Thompson. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Adams is a large lake, and subject to gusts of strong wind. Note that there are few pullouts available during the high water of May and June.
- Bring your own water, as potable water is not available in the park.
- Visitors must stay on the trails and within the viewing area. