# Sicamous

Sicamous is a town of 2,400 people (2011) in Shuswap region of British Columbia. It is at the eastern end of Shuswap Lake and is known as the Houseboat Capital of Canada.

## Understand

"Sicamous" is an adaptation of a Shuswap language word meaning "river circling mountains".

### History

In the 1800s, Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indigenous nation called the Secwepemc or Shuswap. They crossed the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos".
In 1864, gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend Gold Rush. In 1885, permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie, which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were families from Finland. Old Town, or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes such as sledding, houseboating, hiking, swimming, and biking.
Later, in the early 1900s, CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail were built in 1892, adding a post office in 1904. The first school opened around 1908.

## Get in

The town is at the junction of Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and BC Highway 97A. Driving from Vancouver, it is a little past the half-way point to Calgary.

### By bus

* Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Multiple days per week service along the Trans-Canada Highway from between Calgary and Vancouver with stops in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Chase, Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. In Salmon Arm, this service provider offers some trips with timed connections with its route between Salmon Arm and Kelowna. In Calgary, this service provider has routes that reach Edmonton. The service provider also has routes that allow travel as far east as Winnipeg. (updated Mar 2022)

## Get around

Sicamous is directly around the Trans-Canada Highway, and so travelling by car is the best way to get anywhere. If you want to see the lake, the best way is by boat. It is an excellent idea to hire a houseboat and travel around the lake, or if you are short on time, hiring a speedboat is always a fun and quick way to admire the scenery of the hills and lake. There are even 2 stores in the middle of the lake in the summer for supplies.

## See

* 50.839669-118.9600891 D Dutchmen Dairy, 1321 Maeir Road, ☏ +1 250-836-4304, info@dutchmendairy.ca. Farm fresh dairy store and zoo of exotic animals including llamas, donkeys, goats and exotic birds, as well as the calf barn, milking parlour and cheese making plant which tourists can enjoy. The dairy store has served millions of old-fashioned ice cream cones in an array of flavours. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.9753-118.7242 The Last Spike, Trans-Canada Highway, Craigellachie (25 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1). Gift shop and info center open May-Oct. A plaque and display commemorate the site where the last spike in the Canadian Pacific (trans-continental) railway was hammered in. (updated Jun 2019)

## Do

* Explore and hang out on a houseboat (see "Sleep" section), as Sicamous is a major destination for houseboating.

### Beaches
#### Mara Lake

* 50.808055-118.9749971 Cartier Beach, Cartier Road (at the end of Cartier Road in the Two Mile subdivision). A sandy oasis tucked in a residential area. Small and intimate. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.724167-119.0344442 Mara Provincial Park (15 km south of Sicamous on Hwy 97A). A day-use provincial park, the park is open with services from May 1 to September 27. Mara Provincial Park is dedicated to intensive recreation, providing opportunities for public recreation access and use of Mara Lake, with emphasis on swimming, picnicking and boat launching. Mara Provincial Park provides good sandy beaches and the only major public access and boat launch on Mara Lake. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.805294-118.9746193 Two Mile Beach, Tecumseh Avenue (at the end of Tecumseh Avenue in the Two Mile subdivision). A quiet beach that highlights amazing sunsets, a lighthouse and Hyde Mountain Golf Course. (updated Jun 2019)

#### Shuswap Lake

* 50.836571-118.9934034 Silver Sands Beach (Sicamous Beach Park), Finlayson Street (in Beach Park at the west end of Finlayson Street). A beautiful sandy beach with a designated swim area. Enjoy the playground, splash water park, picnic tables, volleyball court and washrooms. The perfect place to play or relax while watching the boats head up the lake or wave to the train conductors as they pass by. Parking's available on Finlayson St; there is also parking along Silver Sands Rd. (updated Jun 2019)

### Golf

* 50.847201-118.9535485 Eagle River Golf & Country Club, 1450 Husky Frontage Road (east end of Sicamous along the Trans-Canada Hwy), ☏ +1 250-836-4454, toll-free: +1-800-897-2281. A 9-hole golf course. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.808568-118.9972666 Hyde Mountain of Mara Lake Golf Course, 9851 Old Spallumcheen Road, ☏ +1 250-836-4653, info@hydemountain.com. An 18-hole golf course overlooking Mara Lake. (updated Jun 2019)

### Go-karts

* 50.841845-118.9579647 Kelly's Go-karts, 1230 Titus Road, ☏ +1 250-836-5594, rickw.max@hotmail.com. Go-karts, for all ages. (updated Jun 2019)

## Buy

Shops include Askew's (a general grocery store), Beach Chic (a clothing store), BC Liquor Store, Brothers liquor store, Moose Mulligans liquor store, IDA pharmacy, and a furnishings and souvenir shop.

## Eat

* 50.838339-118.9710121 Joe Schmucks RoadHouse, 734 Trans-Canada Highway, ☏ +1 250-836-4906. 8AM-9PM daily. Family friendly, fully licensed restaurant has fresh homemade meals, daily specials, great service and a cozy atmosphere. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.836675-118.9768282 G&G's Kitchen and Taps, 1133 Eagle Pass Way (near Hwy 1 & Hwy 97A), ☏ +1 250-836-2713. Su-Th 6AM-9PM; F Sa 6AM-10PM. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; breakfast served until 2PM; pizza and pasta served after 2PM. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.833967-118.9910363 Moose Mulligans Public Eatery, 1122 Riverside Ave, ☏ +1 250-836-3603. 11AM-11PM daily. Good bar and restaurant, and not too expensive. Moose Mulligan's serves a variety of sandwiches, fish and chips, seafood, Mexican cuisine and more. The restaurant is child-friendly, offering a kids menu. Of course, as in the rest of British Columbia, under 19s cannot go to the bar or the liquor store (of the same name) which is attached to the restaurant. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, a car park and space to moor boats as it overlooks the river. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.83543-118.9863284 Licks n Splits Ice Cream, 325 Main St, ☏ +1 250-836-0129. M-Th 2-8PM; F-Su 12-9PM. Excellent, reasonably priced, soft-cream ice cream. Open in the summer. The store offers 30-50 flavours of ice cream and also sells slushies, ice cream cakes and drinks. There are picnic seats outside. (updated Jun 2019)

