Loving Life | 11 Awe-Inspiring Moments in the Shuswap
Panoramic Views from Tappen Bluffs of the golden and green pastures of Tappen Valley. Bastion Mountain, Tappen Bay and Salmon Arm Bay in the distance | Shuswap Adventure Girl
One thing I adore about living in the Shuswap is this common ground of the entire community that we ALL LOVE it and feel lucky to be here!
I am a long-time resident of this “best place on earth” community we get to call home. And I am SO proud of it. I am passionate about our area and I love that I am living my glory years here and that my kids are born and raised here. We moved to the Shuswap many years ago and my heart is always bursting at the seams. From the commute to school, to days on the lakes to our wild mountain adventures.
I was born and raised in the Yukon and I come from a very adventurous and interesting family, to say the least. I was brought into a life of being outdoors and it is where I feel my absolute best and most happy.
I’ve traveled to a lot of incredible, unique, and cultural places in my life and still, nothing gets my heart singing like these awe-inspiring moments I love to hold on to, in the Shuswap.
I hope this compilation finds you inspired, happy and sparks some magic within all of us to get out, live that life, and love the fleeting moments!
Mount Ida in all of her winter glory!
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hagan
The Shuswap
Nestled in the southern half of British Columbia’s interior lies the beautiful, natural & extraordinary region known as the Shuswap. From boating, paddling, swimming & beaching, to hiking, climbing & summiting, to exploring a boundless range of different terrains & landscapes, the Shuswap has an endless list of must-dos for all four seasons! Lakes, rivers, trails, cliffs, mountains, beaches, waterfalls, rain forests, woodlands, alpine meadows, forest roads, landforms, provincial, national & regional parks, the captivating Shuswap and surrounding area has it all. The locals are warm, open, and genuinely connected to the fulfilling environment in which they live.
We are SO lucky to live a life of great pleasure and endless adventure opportunities here!
Come and be inspired by what the incredible Shuswap has to offer us, every season, every step of the way!
Born and raised in the Shuswap, 2 of my 3 children doing what they love most!
Shuswap Adventure Girl
1. Alpen Glow | Natures Magical Happy Hour
Alpenglow is the moment right after the sun has set. The mountains are coated in a winter blanket of soft, illuminating, wonderous pink. The frosty trees and northern faces are aglow with delicate yet radiating, auroral light. THIS moment is incredible for it can make you stop your vehicle, stop yourself and be thankful for life! Those summits, in all their winters glory, are alive with deep, magnificent color.
Right after sunset, or right before sunrise, the winter skies fade through shades of indigo that are often called the "Blue Hour". Cold, clear, icy days offer the most majestic glimpse of nature’s spectacular show. Those highlands, and the tips of the Monashees, transforms into one of the most enchanting landscapes I know of!
Take the Hint: As the golden late-day sun sets in, make your way to a mountain-facing, waterfront spot, lookout, or peak. The illuminating Alpenglow is coming! In the South Shuswap, I love to go anywhere along Eagle Bay Road for the impressive show!
The Alpenglow of the Shuswap Highlands, Crowfoot and Pukeashun Mountain | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Alpenglow of Crowfoot taken from a beach along Eagle Bay Rd. | Shuswap Adventure Girl
2. Heaven | A Walk in the Clouds
This was the time we walked on clouds!
The morning in Blind Bay was foggy, socked in, grey and crisp but we were soaring above the clouds! The sunshine was gloriously beaming down on us! The thick white fluffy clouds below us looked like an ocean of cotton! The sky was brilliantly crystal blue and the smiles could not have been wiped from our faces! We had climbed into heaven on earth and it was a dazzling display to see!
We watched the clouds slowly dissipate before our eyes to reveal the gorgeous turquoise blue waters of White Lake below. The waters were so pristine and clear that day that the secret sunken islands beamed showily beneath the surface.
Once we got back down, and after talking with a few other friends I realized that we were up in the sunshine walking on clouds while everyone else was still in the grey fog of a day! Lucky us!
That week, every morning the sun peaked out from above the thick clouds in the same way and I knew it was going to be another magical day in the mountains.
Take the Hint: If you are up early and you see a low set, heavy cloud along mid-mountain and the sun shining to the peaks. Go to the peak! Some of my favorite trails for capturing this are the White Lake Lookout Trail, Sunnybrae Bluffs, Tappen Bluffs, or anywhere high on the North Shore, such as the Scotch Creek Lookout Trail! Get above those clouds and find that slice of heaven!
High above the clouds in White Lake | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Sunnybrae Bluffs is a perfect elevation when the clouds sit low | Shuswap Adventure Girl
3. Cotton Candy | Purple Mountains for Miles
At the end of the day, one of the best feelings is coming in on the boat after a fun-filled family day on the water. Everyone is gorgeously sunkissed and endlessly happy. For there were so many hours spent swimming, basking, beaching, tubing, boarding, laughing, and enjoying. The music is playing your favorite tunes and the sun is setting for yet another day. Life is so good.
