Ministry of Environment

Parks Listed Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

There are no park updates at this time.

Park Info:

Herald Provincial Park is a popular destination campground and day-use area. The park covers 79 hectares of beautiful beach and forested uplands, and boasts a 119-site campground, boat launch and large day-use area. Swimming, fishing and bird-watching are popular activities, as is the self-guided nature walk to Margaret Falls. Just 14 kilometres from the Trans Canada Highway along the western shore of the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake, Herald is a great spot to use as a base camp for visiting the many attractions of the Shuswap area.

Park Size: 79 hectares

Special Notes:

There are three separate campgrounds that make up Herald Provincial Park: Bastion Campground, Reinecker Campground and Homestead Campground. A few of the sites in Bastion Campground, and many sites in the middle of Homestead Campground are sunny and unshaded. If the campground is busy, you may be assigned one of these campsites. Sites are assigned upon arrival, on a first come first served basis, regardless of when the reservation was made. This applies both to campers with reservations and campers arriving without reservations. (However, if you arrive without a reservation you are not guaranteed a site.)

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

The Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan is now available online (133KB PDF).

Location:

Location Map

This park is located 14 km east of the Trans Canada Hwy. at Tappen, BC. It is on the west shore of the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake. The closest communities, towns and cities are Tappen, Canoe, Sorrento and Salmon Arm.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Location Map
Park Map (63 KB PDF)
Brochure (237 KB PDF)

Nature & Culture:

History - Established in 1975, this park was part of a farm owned from 1905 by Dr. Dundas and Edith Herald and their children. Canoes carried the first Europeans here, but by the 1870s paddle-wheelers frequently transported people between Kamloops and communities on the lake. The Canadian Pacific railway, and later an expanded road system, resulted in a much easier movement of people and goods. Starting in the 1950s, the increase of private cars brought a new industry to Shuswap Lake: summer recreation.
Cultural Heritage - Contact the Campground Hosts for a copy of the in-park handout: it provides information for the self-guided nature trail, and about the human and natural history of this lovely place.
Conservation - The canyon leading to Margaret Falls protects a unique ecosystem. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please don't damage or remove them.
Wildlife - Birders take note: 70 species are documented in Herald Park! Cougars, bears and other wildlife are seen on occasion - keep children close by when hiking.
General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

Visitor Safety:

Boat traffic is heavy on Shuswap Lake: swim only in designated areas. Theft is a recurring problem: lock all valuables in vehicles.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

P.E.G. Ltd.
E-mail address: peg@mail.ocis.net
Phone: (250) 955-0861 - for information only; this number does not accept individual campsite reservations; please reserve through Discover Camping.

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites of which 22 are in 11 double sites. There are no pull through sites and all vehicles must fit into the gravel portions of the campsite, as there is no parking available for extra vehicles. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. The gatehouse is located at the entrance of the campground. The entrance gate is locked between 11 pm and 7 am. There is a Self-Registration station located near the gatehouse if the gatehouse is closed. Herald Park is a haven for recreationalists from May through September. Reservations are recommended for mid-summer and long weekends. For your convenience there are two pay phones in the park; one is located at the entrance and the other is behind sites 113 & 114.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party /night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $12.00 per senior's couple/night

Hours of Operation - All dates are subject to change without notice
Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)	May 1 - September 30 (Campground gate is closed during the off-season; the day-use area gate is open; boat launch and Margaret Falls trail are open.)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	May 1 - September 30 (Off-season: self-contained units allowed in day-use area)
Campground Reservable Dates:	May 12 - September 4
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:	119
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served)	83
Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.

Wilderness or backcountry camping is not allowed.

There are no group campsites at this park.

This park has a large day-use/picnic area. It has a combination of grassy areas with over 1,000 metres of mostly sandy beach. A few BBQs are located in the day-use area; please bring you own charcoal briquettes. There are both flush toilets and water provided. The day-use entrance gate is locked between 11 pm and 7 am. The gate is left open during off-season until snow stops access, at which time self-contained units are allowed to camp in day-use area.
Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees, click here.

Some of the facilities and hiking trails in the park are wheelchair accessible. Please talk to the on-site staff for more information upon arrival.

Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season. There are no hookups in this park. Water for filling holding tanks is available at the sani-station.

Pit and flush toilets are located throughout the park.

There are hot showers at this park.

A sani-station/dump is available during the collecting season.
Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

While 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.Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.

Campfires must not exceed half a metre in height. Keep fires small, save trees and conserve firewood. Do not leave your campfire unattended. This is a high-risk forest fire area.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

Hikers will enjoy the two distinct topographical areas, upland and flat delta, which have created a great terrain for hiking. There is a trail to Upper Canyon, which has beautiful views of the lake. There are some rough sections along the 2.5 km trail. A self-guiding nature trail has interpretative stops to Margaret Falls. The Brochure (237 KB PDF) or Campground Hosts (if available) can assist with area information. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. Trail Information

This park does not have a playground.

There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. There is a large swimming area that is buoyed off from motor-boat use.

All water sports are popular on Shuswap Lake.

There is a concrete boat launch available at this park. It is located in the day-use area of the park. A large parking area is available for parking vehicles and boat trailers. Overnight parking is not permitted. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard or read information signs at launch area for current regulations on Shuswap Lake. Houseboats are not permitted to park overnight at this park, please refer to the Shuswap Marine Park web pages for information about lake sites.

Shuswap lake has 19 different species of fish and year round fishing. The most popular fish are Lake trout and Rainbows to 10 kg. Dollies, Kokanee, Burbot, Whitefish. Trolling for deep lurkers is the most popular technique. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

No horseback riding.

There is an area set aside for pets east of the boat launch (along the lakeshore beside the boat launch parking lot). You are responsible for their control, behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings or beach areas except for the area set aside above.

Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

No wildlife viewing opportunities.

No winter recreation opportunities.

SCUBA diving does occur in Shuswap Lake. Please check with local dive operators for more information.

Windsurfing is allowed on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.

Watersking is allowed on Shuswap Lake. Please check with the Canadian Coast Guard for the current regulations and restrictions.

No hunting in the park.

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.