Park overview
The Shelter Bay campground is one of four small sites in Arrow Lake. The other three sites (Burton, Eagle Creek and Fauqier) are managed by local community groups.
Upper Arrow and Lower Arrow Lakes are a widening of the Columbia River and lie between the imposing Selkirk Mountains on the east and the Monashee Mountains on the west.
Narrow strips of beach varying in width are interspersed with rocky headlands and steep cliffs along both shorelines of the lakes. These give way to heavily forested mountain sides that rise rapidly to elevations averaging 2,500 metres on the west and 2,700 metres on the east.
Water-oriented activities dominate the scene and angling for kokanee, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout is a popular pastime.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open year-round
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 17
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 1 to September 30
- Winter season
- Not known
- Winter season note
- No services are provided during the off-season.
Camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. Campsite reservations are not accepted.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Drinking water will not be available at the Shelter Bay campground for the foreseeable future. Free water and a $5 sani-dump is available at Blanket Creek Park, 15 minutes North of Shelter Bay. If water is needed for washing purposes, visitors may want to bring a small container to carry water from the lake.
The park has a concrete boat launch with a breakwater and has a large, gravel vehicle and boat trailer parking area. Boat trailers can be parked overnight in this lot. Overnight, boats are sometimes left in the water in a partially sheltered lagoon due to high water in July and August.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
Activities
The park has a picturesque swimming beach along the shores of Upper Arrow Lake. The water temperature is cool and refreshing.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Arrow Lakes Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Horse and horseback riding opportunities in this park.
Highway 6 traffic crosses the lake by ferry between Fauqier and Needles and Highway 23 traffic by ferry between Galena Bay and Shelter Bay where the park is located. Click here to view the Ferry information.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: May 8, 1981
- Size: 121.1 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
West Kootenay Park Management Inc.
info@westkootenayparks.com
Nature and culture
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.