The mountains in the Shuswap, in the summertime, at the end of those days, sunbaked and golden truly take my breath away! Anyone who has experienced the lavender luster has a true appreciation and fondness! The layers upon layers of the Shuswap Highlands and surrounding peaks are distant and noble and resonate within us.
It is like a painting, the foreground, midground, and background of shades of evening purples, enchanting hues of the summer heat, and vibrant mountain ranges are so romantic and extraordinary!
By early evening, the Shuswap transforms into one of the world’s most beautiful places on earth.
Take the Hint: Hit the boat on any given day and don’t come home until the last drop!
The layers upon layers of purple mountains
Evening enchantment on the Shuswap | Shuswap Adventure Girl
4. Take Me to Church | Notch Hills Littlest Love
Who doesn't love a good story? Take a scenic drive along the countryside in historic Notch Hill. The rustic farms, charming old homes, and notable landmarks tell a beautiful story of a once-bustling little railway town.
The adorable and dear Notch Hill Holy Cross Catholic Church sits simple and certain in the farmer’s field. Built-in 1922 and with no formal access other than by train track, the charming landmark songfully resonates with the core roots and heartbeat of the community. The bell tower is a symbol of the past times, and the sunshine casts an ethereal shadow across the distinguished land where the church humbly sits.
Appreciate the historic architecture, step back in time and see a different side of the story in the South Shuswap!
Take the Hint: If it’s a sunny morning or a crisp sunset, make your commute a little longer and take the Notch Hill Route. At the Notch Hill Community Park, you can walk the grounds and enjoy the sites of the original hall, which is one of the oldest in the Shuswap, as well as the Notch Hill School and Church. Kids love to watch the train coming through the fields from the hand-crafted viewing platform.
Notch Hill Church | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Notch Hill Church and late winter rainbow | Photo courtesy of Marina Davis
Notch Hill School | Shuswap Adventure Girl
5. Woodland Wonders | A Diversity of the Forests
With its diverse ecosystem, vast ranges of mountains, pristine waters, and endless
forest lands, the Shuswap is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the natural world!
Exploring all of the different biogeoclimatic zones of the Okanagan-Shuswap region would take a long time. But because of the relatively close overlap of several types of woodlands, you can spend a day marveling at all of the rich and diverse mosaics of forest cover.
We can be in an old-growth, majestic, dense, and towering rainforest filled with hemlock and giant cedars by morning, wandering in a dry, open, park-like ponderosa and douglas fir stands by afternoon and then be dancing with the broadleaf beauties like the trembling aspen and paper birch on the mountainside at dusk. And don’t forget to submerge yourself in the subalpine glory and marvel in the angelic wildflower meadows! This is nature’s purest harmony!
Take the hint: Hit the trails, climb that mountain, explore more!
I love this blog post by Mr. Jim Copperman on Shuswap Passion!
In Search of the Shuswap’s Most Significant Trees
Old growth forest, Eagle River Sicamous | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Valley of the golden larch, near White Lake BC | Shuswap Adventure Girl
6. Shuswap Storms | An Impressive Show
The tempest of nature….pure and mighty!
Shuswap Storms are like none other, they come multi-layered and they come fast. It’s a beautiful bluebird lake day, you cruise to the narrows and then you start to see the signs, the breeze picks up, the water starts to chop and the clouds roll over the mountains, and it’s Go Time! Or how about the evening time storms that have been brewing all day? There is a constant, low rumble of thunder in the skies, and soon comes the lightning, and wind! The natural forces are an exciting experience! Nothing beats a summer storm and watching one will absolutely humble you…wild and untoward, large and fine!
Take the hint: When we first moved to Shuswap and started boating, so many people talked and warned us about these wild and sometimes very unexpected storms. We learned many lessons along the way about knowing how to recognize the signs of a brewing beauty. Common sense prevails here but so does paying attention to the signs!
A Shuswap storm rolling in! Getting the boat into the marina safely! | Shuswap Adventure Girl
It WAS sunny only a few minutes prior! Storms brewing in the Shuswap | Shuswap Adventure Girl
7. Copper Island
Copper Island is one of the pride and joys of our Shuswap life. She is our only Island and she does it with enormous grace. She provides us with endless summer fun, a gathering place on the water, and a place to teach our kids how to respect and learn properly how to enjoy jumping off the rocks. The surrounding waters range from 140-170 feet and what lies beneath this beauty is what legends are made of, literally. We paddle around her, we cruise the boat around her, we hike her and most importantly, we have her in our lives every single day! And her magnificence always prevails.
One of the things I love about Copper Island is the ever-changing light that embraces her. The golds and coppers gleam in the sunshine. The beautiful ecosystem that lives there, provides nesting grounds for many species and a diverse, mixed forest for us to explore. Did you know that there is a rare lily that is said to only bloom on Copper Island? Or the tale of the mermaids? (maybe not as romantic as mermaids per se, but a story of human-headed, fish-taled creatures.)
The intriguing legend of Ta Lana the sleeping bear resides within our community and I love that my kids are growing up knowing it!
