli. There is also a salmon smokehouse, and interpretive signs throughout. Take a long walk on a winter’s beach along the shores of Little Shuswap Lake. And if this isn’t enough, there is a great paved walking path alongside the road you drove in on! A truly unique experience in the North Shuswap!
Explore More Local Walks Here:
Tsútswecw Provincial Park (Roderick Haig-Brown) | located between Adams Lake and Shuswap Lake. This trail system is well marked, easily navigated, and provides light routes to wander around and enjoy the beautiful scenery amongst the forest settings and gorgeous canopies. If the conditions are favorable, try snowshoeing here along the picturesque Adams River.
Tsútswecw Provincial Park | Upper & Lower Bear Creek Flume Trail
This is a historic trail and a local favorite! The flumes were built by the Adams River Lumber Company to transport logs and the two trails, which are separated by the road tell this fascinating story!
