Skimikin Lake lies near Tappen, northwest of Salmon Arm in British Columbia's Shuswap Lake region. A boat launch is accessible from Skimikin Lake Road off Tappen Valley Road — drive past the first campground entrance to the second entrance farther along.

The lake is a year-round recreation destination. Summer activities include canoeing, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking across more than 100 kilometres of trails; in winter those same trails serve as snowshoe routes.

Rainbow trout and steelhead are the most commonly targeted fish species.