Things to Do Near Mara Lake RV & Beach Club (Shuswap, BC)
Things to Do Near Mara Lake RV & Beach Club: The Shuswap Has Layers
You've got two private beaches, a full marina, and a cedar sauna waiting at Mara Lake RV & Beach Club. That could easily fill a week on its own.
But the Shuswap is bigger than any one resort — and if you're going to drive all the way out here, you should know what's on your doorstep. Lakes. Houseboats. Mountains. Salmon runs. Towns with good food. The works.
Here's everything worth doing near Mara Lake.
Sicamous — BC's Houseboat Capital
Ten minutes from the resort. The main attraction in the region.
Sicamous brands itself the houseboat capital of BC, and it earns that title. The town sits at the narrow channel connecting Mara Lake and Shuswap Lake, surrounded by marinas packed with houseboats for rent.
A houseboat rental is the definitive Shuswap experience — you drive the boat, you park wherever you want on the lake, you swim off the top deck, and you do that for several days. Groups of 8–20 are common. Families, friends, extended family trips — houseboats handle all of it.
Sicamous Creek Trail
A short, accessible trail through the Sicamous Creek area. Good morning walk before the lake day starts.
Sicamous Marina & Town
The waterfront in Sicamous has restaurants, ice cream, and a buzzy summer atmosphere. It's the unofficial social hub of the lake region in July and August.
Shuswap Lake
Mara Lake connects directly into Shuswap Lake — so anything on the big lake is close.
Shuswap Lake is one of BC's most visited lakes, with four arms spanning over 1,000 km of shoreline. It's warm in summer, enormous, and built for boating, swimming, and fishing.
Swimming
The lake gets genuinely warm in July and August — warmer than most BC lakes. Beaches at Sicamous, Salmon Arm, and points throughout the lake system.
Boating
If you've got a boat (or rent one), the lake system is your playground. Quiet coves, waterfront restaurants, and four arms to explore.
Fishing
Shuswap Lake holds rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and lake trout. The salmon run in fall is a natural spectacle.
BC Freshwater Fishing regulations for Shuswap Lake
Salmon Arm
About 30 minutes south of Mara Lake on Highway 97A.
Salmon Arm is the largest town in the Shuswap and a solid day trip — good restaurants, a farmers market, and the Salmon Arm Wharf on its own is worth the drive.
Salmon Arm Wharf
One of the longest freshwater wharves in North America. Walk out over Shuswap Lake, watch for osprey (they nest on the pilings), and get a feel for the scale of the lake.
R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum
An outdoor heritage museum with historic buildings — a good afternoon for history buffs or families wanting something different from the lake.
Salmon Arm Farmers Market
Saturday mornings, late spring through fall. Local produce, baked goods, artisan vendors. Worth timing your morning around it.
Revelstoke
Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort is just east — and Revelstoke as a town is worth a day trip or a natural next stop on a longer trip.
What to do in Revelstoke:
Hike the trails near Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Walk the heritage downtown
Visit Mount Revelstoke National Park — the Meadows in the Sky Parkway takes you to subalpine terrain without a long hike
Rafting on the Illecillewaet River
Vernon
About 45 minutes south on Highway 97A.
Vernon is the largest city in the North Okanagan — a good option for a supply run, day trip, or access to Okanagan wine country and additional outdoor recreation.
Silverstar Mountain Resort
About 22km east of Vernon. Skiing in winter, mountain biking and hiking in summer. A solid 4-season resort if you want a change of pace from the lake.
Okanagan Lake & Beaches
Vernon sits between two lakes — Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake. Kalamalka is famous for its turquoise colour (similar mineral content to White Lake). The Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park beaches are excellent.
Hiking Near Mara Lake
The Shuswap Valley has accessible trail options for all levels.
Three Valley Gap to Eagle Pass
The mountain terrain east of Sicamous has trail access toward Eagle Pass — the route the CPR railway went through, now a hiking/trail area with historical significance and excellent scenery.
Skimikun Lake Trail
Northeast of Sicamous — a moderate backcountry hike to a quiet mountain lake. A good option for a half-day out of the resort.
AllTrails for Sicamous and Mara Lake area
The Trans-Canada Corridor: West to Chase, East to Revelstoke
Staying at Mara Lake puts you on one of BC's most scenic highway corridors with easy access in both directions.
Going east: Revelstoke (45 min) → Golden (1.5 hrs) → Yoho National Park (2 hrs)
Going west: Chase (30 min) → Kamloops (1 hr) → Okanagan (1.5 hrs)
The resort is a natural midpoint for a longer BC road trip.
Waterfalls Near Mara Lake
The mountains on both sides of the Shuswap Valley have waterfall trails within reach.
Hunter Falls (near Malakwa)
A moderate hike near the Malakwa area with a waterfall payoff. One of the accessible waterfall trails near both Mara Lake and Sicamous resorts.
AllTrails for waterfall hikes near Sicamous and Mara
Summer Events in the Shuswap
The Shuswap is a hub of summer events — particularly around Salmon Arm.
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival (August) — one of Canada's top folk/roots festivals, held in Salmon Arm
Sicamous Sunfest (summer) — local waterfront festival
Farmers markets, outdoor concerts, and community events throughout the region
FAQ
What is there to do near Mara Lake RV & Beach Club?
Near Mara Lake RV & Beach Club in Mara, BC, activities include: houseboat rentals in Sicamous (10 min), boating and swimming on Shuswap Lake, day trips to Salmon Arm (30 min) and Revelstoke (45 min), hiking trails near the resort, fishing on Mara and Shuswap Lakes, and mountain biking or skiing at Silverstar Mountain Resort near Vernon (45 min).
How far is Sicamous from Mara Lake RV & Beach Club?
Sicamous is approximately 10 minutes from Mara Lake RV & Beach Club. Sicamous is known as BC's houseboat capital and is the social centre of the Shuswap lake region in summer.
Can you rent a houseboat near Mara Lake?
Yes. Sicamous, approximately 10 minutes from the resort, has numerous houseboat rental operators. Houseboats accommodate groups of 8–20 and allow you to explore the Shuswap Lake system at your own pace.
What lakes are near Mara Lake RV & Beach Club?
Mara Lake (where the resort is located) connects directly to Shuswap Lake — one of BC's largest and warmest lake systems. Both lakes offer boating, swimming, and fishing.
Is there good hiking near Mara Lake?
Yes. The mountains surrounding the Shuswap Valley have accessible hiking trails including waterfall hikes near Malakwa, trails toward Eagle Pass, and backcountry lake hikes north of Sicamous.
What is Salmon Arm known for?
Salmon Arm is the largest town in the Shuswap, known for its Salmon Arm Wharf (one of the longest freshwater wharves in North America), the Roots & Blues Festival (August), the Saturday farmers market, and access to Shuswap Lake.
