This 19,000 population city (about 50% growth since 1999) lies on Highway 1, midway between Kamloops and Revelstoke. Its the largest community in the Shuswap area. When the first settlers came with the railroad in 1885, this part of the Shuswap Lake had such plentiful salmon that they used pitchforks to pull them out to fertilize their fields. Hence the name Salmon River and Salmon Arm. Today the area has many fruit and dairy farms.
The area’s forests also create a host of outdoor pursuits. The town also has the 18 hole Salmon Arm Golf Course, about 4 km east of the community. The Larch Hills is a popular cross-country ski area southeast of town. There are over 150 km of trails, with 150 metres of rolling hills.
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Salmon Arm Attractions
Mount Ida Forest Fire
Just west of Salmon Arm
A major forest fire on Mt Ida called the “Silver Creek Blaze” in August 1998 forced the evacuation of 6800 people for a day and a night. The fire caused massive forest destruction, visible from the Salmon River Road, but also exposed rock-faces and waterfalls not visible from the roadway previously.
RJ Haney Heritage House and Park
751 BC-97B, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P7
(on 97B, 4 km east of Salmon Arm)
250-832-5843
This heritage exhibit includes the 1918 North Broadview schoolhouse, Salmon Arms’ original fire hall, the 1911 Mt Ida church and several farm buildings, managed by the Salmon Arm Museum and Heritage Association. Marjorie’t Team Room is on a lower floor for frefreshments and light lunches.
Rotary Peace Park and Public Wharf
Marine Park Drive, downtown
The park has a 250 metre walkway along the lakefront, with a pier, a marina and a picnic area. A great place for viewing shore birds and waterfowl.
Rotary Skyview Lookout
3 km west of Salmon Arm, Left on Salmon River Road (follow signs)
This lookout point, on the eastern slopes of the Fly Hills, takes you to the 1220 metre (4000 foot) elevation, with a great view of the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake. For the wintertime, there are 70 kilometres of marked snowmobile trails here.
Farmers Market
Piccadilly Place Mall (with the clock tower) parking lot
1151 10 Ave SW, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1T3
(250) 832-0441
Every Tuesday and Friday from 8 am to 12:30 pm rain or shine
DeMilles Petting Zoo
3710 Trans-Canada Hwy SW, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 3K1
(250) 832-7550
DeMille’s Produce just west of Salmon Arm
A free petting zoo with farm animals from small to large. Open in the summer from 8 am to 9 pm.
Salmon Arm Wineries
Here are the wineries in & around Salmon Arm:
Larch Hills Winery
110 Timms Road,
Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 2P8
(250) 832-0155 Fax: (250) 832-9419
Winemakers: Hans Nevrkla
Starting with bush land in 1987, they began clearing the land and in 1992 began planting & experimenting, finally opening the winery in 1997. All wines made from 100% British Columbia grapes, either from their main vineyard just south of Salmon Arm (where they are made and bottled), or from contracted vineyards farther south in the Okanagan Valley.
Hours: Easter to October 31 from 12 noon to 5 pm daily.
