Houseboating
Thompson-Shuswap, British Columbia, Canada

Houseboating... The Shuswap and Mara Lakes In the Thompson Shuswap region are the two lakes supporting a large fleet of houseboats. It is the largest fleet of houseboats operating in Canada! The community of Sicamous, BC located in between Shuswap and Mara Lakes is considered the "Houseboat Capital of Canada".

Shuswap Lake is the most popular year round houseboat recreation destination in British Columbia, Canada. The lake system is shaped like the letter "H" consisting of two developed southern arms (Shuswap Lake Main Arm and Salmon Arm ) and two undeveloped upper arms (Anstey Arm and Seymour Arm). All four arms meet at Cinnemousun Narrows, northeast of Sicamous, BC.

The popular lake destination is serviced by series of waterfront communities. The main communities of Chase, Sorrento and Blind Bay are located on the shores of the Shuswap Lake Main Arm. While the communities of Tappen, Salmon Arm and Sicamous rest on the shores of the Salmon Arm of the Shuswap Lake system.

The lake consists of over 1400 kilometres of shoreline revealing numerous sandy beaches, private bays, hidden coves, marine parks, estuaries, hiking trails, pictographs, day use parks, boat launches and campgrounds.

The houseboats exploring these lakes vary in people capacity, size and on board amenities. Some rentals include or can include hot tubs, rooftop viewing decks, dinghy, entertainment systems, deluxe kitchen units, satellite, BBQ, ski boats, fireplaces, canoes, patio furniture, fishing equipment, tubes and so much more.

The houseboats range in size with some holding a capacity of 6 people while others can hold up to 20 people. The houseboat rental companies often have various packages available for bookings. Some rental companies offer 1/2 day trips for a quick trip lounging on the lake while others promote 3 day trips and week long trips. The duration of a lake trip often depends on the size of the houseboat and the amenities included on board.

All in all houseboating is a fun activity that is a popular trip for many different types of groups including families, reunions, staff events and romantic escapes.