Arrow Lakes Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

The Shelter Bay campground is one of four small sites in Arrow Lake. The other three sites (Burton, Eagle Creek and Fauqier) are managed by local community groups.

Upper Arrow and Lower Arrow Lakes are a widening of the Columbia River and lie between the imposing Selkirk Mountains on the east and the Monashee Mountains on the west.

Narrow strips of beach varying in width are interspersed with rocky headlands and steep cliffs along both shorelines of the lakes. These give way to heavily forested mountain sides that rise rapidly to elevations averaging 2,500 metres on the west and 2,700 metres on the east.

Water-oriented activities dominate the scene and angling for kokanee, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout is a popular pastime.

Know before you go

Advisories

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Reservation policies

Get information on:

Frontcountry camping

Maps and location

Getting there

Highway 6 traffic crosses the lake by ferry between Fauqier and Needles and Highway 23 traffic by ferry between Galena Bay and Shelter Bay where the park is located. Click here to view the Ferry information.

Camping

Frontcountry camping

This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. Campsite reservations are not accepted.

Vehicle-accessible camping fee	$20 per party per night
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only)	$10 per senior party per night

For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.

Frontcountry campgrounds

Shelter Bay Campground

Operating season

2024: May 1 to September 30
2025: May 1 to September 30

Winter season

No services

Winter season note

No services are provided during the off-season.

Number of campsites

Vehicle-accessible sites: 17

Things to do

Swimming

The park has a picturesque swimming beach along the shores of Upper Arrow Lake. The water temperature is cool and refreshing.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.

Fishing

There are fishing opportunities in this park.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Cycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Arrow Lakes Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

Horseback riding

Horse and horseback riding opportunities in this park.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Boat launch

The park has a concrete boat launch with a breakwater and has a large, gravel vehicle and boat trailer parking area. Boat trailers can be parked overnight in this lot. Overnight, boats are sometimes left in the water in a partially sheltered lagoon due to high water in July and August.

Campfires

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. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.

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.

Drinking water

Drinking water will not be available at the Shelter Bay campground for the foreseeable future. Free water and a $5 sani-dump is available at Blanket Creek Park, 15 minutes North of Shelter Bay. If water is needed for washing purposes, visitors may want to bring a small container to carry water from the lake.

Picnic areas

This park has a day-use and picnic area.

Pit or flush toilets

This park only has pit toilets.

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.

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