Major city · Canada
Sicamous
Give Sicamous 1 night as a Trans-Canada stop, or 2–3 nights if you rent a houseboat on Shuswap Lake; without a boat, one afternoon covers it.
Sicamous is a town of about 2,400 people at the eastern end of Shuswap Lake, on the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 97A in British Columbia. It calls itself the Houseboat Capital of Canada, and that is the honest reason to stop: the lake, the beaches at Mara Lake and the boat rentals. Landside, it is a small highway town with a dairy, a few pubs and motels, best used as one night between Vancouver and the Rockies or as a base for a houseboat week.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CAD
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed)
- Airports
- YLW · YVR · YYC
- Nights
- 1–3
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Sicamous911 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sicamous, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $).Canada-wide
- SIM or eSIMRogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores.Canada-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).Canada-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.Canada-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Canada-wide
- SafetySicamous is a small, low-crime town and feels safe day and night.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.Canada-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 811 BC health advice line (HealthLink BC, 24 h)
- Sundays & holidaysStatutory holidays close shops and offices, varying by province; many park facilities are seasonal (about mid-May to mid-October).Canada-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportYLW Kelowna International Airport (About 1 h 30 min–2 h by car via Highway 97A; the nearest full-service airport.).
- Getting aroundA car is the practical way to move: the town sits on Highway 1 and Highway 97A, and the beaches, dairy and golf courses are spread out.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeC$3–6 (≈ US$3–5)
- BeerDraught beer in a pubC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
- Budget bedTent or RV campsite, a night, per roomC$35 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$145 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomC$195 (≈ US$150)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$90 (≈ US$70) · Mid C$170 (≈ US$130) · High C$300 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- YLW Kelowna International Airport (About 1 h 30 min–2 h by car via Highway 97A; the nearest full-service airport.) · YVR Vancouver International Airport (About 4 h 30 min–5 h by car east on Highway 1; most overseas arrivals land here.) · YYC Calgary International Airport (About 5 h–5 h 30 min by car west on Highway 1.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
Feb
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Mar
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
May
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Aug
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Nov
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Dec
Avoid
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)), coolest Jan (−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C) low), wettest Nov (15 rain days), driest Jul (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sicamous: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
13 rd
Feb
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
10 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
11 rd
Apr
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
12 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
12 rd
Jul
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
Oct
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
13 rd
Nov
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
15 rd
Dec
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
14 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is the practical way to move: the town sits on Highway 1 and Highway 97A, and the beaches, dairy and golf courses are spread out. On the lake, the point is a boat — houseboats, or a speedboat if you are short on time. Two floating stores serve the lake in summer.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
The Last Spike, Craigellachie
goDoor to door: About 20 min each way
Drive east on Highway 1
Plaque and display marking the 1885 last spike; gift shop and info centre open May–Oct.
Salmon Arm
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way
Drive west on Highway 1
Bigger town with more food and shops; pairs with a lake day.
Revelstoke
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min each way
Drive east on Highway 1
Better as an overnight on the way to the Rockies than a return day trip.
Vernon and the Okanagan
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min each way
Drive south on Highway 97A
Wineries and a bigger lake; a long half-day from Sicamous.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Trans-Canada Highway strip
Motels and the Best Western on Highway 1; easiest for one night with a car.
Downtown / Main Street and Finlayson Street
Walkable to pubs, the ice cream shop and Silver Sands Beach.
Riverside Avenue
Lakeside hotels and Moose Mulligans; some rooms look over the water.
Mara Lake / Two Mile
Beaches and golf south of town on Highway 97A; needs a car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- C$90–150 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- C$150–260 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
- High
- C$260 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel double room1 × 1 night × C$145 | C$145 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × C$170 | C$340 |
| Houseboat rental, per boat per night1 × C$900 · check; varies by boat size and season | C$900 |
| Golf, 18 holes at Hyde Mountain2 × C$70 · check | C$140 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25 | C$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | C$158 |
| Trip total≈ C$867 per person per day, bed included | C$1,733≈ US$1,300 |
2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; long-distance transport and houseboat rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Ice cream cone at D Dutchmen Dairy | C$5–9 (≈ US$4–7) |
| Coffee | C$3–6 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Pub main (burger, fish and chips) | C$18–28 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Draught beer in a pub | C$7–9 (≈ US$6–7) |
| Grocery run for two, one day | C$40–70 (≈ US$30–55) |
| Gasoline, per litrecheck; varies with the season | C$1.60–1.90 (≈ US$2) |
| Provincial park day useCamping fees apply separately | Free |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Distances between sights are driving distances, not walking ones; plan on a car.
- Houseboats need advance booking, and a valid driver's licence is required — confirm requirements with the rental company.
- Many seasonal businesses (ice cream, cafés, some campgrounds) close from October to April.
- Highway 1 through the mountains closes for crashes, avalanches and rockfall: check DriveBC before driving in winter.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- BC health advice line (HealthLink BC, 24 h)
- 811
Pocket card
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SicamousSicamous
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- HealthLink BC (24 h health advice)811
Embassy
No embassies in Sicamous. The US has a consulate general in Vancouver; most other countries keep embassies in Ottawa and consulates in Vancouver.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ebus or Rider Express, Vancouver → Sicamous: check current fare and days; both run the Trans-Canada corridor
- Taxi within town: C$10–20 (≈ US$8–15) (check)
- Houseboat rental, per night: C$500–1,500 (≈ US$400–1,100) depending on boat and season (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you (—)
- Where is the beach? — Where is the beach? (—)
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (—)
English is the working language; no phrasebook needed.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sicamous. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, many seasonal businesses closed) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for YLW and YVR: last bus and shuttle times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking and driving clusters with rescue anchors: Highway 1 strip, Main Street, Riverside Avenue, Mara Lake.
- Houseboat operator pages with verified booking windows, licence rules and deposit terms.
- Beach and park pages with verified seasonal open dates and parking rules.
Sources
- officialTown of Sicamous
- officialBC Parks — Mara Provincial Park
- officialD Dutchmen Dairy
- officialEbus
- officialRider Express
- secondaryWikivoyage: Sicamous, revision 5236928 (CC BY-SA 4.0)