If you’re looking for a home in a hidden lake community surrounded by mountains, Salmon Arm is the picturesque place for you. This town of just under 20,000 is right in the heart of British Columbia. Salmon Arm sits on the southwest coast of the Shuswap Lake and is known throughout British Columbia Real Estate for its summer homes and overall year-round beauty. Don’t just take our word for it; in 2019, Salmon Arm was ranked the best community in British Columbia by Maclean’s magazine.
More About Salmon Arm Homes For Sale
People flock into Salmon Arm during the summer to enjoy the lake and nearby camping, which helps greatly in fueling the local economy. Besides tourism, construction and real estate are vital sources of jobs in Salmon Arm. Salmon Arm is also notable in that small businesses make up over half of the local economy.
Though lots of British Columbians have summer homes in Salmon Arm, year-round residents can count on plenty of public schools for their children’s education. School District 83 North Okanagan-Shuswap oversees seven schools in the area.
Life here is best experienced out of doors. Whether you’re into watersports, cross-country skiing (still technically a water sport), or regular old hunting and fishing, you’ll find the wilderness of British Columbia to be one of the best parts of living in Salmon Arm.
Salmon Arm Real Estate Market
Most homes for sale in Salmon Arm list between $400k and $600k. The majority of these properties were built between 1960 and 1980 with a later surge of construction around 2000. Salmon Arm is fairly unique in that there are more homes with 4+ bedrooms than 3 bedrooms. Salmon Arm has a strong current of homeownership, with single-family houses making up about two thirds of housing and over 75% of Salmon Arm residents owning their homes.
Communities in Salmon Arm, BC
Canoe
This modest village is right on the Shuswap lakeshore, northeast of Downtown Salmon Arm. Canoe real estate features mainly 3-5 bedroom homes within the $580k-$630k range. Only a ten-minute drive from Salmon Arm’s downtown, Canoe residents will find it easy to stay connected to civic amenities while also enjoying local beaches and waterfront activities like boating and swimming. Canoe has one school, North Canoe Elementary School.
Broadview
Broadview is a residential-focused community just to the east of Salmon Arm’s downtown. Homes here trend toward the luxury range for Salmon Arm, usually listing for around $1M and featuring four-to-five bedrooms with over 4,000 square feet of floor space. This community has a classic suburban feel to it, but the nearby lake and towering mountains constantly remind you of the natural paradise you live in. Broadview is also home to the majority of schools in Salmon Arm, such as Salmon Arm Secondary School, Shuswap Middle School, and Hillcrest Elementary School to name a few. If you want your kids to live within walking distance of their school, Broadview is your most strategic choice.
Downtown Salmon Arm
Downtown Salmon Arm is bustling in the summer and quiet during the off seasons. Here you’ll find lots of boutique stores, salons, and many of the best restaurants in Salmon Arm. Just south of downtown, the area becomes more residential with more affordable Salmon Arm housing within the $400k-$600k. These homes are a mix of charming split-levels and panel-sided single-story homes, most from the 60s and 70s. Downtown Salmon Arm has a daycare centre, a Montessori school, and J.L Jackson Secondary School.
Gleneden
Gleneden is west of downtown Salmon Arm, around the lake, and set a bit inland right against the mountains. This small, sparsely populated community is great for anyone looking for lots of space to themselves. Homes for sale in Gleneden are typically large, over 4,000 square feet, with 4-5 bedrooms at least, and sit on 3-10 acres on average. Though you might feel isolated living In Gleneden, you’re less than a fifteen-minute drive from Downtown Salmon Arm.
South Canoe
Located southwest of Salmon Arm, South Canoe is a lot like Gleneden in except it’s more populated. There’s a few big, multi-million homes for sale here on enough acres to feel like you have a kingdom to yourself. South Canoe is also home to one elementary school, Canoe Elementary School, so your little ones could take a country walk to school rather than ride a bus.