Recline Ridge Vineyards & Winery
2640 Skimikin Road,
Tappen, BC V0E 2X0 (near Salmon Arm)
(250) 835-2212 fax: (250) 835-2228
Winemakers: Mike and Sue Smith
Hours: April, May, June & October – Noon to 5:00 pm; July, August & September – 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. By appointment throughout the winter
Salmon Arm Festivals and Events
Event |
Date |
Description |
| Polar Bear Plunge | Jan1 | Take a New Years Day plunge at the Canoe Beach Dock. Canoe Beach Dock, Salmon Arm 250-832-0269 |
| Reino Keski-Salmi Loppet | mid Jan | Various distances and routes for a wide range of skiers. Larch Hills Ski Area, Salmon Arm Pauline833-0325 |
| Falkland Stampede And Parade | mid June | Pro rodeo, calf scramble, heavy horse pull, parade, pancake breakfast, entertainment, dancing, beer garden, concessions, camping. Since 1919. Falkland Stampede Grounds 250-379-2221 |
| Shuswap Music Festival | late May | Music and speech arts workshops. Various Locations, Salmon Arm 832-6724 |
| Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival | late May | The Shuswap Lake International Writers Festival brings together poets, writers, publishers and storytellers over a three day festival. Two evening events (readings and storytelling), plus a day and a half of workshops. Prestige Harbourfront Resort & Convention Centre and Okanagan College, Salmon Arm. 250-832-4831 |
| Beat the Train Triathlon | late June | Enter Salmon Arm’s Team Triathlon. Race course includes; 35 km bike race, 10 km run & a 8 km canoe/kayak paddle from Canoe Beach to Salmon Arm Bay wharf. When possible, separate categories created for recreational & competitive participants. Blackburn Park, Salmon Arm 250-832-0998 |
| WOW! Summer Concerts | June – Aug | Wednesday on the Wharf WOW summer concerts starts the first Wednesday in June and continues thru August. Salmon Arm Marine Park Gazebo |
| Shuswap Lake Accordion Festival | mid June | Hear the versatility of accordion players. Competitions, jams, dancing. Sorrento Centre, Sorrento 250 675-2531 |
| Summer Solstice Beach Party | June 21 | Seymour Arm, BC |
| Aboriginal Day Celebration | late June | First Nations archery, crafts, drumming, dancing, stick games, food, demonstrations, tours. Little Shuswap Lake Rd, North Shuswap 679-3203 |
| Bluegrass Country Jamboree | end June | Shuswap musicians, beverage garden, concessions, activities, RV parking, camping. Since 2000. Falkland Stampede Grounds 379-2155 |
| Falkland Torchlight Parade | Jun 30 | Parade down the mountain at midnight to celebrate Canada Day. Gypsum Hill to Downtown Falkland 379-2687 |
| Shuswap Dragon Boat & Childrens Festival | end June | This very popular Salmon Arm mini Dragon Boat Festival features 16 teams made up of either mixed or all women. We are pleased to include our Festival partners who organize amazing entertainment for children & families for the day. Salmon Arm Marine Park 250-675-5277 |
| Shuswap Festival of the Arts | end of July | Judged exhibition of paintings, pottery, sculpture, photography, fabric arts. Demonstrations, workshops, art walk, tea room. About 5000 people attend this function. Since 1989. Sorrento Memorial Hall, on Passchendaele Rd 955-6401 |
| Annual Salmon Arm Classic Triathlon | end July | Participants will be required to swim 1.5 km, run 10.5 km & cycle 40 km. With a variety of terrain, it promises to be a challenging course. Since 1983 Salmon Arm 250-832-0998 |
| Feel The Rhythm | July & Aug | Every Monday & Thursday enjoy live music & street entertainment. Watch for it at various locations in the downtown area. Various Locations around downtown Salmon Arm 250-832-5440 |
| Forestry/Pioneer Day | mid July | Heritage displays & vendors related to antique equipment in agriculture & forestry industries, pancake breakfast. Salmon Arm Museum, 751 Hwy 97B NE, Salmon Arm 50-832-5291 |
| Canada Day in Falkland | Jul 1 | Lighted parade down the mountain. Parade of flags, pancake breakfast, community market, games. 12:00 to midnight 379-2360 |
| Canada Day in the Shuswap | Jul 1 | Parades, pancake breakfasts, children’s activities, music, entertainment, games, races, loggers show, crafts, beer gardens, Strawberry Socials, concessions, and/or fireworks. various venues 675-4553, |
| Forestry Day/Pioneer Day | mid July | Log house and canoe building demonstrations, along with a collection of historical equipment and demos throughout the village involving the forestry, agriculture and construction industries. RJ Haney Heritage Village, Salmon Arm 250-321-5243 |
