Blind Bay

Blind Bay and the surrounding Shuswap area is a favourite Thompson Okanagan destination for those who love sunshine, beaches and water activities.

Kayaking is a popular pastime and you can rent kayaks and go as a group or alone. For the more adventurous and experienced, you can tackle the Adams Lake rapids or paddle out to Copper Island and hike the provincial park trails.  Swimming, water skiing, fishing offer lots of things to do on the water. And you never know you might catch a world renowned ‘Kamloops Fighting Trout’ or maybe a Kokanee or two.

A couple of provincial parks are located close by. Shuswap Lake Provincial Park has one kilometer of sandy, pebble beach, and includes the whole of Copper Island. Self-guided nature trails and hiking trails with stunning views are a good reason to come here. White Lake Provincial Park has a reputation for excellent rainbow trout fishing and is popular for fly fishing and trolling in the summer, also ice fishing during the winter.

In the winter this area is fast becoming one of the major snowmobile destination points in BC. Challenging terrain and powder that is measured in feet – not inches – makes snowmobiling in the Shuswap an exhilarating experience.

Copper Island from the shore of Shuswap Lake Provincial Park

Location

Blind Bay is located on the southern shore of Shuswap Lake, 29 km (18 mi) northwest of Salmon Arm and 6 km (4 mi) east of Sorrento. Access to Blind Bay from Sorrento is via Blind Bay Road, 5 minutes off the Trans-Canada Highway 1. The small community of Tappen lies 15 km (9 mi) south of Blind Bay.

A Step Back in Time

Blind Bay was once known as Trapper’s Landing due to the town’s unique location along the Shuswap Lake. When the first Europeans were settling in the area, the South Shuswap quickly became a junction for goods and for people traveling to the North Shuswap. Blind Bay and Notch Hill just 5 km (3 mi) away were critical shipping points for the railways and ships passing by.