Park overview
Anstey Hunakwa Park includes a variety of landscapes at the north end of Shuswap Lake. It extends from the shore of the lake to alpine environments on mountain tops.
There are extensive areas of old-growth forest in the Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir and interior cedar-hemlock zones. Included in the park are two lakes that cannot be reached by road (a rarity in the Shuswap area) which are Hunakwa Lake and Wright Lake.
The north end of Anstey Arm is more accessible (but only by boat), and is valued for its recreational opportunities (sandy beaches) and salmon habitat.
Advisories
Safety info
- Beaching of boats can be difficult at the north end of Anstey Arm. The water in front of the sandy beaches on the north shore is shallow, especially in late summer. Boaters should approach with caution and be prepared to wade to the beach. On the west side of the arm where the Hunakwa Lake trail begins, the shoreline is rocky. Only small boats are able to beach (with caution).
- Most of the park, including Hunakwa Lake, is remote with no facilities. Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available in the park.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided and visitors are expected to practice Leave No Trace camping. Boat-accessible camping facilities are available at Shuswap Lake Marine Park (Anstey Beach and Four Mile Creek sites).
| Marine-accessible camping fee | $20 per party or vessel per night |
| Marine-accessible annual camping fee | $600 per vessel per year |
For information on rates, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Campfires are permitted, but firewood is not available. Firewood may be purchased from vendors on Shuswap Lake or you can bring your own wood.
While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Activities
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. Hunakwa Lake Trail is 3 km. Be prepared for rough and wet conditions.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. Your water craft must be portaged to Hunakwa Lake Trail (approximately 3 km). Be prepared for rough and wet conditions. There is no vehicle access.
At the present time we have no details on fish in Hunakwa and Wright lakes in the protected area. Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish and year-round fishing. Lake and rainbow trout can be up to 10 kg. Bull trout, kokanee, burbot, whitefish. Mainly trolling for deep lurkers is the most popular technique.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
This park is open to hunting. Please consult the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
The main access to the park is by boat to the north end of Anstey Arm on Shuswap Lake. There is a 3 km trail from the north end of Anstey Arm to the south end of Hunakwa Lake.
The closest communities are Seymour Arm, Anglemont, Celista, Scotch Creek, Blind Bay, Eagle Bay, Sicamous, Mara Lake, Tappen, Sorrento and Salmon Arm.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: May 20, 2004
- Size: 6,852 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Silvertip Park Services Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250 320-9305
Nature and culture
History
This protected area was recommended through the Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) process and formally established as a Class A Park on April 18th, 2001, through Order-in Council under the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act .
Cultural Heritage
Some parts of the park are believed to have been used by First Nations. Details are not available.
Conservation
Steep forested slopes rise from Shuswap Lake and Hunakwa Lake to the alpine. Includes the most extensive undisturbed Interior Cedar Hemlock moist-warm Variant 3 (ICHmw3 - biogeoclimactic zones) in the region. The park has high biological diversity with a mix of successional forests including abundant deciduous-conifer stands in the ICH zone and a riparian floodplain with wetlands between Anstey Arm and Hunakwa Lake.
Wildlife
The habitat of grizzly, black bear, moose, mule deer, pine marten, Townsend’s big-eared bat and fisher are found within the park. It is also the spawning grounds for lake char, sockeye salmon, coho salmon, kokanee and rainbow trout.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.