Park overview
Steelhead Park is a convenient overnight camping and picnicking spot for travelers on Highway 1. This is also a popular destination camp for visitors enjoying boating and fishing on Kamloops Lake, at the head of the Thompson River.
The park offers 240 metres of beach on the lake and 1,000 metres of frontage along the river. The Savona community offers the amenities of a small town.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open year-round
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 44
- Main operating season
- 2024: April 26 to September 29
- Winter season
- Not known
- Service note
- Services may be available and fees charged later or earlier than this date, weather permitting. For confirmation, please use the contact information listed on this page.
- Winter season note
- The gate is closed during the off-season. Walk in from the gate. No fees are collected and no services are provided.
Safety info
- The extremely hot, dry climate can result in over-exposure to the sun. Everyone in your party should wear sunscreen and a hat with a brim.
- Caution should be exercised when swimming or boating due to currents at the end of the beach where the lake drains into the river mouth.
Special notes
- A public pay telephone is located at the residence and shower building.
Camping
Steelhead offers 44 campsites on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are not accepted.
There are 22 campsites that overlook the lake and 10 of these are supplied with water and power hook-ups. There are three sites that overlook the river, 12 informal sites are located in a field and are roomy enough for large vehicles to pull through and five side-by-side sites exist as a parking-lot style overflow. There are very few trees in the campground and most sites are side by side, similar to an RV campground. Sites will accommodate small to large camping units.
If there are no staff at the campground upon arrival, choose a site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day. The gates at Steelhead are not locked at night. Amenities are found in Savona, a two minute drive from the campground.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $23 per party per night |
| Electrified sites | Additional $5 per night (whether power is in use or not) |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Electrical hookups (30amp service) are available at 10 campsites within the park. The cost of electricity is a $5 per night surcharge.
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.
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
Swimming is available at this beautiful sandy beach but visitors should use caution and be aware of the currents as the water from the lake drains into the river.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Fishing for trout, salmon and steelhead is popular.
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 the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Cycling is permitted and must keep to the roadways. Helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Steelhead 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.
Located 40 km west of Kamloops on Highway 1 on the southwest end of Kamloops Lake. The closest community is Savona.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 15, 1993
- Size: 38.3 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250 320-9305
Nature and culture
History
The park was established in 1995. It is the site of one of the oldest homesteads in the southern interior and well as a stagecoach depot and ferry landing. The historic buildings and cemetery are still located on site. As a former private campground, the park has electrical and water hook-ups that are not common in provincial parks.
Cultural Heritage
First Nations have been very involved in protection and interpretation of heritage sites and artifacts found within the park. The site relates to First Nations fishing dating back to 10,000 years ago.
Conservation
Vegetation is fragile due to the hot, dry climate. Sagebrush, prickly pear cactus and bunchgrasses prevail. Pink salmon spawn at the river mouth. The largest section of the park is on the south side of Highway 1 and is established as a natural environment zone.
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.