In the wintertime, she gleams like an angel, in the summer she is rich and boisterous with life on her and around her! In the spring, the island is the perfect place for a paddle and hike. And in the fall she is in her copper glory, slowing down and about to take on the cold, yet now calm waters of the lake.
There are many reasons that Copper Island is so special to us but to me, she is a steadfast and gentle symbol of the exquisite place we get to call home! She is awe-inspiring all on her own!
Beautiful evening in the Shuswap | Photo courtesy of Shuswap Business Solutions
The reflections of Copper Island | Photo courtesy of Shuswap Business Solutions
Copper Island glowing in the sunlight | Photo courtesy of Shuswap Business Solutions
8. The Morning Commute | Cruising in Style
By virtue, life here is a result of something amazing! Our world here is both peaceful and also the best kind of dramatic! Peaceful because it is so easy-going and slow-paced. I enjoy the fact that we leave our last red light nearly 30 km behind in Salmon Arm on our way home to Blind Bay! Dramatic lies within mother nature at her very finest! The daily commutes we have, are at the least, described (by me!) as staggering, magnificent, and spectacular!
I have three young kids and we drive from Blind Bay to Sorrento Elementary School daily, cruising beside the infamous and dynamic Shuswap Lake. The changing light on the Shuswap Highlands and the Admas Plateau offers something new every day. A place where dreams are made of and people long to be! The scenery we get to view each morning is amazing and I will, most mornings, pull the truck over to soak in that magic, whether we are late to school or not.
One thing is for sure, this Shuswap mom is never short on gratefulness on those early morning rides!
Take the hint: There is none, just get the kids to school but enjoy that journey!
The morning drive to school, taken from Pebble Beach in Blind Bay | Shuswap Adventure Girl
A frozen bay seen from our school bus stop in Blind Bay | Shuswap Adventure Girl
9. Night Hiking | Experience the Thrill
Keeping up with adventuring, exercise, and exploring in the winter comes with its challenges especially for people who love the outdoors. When the sun sets so early and temperatures drop, it can be too easy to cuddle up inside the log house, by the woodstove rather than gear up for an outdoor adventure. Especially a nighttime adventure!
It is a nighttime wonderland out there in the Shuswap! The evenings are clear and crisp, and it is oh-so-dark in rural lakeside. Come nightfall, another world emerges as the skies come alive with natural wonders! Just the far-off twinkle of Eagle Bay and the North Shore lights can be seen from Blind Bay, light pollution is next to nil. The channel marker near Copper Island steadfastly blinking. The lake is cold, calm, and clear, reflecting the darkest night sky. The mountains are in their majestic glory. On nights like this, when there are stars upon stars overhead, I dream of a night hike!
Take the Hint: Embrace nature's nightfall energy and escape to the darkness! Hit the trails at dark, turn that headlight off and revitalize the spirit under the blanket of stars!
Night Hiking | Photo courtesy of Pamela
Night Hiking, looking out over Blind Bay | Photo courtesy of Pamela
10. Chasing the Sun | A Mid-Summers Night Dream
Living on a lake is a spirited place to call home, alive with adventure and natural wonder. In all directions, you’re surrounded by strikingly beautiful mountains and waterscapes as far as the eye can see. It fills the soul! We love to chase that warm southern sun and endless summer fun!
Shuswap Lake boasts some of the most beautiful beaches. There are 23 marine campgrounds comprised within the Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park, most boat access only.
The Lake consists of four arms, Salmon Arm, Shuswap Arm, Anstey Arm, and Seymour Arm. Each arm of the lake offers many different beaches and unforgettable destinations!
Whether it be on the boat or by car, you can experience the splendors of the alluring evening sun. The final and beautiful moments, sandy and sunbaked! Pack the family, pick a beach and soak in the rays!
Take the hint: We love having a family hotdog roast on a beach and watching the sun go down, turn on the twinkle lights in the boat, and cruise back into the “city lights” of Blind Bay!
Marine Camping up Seymour Arm | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Chasing the sun for evening fun | Shuswap Adventure Girl
11. On Top of the World | Views Forever
If you’re into heart-altering, far-reaching views and vistas forever then look no further! There are so many noteworthy, unusual, exciting, and daring experiences close to home that will certainly fill that adventure bucket! Fantastic places such as the varying vantage point bluffs, landmark lookouts, eagle eye cliffs, and snowscape summits encompass the Shuswap region.
The infamous peaks of the highlands: Crowfoot Mountain and Pukeashun Mountain are loyally surrounding you. The Monashees adorn you! Stunning views and an outstanding landscape greet you at every corner, whether it be a beautiful spot to take in the mountain air or a place to sit quietly and contemplate, the enchantment of the mountain expanse will delight your heart.
Take the hint: Hiking plateaus and viewpoints are accessible and an inexpensive way to experience this splendor. This summer we are planning to journey and discover the old fire lookouts of this area and surrounding areas, for they have the best standpoint
Enderby Cliffs | Shuswap Adventure Girl
McArthur Heights lookout of Copper Island and the North Shore | Shuswap Adventure Girl
Life is yours to discover!
It is full of small, tiny, beautiful things, let it rest in these days!
The Adams River
