Sicamous

Sicamous is a town of 2,400 people (2011) in Shuswap region of British Columbia. It is at the eastern end of Shuswap Lake and is known as the Houseboat Capital of Canada.

Understand
"Sicamous" is an adaptation of a Shuswap language word meaning "river circling mountains".

History
In the 1800s, Sicamous and area was inhabited by a semi-nomadic Indigenous nation called the Secwepemc or Shuswap. They crossed the Rocky Mountains to hunt buffalo on the plains. In this area they were called the "Schickamoos".

In 1864, gold was discovered on the Columbia. Seymour Arm became a supply centre in the Big Bend Gold Rush. In 1885, permanent settlers arrived after the driving of the Last Spike at Craigellachie, which linked Canada sea to sea. Among the first settlers in Sicamous were families from Finland. Old Town, or Eagle Pass Landing as it now known, became an almost instant town in 1871. It was the central supply centre for railway construction. Today it is used primarily for recreational purposes such as sledding, houseboating, hiking, swimming, and biking.

Later, in the early 1900s, CPR hill became a residential development. Finlayson's store and a jail were built in 1892, adding a post office in 1904. The first school opened around 1908.

Get in
The town is at the junction of Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and BC Highway 97A. Driving from Vancouver, it is a little past the half-way point to Calgary.

Get around
Sicamous is directly around the Trans-Canada Highway, and so travelling by car is the best way to get anywhere. If you want to see the lake, the best way is by boat. It is an excellent idea to hire a houseboat and travel around the lake, or if you are short on time, hiring a speedboat is always a fun and quick way to admire the scenery of the hills and lake. There are even 2 stores in the middle of the lake in the summer for supplies.

Do

 * Explore and hang out on a houseboat (see "Sleep" section), as Sicamous is a major destination for houseboating.

Buy
Shops include Askew's (a general grocery store), Beach Chic (a clothing store), BC Liquor Store, Brothers liquor store, Moose Mulligans liquor store, IDA pharmacy, and a furnishings and souvenir shop.

Houseboats
Sicamous is the houseboating capital of Canada, and is the base for numerous operators. A Pleasure Craft Operator Certification (pleasure boat licence) is not mandatory, but a valid driver's lcence is required, and it's best to inquire with rental company. Renting the houseboats requires advance bookings, but houseboats a good (if expensive) way of exploring the expanse of Shuswap Lake.



Go next

 * Kelowna and the Okanagan, with its skifields, beaches and wineries, is an 1-2 hour drive south of town on Highway 97A.