| Skwlax Pow-Wow | mid July | First Nations cultural day with traditional singing, dancing, drumming, lessons, food. Little Shuswap Indian Band Arbor, Little Shuswap Lake Rd, North Shuswap 679-3203 |
| Switzmalph Cultural Day & Pow-Wow | late July | First Nations pow-wow, archery, atlatl, stick games, hand drum contest, village tours, storytelling, native theatre, live entertainment and concessions. 1 pm – 7 pm Switzmalph Cultural Centre, 1st Ave SW, Salmon Arm 803-0395 |
| Squilax Music Festival/Tribal Funk Festival | late July | The Squilax Pow Wow attracts tourists annually on the 3rd weekend of July. The Pow Wow celebrates the traditions of 3 local bands. An array of dances, including the jingle dress dance & the grass dance are performed. Squilax Pow Wow Grounds, approx 7 km E Of Chase 250-679-3203 |
| Chase Festival | end July | Concerts, Art Walk, Parade, Beer Gardens, Quilt Show, Entertainment, Golfing with celebrities, Fireworks and much more. Chase 250-679-8432 |
| Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival | mid August | Six Stages of Roots, Blues and World Music. Children’s Activities, Food and Crafts. Salmon Arm Fair Grounds 250-833-4096 |
| Neskonlith Traditional Pow Wow | late Aug | This annual First Nations celebration includes dancing, singing, crafts, food concessions & traditional foods such as bannock. The grand entry takes place at noon on both days. The public is welcome and there is no charge. Since 2000. Neskonlith Reserve, Chase 250-679-8584 or250-835-8492 |
| Chase Centennial Celebrations | early Aug | Come & join the citizens of Chase as we celebrate 100 years as a community in 2009. There are many free events & activities planned including guided history tours, music in the park, quilt show, art walk & vendors. Chase 250-679-8432 |
| Chase’s Annual Corn Festival | end Aug | The annual corn festival is a family fun event. This years line-up includes wakeboarding demos & lessons, tube/boat rides, skate boarding competition, traditional first nations games, bannock, bocce, horseshoes, music & of course our world famous corn. We will also be announcing the winners of our Annual Salmon Fishing Derby. So come on down with your family & picnic blanket & join us as we celebrate the end of another great summer. Chase 250-679-8432 |
| Market Day Street Party | mid July | Market vendors, artisans, childrens activities, entertainment, barbecue. 100 Block Of Hudson Ave, Salmon Arm 250-832-5440 |
| Paint the Town | early Aug | Watch local artists painting on Hudson Ave during the Paint the Town annual outdoor painting & drawing event. Evening reception will be held at the Saga Public Art Gallery. Hudson Ave, Salmon Arm 250-832-1170 |
| Switzmalph Cultural Day & Pow-Wow | early Aug | Pancake breakfast, flea market, sales of baked goods, crafts, plants, and books, children’s activities. Eagle Bay Hall |
| Waterway Family Fun Day | early Aug | Beach volleyball and wakeboard competitions, sandcastle contest, concessions. 9 am – 11 pm Sicamous Public Beach 2550-836-3313 |
| Sicamous Moose Mouse Sandfest | early Aug | Various activities including laser tag, horizontal bungee, jousting, clown show, T-shirt and face painting, concessions. Sicamous Beach ParkWaterway Houseboat Vacations 833-5276 |
| Sorrento Bluegrass Festival | end Aug | Performances by well-known swing and bluegrass musicians. Beer garden, concessions. noon – 10 pm Sorrento Centre 675-2421 or 866-694-2409 |
| Harvest Celebration | mid Sept | RJ Haney Heritage Village, Salmon Arm 250-832-5243 |
| Salmon Arm Fall Fair | mid Sept | This popular, friendly, small town fair is attended by thousands of people from throughout the Shuswap & outlying regions. Visitors & exhibitors from other communities are charmed by the fairs unique atmosphere. Salmon Arm Fairgrounds 250-832-0442 |
| Wild Mushroom Festival | late Sept | Mushroom identification, cooking, workshops, tours, wine tasting, exhibitors, car show. Sicamous Beach Park 836-2220 |
| Adams River Sockeye Run, Chase | October | Come and witness the miracle for yourself, as thousands of huge red sockeye salmon spawn. A fun event filled with kids sports, artisan display, music. Popcorn & soft drink booth. Dance at the Hall 9pm – 1 am. Roderick-Haig-Brown Provincial Park, Scotch Creek 250–851-3000 |
| Shuswap Wine Festival | late Oct | Sponsored by the Rotary, the Shuswap Wine Festival is taking place at the Salmon Arm Community Centre from 7 – 10 pm. Salmon Arm Community Centre 250-804-5380 |
| Remembrance Day Parade And Service | Nov 11 | Cenotaph, Salmon Arm |
| Falkland’s Annual Christmas Heritage Lightup | start Dec | Heritage Park and Museum, Falkland 250 379-2262 |