## Drink

* 50.836252-118.9845481 Brothers Pub, 420 Main Street, ☏ +1 250-836-2337. Tu-Th 11AM-10PM; F 11AM-11PM; Sa 11AM-1PM; Su 11AM-5PM. Another bar attached to a liquor store. As with the other places in the town, the pub has a small, community feeling, but is still a good night out. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.837326-118.989082 Blondies, 302 Finlayson St, ☏ +1 250-515-2000. Open May to October. Gourmet espressos, lattes, and frappes; hand-made gourmet sandwiches and wraps crafted with locally-sourced Okanagan ingredients. (updated Jun 2019)

## Sleep
### Hotels & motels

* 50.838422-118.9726571 Anchor Riverfront Motel, 1321 Trans-Canada Highway, ☏ +1 250-836-2546. 16 non-smoking rooms, 2 bedroom units, 5 self-contained RV sites (no hook-ups), tenting sites available Low season (Sept 20 - Mar 30): $85-195; high season (Apr 1 - Sept 19): $130-195. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.838571-118.9690912 Best Western Sicamous Inn, 806 Trans Canada Highway, ☏ +1 250-836-4117, toll-free: +1 800-485-7698, 62108@hotel.bestwestern.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Standard room with two queen beds starts at $145 in the summer and $100 in the off season.
* 50.838339-118.9710123 Joe Schmucks RoadHouse, 734 Trans-Canada Highway, ☏ +1 250-836-2290. Alpine style motel. Features private hot tubs and pet-friendly units. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.836416-118.9794124 Paradise Motel, 517 Main Street, ☏ +1 250 836-2525, info@paradisemotel.ca. Large family suites with kitchenettes, outdoor heated pool, picnic shelter, high speed internet, dog friendly (additional charge). (updated May 2018)
* 50.834167-118.9900455 Super 8, 1120 Riverside Ave, ☏ +1-250-836-4988, toll-free: +1-800-454-3213. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. On the shores of Mara and Shuswap Lakes in downtown Sicamous. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.8371-118.981596 The Cedars Paradise Motel, 1210 Paradise Ave, ☏ +1 250-836-3175, thecedarsmotel@gmail.com. 7 unique log-constructed accommodation units with rich log interiors, nestled in amongst cedar trees, downtown lakeside location. From $95. (updated May 2018)

### Camping

* 50.898248-118.8245367 Cedars RV Resort, 3499 Luoma Road, Malakwa (12 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 778-212-2151. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.998556-118.6486078 Crazy Creek Resort (33 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 250-836-4097, toll-free: +1-855-836-4097, accommodation@crazycreekresort.com. Midway between Sicamous and Revelstoke. RV Park which also offers hot pools, waterfalls, hiking, and vacation suites. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.866135-118.9287189 Family Tree Riverside RV & Campground (2.5 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 250-836-2583. Offering full, partial, non serviced sites, and cabins with plenty of room between sites. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.888027-118.84215910 Sicamous KOA, 3250 Oxbow Frontage Rd, Malakwa, BC (12 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 250-836-2507, toll-free: +1-800-562-0797. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.697398-119.04151311 Whispering Pines RV & Tent Campsite, 11 Hamilton Road, Mara, BC (18 km south of Sicamous on Hwy 97A), ☏ +1 250-838-6775, info@whisperingpinesrv.com. Whispering Pines is a family oriented pet friendly RV and tenting campsite 2 km south of Mara Lake. (updated Jun 2019)
* 50.9002-118.813112 Yard Creek Provincial Park (15 km east of Sicamous on Hwy 1). Yard Creek Provincial Park is part of the Interior wetbelt characterized by and old growth forest. The park has 65 quiet shaded tent and RV camping sites, hiking trails, and a popular day-use area with a log picnic shelter. (updated Jun 2019)

### Houseboats

Sicamous is the houseboating capital of Canada, and is the base for numerous operators. A Pleasure Craft Operator Certification (pleasure boat licence) is not mandatory, but a valid driver's lcence is required, and it's best to inquire with rental company. Renting the houseboats requires advance bookings, but houseboats a good (if expensive) way of exploring the expanse of Shuswap Lake.
* 50.83307-118.9909313 Bluewater Houseboats, 110 Weddup St, ☏ +1 250-836-2255, toll-free: +1-800-663-4024, info@bluewaterhouseboats.ca. Fleet consists of 6 unique boat styles with various rates to suit different vacation budgets. (updated Mar 2023)\
* 50.80907-118.9731114 Sicamous Houseboats, 1 Mervyn Road, ☏ +1 250-836-2505, boating@sicamoushouseboats.com. (updated Mar 2023)
* 50.85135-119.0114415 Twin Anchors Houseboats, 200 Old Town Road West, Sicamous, ☏ +1 250-836-2450, toll-free: +1-800-663-4026, houseboats@twinanchors.com. Variety of houseboat options available; comprehensive orientation for operating a houseboat provided. (updated Mar 2023)

## Go next

* Kelowna and the Okanagan, with its skifields, beaches and wineries, is an 1-2 hour drive south of town on Highway 97A.