Park overview
Silver Beach Provincial Park is located on the north end of Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake, on the site of an historical gold rush town called Ogden City (now called Seymour Arm). The campground has sites located next to the beautiful sandy beach of the Seymour River estuary. The park provides destination camping for people arriving by boat and by vehicle (Forest Service road from Anglemont).
Silver Beach provides the ideal summer holiday for those whose interests are swimming, house-boating, scuba-diving, fishing, water-skiing or just soaking up the sun. Anglers take note: Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish! Groceries and camping supplies are available locally.
Special Features
This park contains the Seymour River Estuary.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access May 13, 2023 to September 30, 2023
Current status:
Open to public access
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 35
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: May 13 to September 30
- Off season dates
- 2023: October 1 to May 12
- Winter note
- Off-season: no fee, no services
Safety info
Stay Safe
- Caution: shallow sandbars in front of the main beach! Safe approach/mooring from the east, along the shore towards Bughouse Bay.
- While boating in the Shuswap, watch for buoys that may indicate divers in the area, safe anchorage, or a swimming area where boats are not permitted.
- Some sites do not 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.
Special Notes
- Treated drinking water in small quantities is available from potable water supply building near baseball diamonds.
- Houseboats may not beach between the signs at the road allowance to the east and the park boundary to the west at any time.
- There are no public telephones at Silver Beach. There is cellular service in the area.
- 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.
- Excessive noise is not permitted at any time. Please be considerate and observe the quiet time from 10 PM to 7 AM.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited with Provincial Parks except within your campsite.
Camping
This park offers 35 vehicle/boat/tent vehicle-accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground rests in an attractive setting of Douglas fir and aspen at the head of Seymour Arm. Campsite reservations are not accepted. If staff are not around when you arrive at the campground, choose your site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Launch facilities are located throughout the Shuswap including at Shuswap Lake, Herald, and Mara Provincial Parks. As well, privately owned marinas and the towns of Sicamous, Chase, Salmon Arm, Seymour Arm and Canoe all have boat launches. Transport Canada restricts all power-driven vessels to 10 km/hour while operating within 30 m of shore on all inland waters of British Columbia. There is an exception which permits vessels to travel perpendicularly away from the shoreline where a higher speed may be required to tow a skier, wakeboard etc.
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. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.
Note: Fires are not permitted on any of the beaches within the park.
Activities
There are 700 metres of walking trails along the top of the beach. 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.
Silver Beach is noted for its beautiful sandy beach. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
All water sports are popular at Shuswap Lake.
Shuswap Lake contains 19 species of fish and year-round fishing. Lake trout and Rainbows of up to 10 kg. Bull trout, Kokanee, Burbot, Whitefish. Trolling for deep lurkers is the most popular technique. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets/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.
Watersking is popular on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.
Windsurfing does occur on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.
Scuba Diving does occur in Shuswap Lake; please check with local dive operators for more information.
Maps and location
This park is accessible by road or water, and is situated at the north end of Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake. By road, leave Highway #1 at Squilax. Drive approximately 83 km, the last 42 on gravel. 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: September 18, 1969
- Size: 129.8 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Silvertip Park Services Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250 320-9305
Nature and culture
- History: Explore the remains of Ogden, a thriving community during the gold rush of the late 1800s, now replaced by the quiet village of Seymour Arm. An historic graveyard and archaeological sites exist in the park.
- Conservation: The western part of the park(containing the river mouth) is important for wildlife and fish habitat and is preserved for this purpose.
- Wildlife: Black bears are occasionally seen in the area and spawning salmon may be encountered at the mouth of the Seymour River. 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.