Park overview
Situated where the four “arms” of Shuswap Lake meet, this park has a camping area with several shelters and a fairly extensive beach.
It is located in one of the most popular swimming, houseboating and waterskiing areas of British Columbia’s interior. Anglers take note: Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open May 15, 2024 to September 30, 2024
- Facility type
- Marine-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Boat-accessible sites: 29
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 30
- Winter season
- Not known
- Winter season note
- Off-season camping is allowed. No fees are collected and no services are provided.
- Facility type
- Shelters
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 30
- 2025: May 16 to September 29
- Winter season
- Not known
Safety info
Boating
- Wharfs are provided at Cinnemousun Narrows for public use and convenience (day use or camping). Please note that your marine access camping fee does not provide exclusive use of these facilities. Your mooring location may not be available should you depart for any reason during your visit.
- This is a heavy boat traffic area. Use caution, practice safe boating, and watch for debris on lake.
- While boating in the Shuswap, watch for bouys that may indicate divers in area, safe anchorage, or a swimming area where boats are not permitted.
- Some sites do no have protected beaches. In stormy weather, it is advisable to beach your boat stern-first, and secure it with long ropes from the bow to pegs on the shore. Houseboats should be beached according to instructions received from the rental companies.
- Houseboats may not beach between the signs at Haven Point and the ranger cabin during the period May 15 to Labour Day. Please help to prevent the spread of Eurasian water milfoil by removing all weeds from your boat and motor before launching and after removing it from the lake.
Special notes
- The hand-pump provides lake water. Visitors should either bring drinking water from home or boil or treat the water provided by the hand-pump.
- There are no public telephones at Cinnemousun.
- Excessive noise is not permitted at any time. Please be considerate and observe the quiet time from 10pm to 7am.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in provincial parks, except within your campsite.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total boat-accessible sites: 29
There are two shelters located in the campsite and can be used on a first come first served basis. The regular camping fee applies to these.
There are 29 forested campsites at this park, these campsites are marine-accessible only after you have beached or tied your boat to one of the supplied docks. Each one is situated in a cool shady spot and has a great view of the lake.
Walk-in camping fee: $20 per party per night
Facilities
A number of areas provide boat launches on Shuswap. There are four wharves at Cinnemousun.
| Marine-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| Marine-accessible camping annual fee | $600 per vessel per year |
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator in some parks or you can bring your own wood. Fees from firewood are set locally and may vary.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring portable stove for cooking.
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
There is a 1.5 km hiking trail with viewpoints of Seymour Arm and Anstey Arm. 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.
A swimming area is bouyed-off from boating traffic. The lake is popular with scuba-divers, so boaters must watch for their marking buoys. There is 640 m of sand and gravel beach at Cinnemousun.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish and year-round fishing. Lake trout and rainbows can be up to 10 kg. Bull trout, kokanee, burbot, whitefish are also present. 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.
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.
Scuba diving does occur in Shuswap Lake. Please check with local dive operators for more information.
This park is accessible by water only. Launch facilities are located throughout the Shuswap including at Shuswap Lake, Herald and Mara Parks. As well, privately-owned marinas and the towns of Sicamous, Chase, Salmon Arm and Canoe, all have boat launches. The closest communities are Seymour Arm, Anglemont, Celista, Scotch Creek, Blind Bay, Eagle Bay, Sicamous, Tappen, Sorrento and Salmon Arm.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: April 27, 1956
- Size: 738 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Silvertip Park Services Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250 320-9305
Nature and culture
History
Established in 1956.
Conservation
Cinnemousun Park is in the Interior Cedar and Hemlock zone. Look for western yew with its red berries and peeling bark. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please don’t damage or remove them. Cutting of trees (live or dead) for firewood is strictly prohibited.
Wildlife
Cougars are occasionally seen here. Wildlife is potentially dangerous and may be encountered at any time. Make lots of noise when hiking where signs of bears are found. Practice safe food storage, and dispose of garbage in the containers provided. Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife.
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.