Syringa Provincial Park Beaches - Castlegar, BC
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T0SHEA
N 49° 21.011 W 117° 53.245
11U E 435548 N 5466763
Syringa Park is on the north side of Lower Arrow Lake about 14 km. west of the Keenleyside Dam on Broadwater Road, which runs west out of Robson. Altogether the park has almost a half kilometre of sandy beach.
Waymark Code: WMK0TV
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 01/26/2014
Views: 1
Alongside the lake, it offers plenty of boating, sun bathing, fishing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. The campground is set in mature forest which provides plenty of shade. There are three beach areas near the campground, Campers beach adjacent to the campground, Boaters beach at the boat launch and Main beach at the primary day-use/picnic site. In total there is 450 metres of sandy beach available. The upper part of the beaches are sandy, while the lower part is rocky. The lower part of the beaches is underwater in the middle of summer as the lake level rises, as the lake has been turned into a reservoir with the construction of Keenleyside Dam. Through the summer there is a roped off swimming area with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Lower and Upper Arrow lakes together are a total of 230 km. in length.
4,417 hectares in size, the park has 61 vehicle accessible campsites and 30 reservable campsites. The campground is open from May 3 to September 30 each year, with campsites being reservable from May 10 to September 14. Camping fees in 2013 were $21 per party and $10.50 for a second vehicle. Firewood cutting is illegal but firewood can be bought for $6 per bundle.
The park extends well up the mountains north of the lake affording ample opportunities for mountain hiking and biking.
Facilities include pit and flush toilets, boat launch, drinking water, picnic areas, group camping, playground, Sani dump station ($5.00 per use) and wheel chair accessible toilets.
Syringa Provincial Park is located in south central BC near the southeast end of the Lower Arrow Lake. The lake is a part of the Columbia River that was widened and deepened with the construction of the Hugh Keenleyside Dam at Castlegar. Recreation opportunities on the Arrow Lake Reservoir have made the park a long time popular destination and offer a comfortable base camp for the family to pursue a variety of recreational pursuits including fishing, boating and swimming. Explore local history and visit the Doukhbour Village Museum and Zukerberg Island located in nearby Castlegar.
The park protects not only provincially significant interior Douglas-fir forests but also preserves one of the few remaining examples of grassland ecosystems in the Kootenays. A variety of wildlife are at home in the park including, elk, deer and a herd of rocky mountain bighorn sheep that can often be observed grazing on the many rock bluffs. Opportunities for nature appreciation occur all year making this park a destination in every season.
Nature and Culture
History – The park was named for Syringa Creek, which flows into the Lower Arrow Lake near the park’s eastern or southeastern boundary. The “Syringa” or Mock Orange is a shrub which is indigenous to the area. It blooms in early spring showing clusters of white flowers with bright yellow stamens that emit a powerful, pleasing fragrance. First established in 1968 to provide recreational opportunities, the park was increased to its present size in 1995 to protect a provincially significant ecosystem.
Cultural Heritage - This area is significant to the Okanagan, Shuswap, Sinixt, and Ktunaxa/Kinbasket First Nations. It encompasses areas of cultural and spiritual values and three pre-contact sites.
Conservation - Syringa Provincial Park encompasses 4417 hectares. The moderately dry and warm climate of this part of the West Kootenay is conducive to the growth of plants and trees like bunchgrass and ponderosa pine that are not normally found in the region. It contains beaches, grasslands, open and closed pine forest, rock outcroppings and canyons. It is important seasonal range for rocky mountain bighorn sheep, elk, deer and cougar. Many bird species inhabit the parks’ forest and grasslands including white-throated swifts, canyon wrens nesting in the rock bands and great blue heron at the waters edge.
Wildlife - Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance.
From Syringa Park
Visit Instructions:Give the date and description of your visit, adding any additional information that you may have about the beach. Additional photos of the beach are highly encouraged. We want to hear about your experience!