Shuswap Lake is shaped like a lopsided H, with four long arms pushing into the surrounding mountains. The combination of calm water, warm summer temperatures (the lake reaches 24°C in August), and dozens of accessible beaches accessible only by water makes it unusually well-suited to slow, self-propelled exploration. Houseboating is the dominant mode: Sicamous, a smaller town about 40 kilometres east, is the main rental hub, but marinas in Salmon Arm also operate fleets.
A typical houseboat rental runs from a Friday to the following Friday, and prices are high enough that groups usually split costs. The appeal is specific — a slow week of anchoring in coves, swimming off the back deck, and pulling into small beaches for campfires is either exactly what you want or something you'd find maddening. Day and half-day boat rentals are also available from the Salmon Arm marina for those who want to get on the water without the full commitment. The lake gets busy in July and August; shoulder season in June and September is quieter and often just as warm.