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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Paul Lake Provincial Park is nestled in a mixed forest of
Douglas-fir, pine and aspen. The park offers a large campground,
a sani-station and an adventure playground. In addition there
is a popular day-use area with beach and cartop boat launch,
and
over seven kilometers of hiking trails. This lovely lakeshore
campground is within a half-hour drive of Kamloops and there
are many tourist attractions in the area.
Easy access, beautiful scenery, plentiful fishing and a
diversity of outdoor recreational activities make Paul Lake
a popular
destination.
You will not have a problem finding a spot to set up
camp. The large campground is seldom full.
Park
Size: 670
hectares
Special
Notes:
- The
trail to Gibralter Rock offers magnificent views
of
the lake and mountains.
- The
Paul Lake group campsite is located at the opposite
end of the lake from the main campground.
Management
Planning:
Management
Planning Information
Location:
From Hwy
#5, five km north of Kamloops, take the paved Pinantan Road
for 19 km to the campground, located on the north side of
Paul Lake.
Map/Brochure:
Any maps listed are for
information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be
used for navigation.
Nature & Culture:
- History -
The original 402 hectares was designated as a park in
1961, with an additional 268 hectares added in 1996.
The park addition was created as a result of recommendations
made in the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan.
- Conservation -
The 1996 addition to Paul Lake Provincial Park adds interior
Douglas-fir forests, including stands of old growth.
It protects habitat for the falcon, white-throated swift,
bald eagle, coyote and mule deer.
- Wildlife - A
popular area for bird-watching, with osprey, swallows,
and white-throated swifts. The park protects habitat
for the falcon, white-throated swift, bald eagle, coyote
and mule deer.
Visitor
Safety:
- When
hiking to Gibralter Rock, remember that there are
dangerously
steep cliffs at the top of the bluff. Keep well back
and watch your children.
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.
Reservations
are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a
first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept
reservations or information on the reservation service,
click here.
Group
Camp/Picnic Reservations:
Group campsite
and/or group picnic site reservations are accepted at
this park.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
Contact
Information:
Brandywine Environmental Management
Ltd.
E-mail address: brwill@telus.net
Phone: 1-250-828-9533
Click here to view a non-government
web link, for additional information.
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This
park offers 90 vehicle accessible campsites nestled
amongst the trees on a first-come, first-served
basis - campsite reservations are not accepted.
There are three double sites and no pull through.
If staff is not around when you arrive at the campground,
choose your site and pay later when they drop by
to collect.
The
gate to the park is locked between 11:00pm and 7:00am.
Only registered campers are allowed in the campground
after 11:00pm and quiet time is between 10:00pm
and 7:00am. The nearest public telephone is in the
day use or at Pinantan Country Store, five minutes
from the park; turn right at the park entrance.
Vehicle
Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC
Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only):
$7.50 per senior's couple/night
Campground 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
15 - September 15
(Approximately - Main gate is closed when snow impedes vehicle traffic) |
| Campground
Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
May 15 - September 15
(Services may be available and fees charged
later/earlier than this date, weather permitting- for confirmation, please use the contact information listed above.)
Off-season: self-contained units in day use
area; no fee;
no services. |
| Campground
Reservable Dates: |
Not
applicable |
| Total
Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: |
90 |
| Number
of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
Not
applicable |
| 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. |
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No
wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.
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There
is a group campsite consisting of a large grassy
area, a hand pump and a picnic shelter surrounded
by trees. Click
here for reservation information.
Group
Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
Youth
Group
Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night
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The
day-use/picnic area has a superb sandy beach, change
houses, pit and flush toilets, cold water taps,
an open air shower and BBQ’s. The gate to
the day-use area is locked between 11pm and 7am.
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.
Group
Picnicking Fee: $35.00 per group
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Some
facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible.
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Cold water taps are located throughout the park. There
are no hose hookups for campers/trailers. Taps are
shut off during the off-season.
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Pit
and flush toilets are located throughout the park. |
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No
showers.
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A
sani-station/dump is available during the collecting
season.
Sani-station
Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge
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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.
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There are no electrical hook-ups in this park. |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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The
park has over 7 km of hiking trails. The trails take
you from the lakeshore up a gentle grade through
a mature Douglas-fir forest to the summit of Gibraltar
Rock, 900 meters in elevation. The last portion of
the trail (about 300 metres) is somewhat steep but
there are rest stops along the way. Be aware of steep
cliffs near top of the Gibraltar Rock trail. The
summit gives spectacular views of the lake and Harper
Mountain, as well as a bird’s eye view of ospreys,
swallows and the rare white-throated swift. You may
wish to take the alternate return route by way of
the campground. 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. Trails
Map
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Horseshoe pits and an adventure playground are located
in the campground.
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The park has 400 meters of sandy beach and marker
buoys indicate the area along the beach where swimming
is allowed. Boaters are restricted to outside of this
area. Changing rooms, an open air shower and washrooms
are provided. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial
parks.
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Canoe,
kayak and paddle-boat rentals are available; contact
the Park
Facility Operator or the Campground Host for information.
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Car-top
boat launch; boaters must stay outside the buoyed swimming
area.
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Paul
Lake is stocked with Blackwater and Pennask strains
of Rainbow trout.
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must
have an appropriate licence.
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Cycling
is permitted on roads in the park but is not permitted
on the hiking trails.
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No
horseback riding.
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Pets/domestic
animals must be on a leash at all times and are not
allowed in park buildings. On the beach, pets are
restricted to a signed area near the west end of the
parking lot. 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.
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Bird watching is popular throughout the park. Scenic
views of the lake and nearby Harper Mountain are visible from the top
of Gibraltar Rock. When hiking to Gibraltar Rock, remember that there are
dangerous, steep cliffs at the top of the bluff. Keep well back and do
not leave children unattended.
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The trails provide an opportunity for snowshoeing
and cross-country skiing. However, there are no
winter facilities provided.
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. |
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