Distance to Other Cities
- Vernon, BC: 58km
- Kelowna, BC: 109km
- Kamloops, BC: 119km
- Banff, AB: 386km
- Vancouver, BC: 461km
Living In Salmon Arm
Jobs In Salmon Arm
The largest industries in Salmon Arm are forestry and tourism. The top employer of plywood in Salmon Arm is Gorman Bros. Lumber, Ltd. With the help of the Canadian Pacific Railway passing through Salmon Arm, the manufacturing and shipping of plywood is possible. The tourism industry is primarily seasonal, with visitors coming from all over to soak up the beauty that Salmon Arm offers. Whether it be through hotels, rental properties, or other small businesses, the city thrives off of visitors looking to get away to Salmon Arm during the summer months.
Salmon Arm Transportation
A couple of main roads in Salmon Arm make commuting and getting around town by vehicle convenient. Salmon Arm is situated along Trans-Canada Hwy 1, which follows the water’s edge and also connects to Kamloops. The 97B Hwy enters Salmon Arm from the south and connects to Vernon and Kelowna.
Healthcare In Salmon Arm
Residents of Salmon Arm do not have to travel far to receive quality healthcare, which is great news considering major cities are over an hour away. The Shuswap General Hospital is centrally located in Salmon Arm and is a level II trauma centre.
Weather In Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm is in a warm-summer humid continental climate with maritime influences since it is near the Pacific Ocean. The summer months bring mild temperatures with highs around 19.1°C (66.4°F), while the winter months dip to lows around -3.7°C (25.3°F). Salmon Arm receives about 469mm (about 18 inches) of rainfall a year and quite a bit of snow totalling 184.2 cm (about 73 inches).
Things To Do In Salmon Arm
Salmon Arm isn’t a huge city compared to others nearby, but there are plenty of things to do and enjoy without going too far from home.
Parks In Salmon Arm
- Canoe Beach
Located north of Salmon Arm proper and along Shuswap Lake, this lakeside hot spot provides ample opportunities for residents to get outside and have some fun. This park area includes a beach volleyball court, a boat ramp, picnic areas, a playground, a washroom, and more! - McGuire Lake Park
Centrally located in Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake, McGuire Lake Park is a peaceful and beautiful space with trails for biking and walking. The park also has picnic areas and a washroom.
Attractions in Salmon Arm
- Jungle Mania
Open year-round, Jungle Mania is an indoor playground for children ages 12 and under. Here, kids can explore over 2,000 square feet of things to climb, slide, crawl, and more! - Salmon Arm Water Slides
This seasonal summer attraction is a popular place to cool off from the heat and humidity. Salmon Arm residents frequent the water slides with the convenience of a variety of season passes. - Grass Root Dairies
Known as Canada’s first 100% grass-fed dairy farm, Grass Roots prides itself in producing top-quality dairy products, especially cheeses. The farm is open to visitors and educates them about the process of making cheese. - R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum
Situated on 40 acres in the Shuswap, this village and museum have a lot to offer for people of all ages. Here they have over 30 exhibits spanning across 24 buildings and includes a Children’s Discovery Centre, a restaurant, walking trails, and more! The Haney also hosts many events throughout the year that the community loves to participate in. - Larch Hills Winery
This family-owned and operated winery produces award-winning wine from grapes grown right here in British Columbia. Larch hills offers wine-tasting tours and the opportunity to be a part of their wine club.
Frequently Asked Questions About Salmon Arm, BC Real Estate
What’s the postal code for Salmon Arm, BC?
V1E is the postal code for Salmon Arm.
Where’s the nearest commercial airport to Salmon Arm, BC?
The Kelowna International Airport is 96.2 km or about an hour and 15 minutes from Salmon Arm.
What district or region is Salmon Arm, BC in?
Salmon Arm is in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.
How far is Kamloops from Salmon Arm, BC?
Kamloops is 109 km or about an hour and 15 minutes from Salmon Arm.
How far is Kelowna from Salmon Arm, BC?
Kelowna is about 109 km or about an hour and 30 minutes from Salmon Arm.
