Things to Do Near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort (Malakwa & the Shuswap, BC)
Things to Do Near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort: The Shuswap Starts at Your Door
The Shuswap is one of BC's most popular summer destinations. It's also one of the most underestimated four-season regions in the province.
Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort in Malakwa puts you in the middle of it — 11 minutes from Mara Lake, 9 minutes from Sicamous, 45 minutes from Revelstoke, and right on the Trans-Canada corridor that connects some of BC's best.
Here's everything worth doing when you head out from the resort.
Sicamous — 9 Minutes Away
The town that defines the region.
Sicamous (population ~3,000) is officially BC's houseboat capital, and it lives up to the name. The town sits on a narrow channel between Mara Lake and Shuswap Lake, surrounded by marinas, watercraft rentals, and the energy of a BC lake town in full summer swing.
Houseboat Rentals
The definitive Shuswap experience. Rent a houseboat for 2–7 days, anchor wherever you want on Shuswap Lake, swim off the top deck, and completely disconnect.
Groups of 8–20 fit comfortably on most boats. Families, friends, multi-generational trips — houseboating handles all configurations. Multiple operators in Sicamous.
Eagle River
The Eagle River runs through Sicamous and is the launch point for river floating — tubes, inflatable kayaks, and lazy river floats down to the lake. A classic summer afternoon.
Sicamous Marina & Waterfront
Restaurants on the water, ice cream, boat watching, and general Shuswap energy. The waterfront is lively in summer and worth a walk.
Mara Lake — 11 Minutes Away
You're practically on it.
Mara Lake is warm, calm, and connected to Shuswap Lake. The resort is 11 minutes from the shore — and our sister site Mara Lake RV & Beach Club is on the lake itself if you want the full beach club experience.
Swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating are all on the menu. Mara Lake is consistently warm by midsummer and is the smaller, calmer neighbour to the busier Shuswap system.
Shuswap Lake
Connected to Mara Lake, massive, and the centrepiece of the whole region.
Shuswap Lake has four arms and over 1,000km of shoreline. It's one of the largest and warmest freshwater lake systems in BC. Everything the lake has to offer — boating, fishing, swimming, beaches, waterfront dining — is within range.
Fishing
Shuswap Lake holds rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and lake trout. The kokanee salmon run in September–October is a natural spectacle worth timing a trip around.
BC Freshwater Fishing regulations for the Shuswap system
Waterfall Hikes Near Malakwa
The mountains on either side of the Shuswap Valley have waterfall trail access relatively close to the resort.
Hunter Falls (Malakwa area)
One of the accessible waterfall hikes near Malakwa — a moderate trail through forest to a waterfall. Good for an active morning before an afternoon at the lake.
Anstey Arm & Seymour Arm (Shuswap Lake)
The northern arms of Shuswap Lake have more remote waterfall and hiking access — accessible by boat or via longer drives. Worth the effort for the quiet.
Salmon Arm — 30 Minutes West
The Shuswap's largest town. Good for a day trip, supply run, or evening out.
Salmon Arm Wharf
One of the longest freshwater wharves in North America — walk out over Shuswap Lake, spot osprey nesting on the pilings, and take in the scale of the lake.
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival
One of Canada's top folk, roots, and blues festivals — held in August in Salmon Arm. Major artists, outdoor stages, a great reason to be in the area in late summer.
Roots & Blues Festival Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm Farmers Market
Saturday mornings, spring through fall. Local produce, baked goods, crafts.
R.J. Haney Heritage Village
An outdoor heritage museum with restored historic buildings — good for a couple of hours.
Revelstoke — 45 Minutes East
The mountains get bigger as you go east.
Revelstoke is a proper mountain town with world-class outdoor credentials. [INTERNAL LINK: /revelstoke "Pinnacle Lifestyles Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort"] is here if you want to stay over, or treat it as a day trip.
What to Do in Revelstoke
Revelstoke Mountain Resort — skiing in winter (highest vertical drop in North America), mountain biking in summer
Mount Revelstoke National Park — the Meadows in the Sky Parkway takes you to subalpine terrain
Downtown Revelstoke — independent restaurants, craft brewery, heritage main street
Rafting — Illecillewaet River and Columbia River
Skiing in Winter
The Shuswap corridor punches above its weight for ski access in winter.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort — 45 min east. Largest vertical in North America, world-class powder
Sun Peaks Resort — about 1.5 hours southwest of Salmon Arm. BC's second-largest ski resort by area
Eagle Pass & Rogers Pass (Glacier National Park)
About 45–60 minutes east, beyond Revelstoke.
Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park is one of BC's most dramatic mountain corridors — the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre tells the story of the CPR railway crossing, and the hiking and scenery in the park are exceptional.
The route from Sicamous to Revelstoke to Rogers Pass is one of BC's best short road trips.
Chase & Little Shuswap Lake
About 30 minutes west.
Chase sits at the west end of Shuswap Lake where the Thompson River flows out. It's quieter than Sicamous, has a small beach and waterfront, and gives you access to the southern shore of Shuswap Lake.
Little Shuswap Lake has beaches and camping — a calmer alternative to the main lake.
Kamloops — 1 Hour West
BC's Tournament Capital and the Shuswap's urban centre.
Kamloops is a full city — shopping, restaurants, a full range of services — and a good option for a day out or supply run. It's also the start of the Okanagan corridor heading south.
FAQ
What is there to do near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort?
Near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort in Malakwa, BC, activities include: houseboat rentals in Sicamous (10 min), swimming and boating on Mara and Shuswap Lakes, waterfall hikes near the resort, day trips to Salmon Arm (30 min) with its famous wharf and Roots & Blues Festival, Revelstoke (45 min) for mountain biking and skiing, and Glacier National Park (60 min) at Rogers Pass.
How far is Sicamous from the Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort?
Sicamous is approximately 10 minutes from the resort, located at 3250 Oxbow Frontage Road in Malakwa. Sicamous is BC's houseboat capital and the social hub of the Shuswap lake region.
Can you rent a houseboat near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort?
Yes. Sicamous, 10 minutes from the resort, has numerous houseboat rental operators on Shuswap and Mara Lakes. Houseboats typically accommodate groups of 8–20 people.
Is there good hiking near Sicamous?
Yes. The mountains surrounding the Shuswap Valley have waterfall hikes accessible near Malakwa, trails in the Sicamous area, and more serious hiking in Glacier National Park (60 min) and Mount Revelstoke National Park (45–50 min).
What is the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival?
The Roots & Blues Festival in Salmon Arm is one of Canada's top folk and roots music festivals, held in August. It draws major international and Canadian artists and is a significant regional event worth timing a Shuswap trip around.
What ski resorts are near Sicamous RV & Cabin Resort?
Revelstoke Mountain Resort (45 min east) has the highest vertical drop in North America. Sun Peaks Resort (approximately 1.5 hours southwest) is BC's second-largest ski area.
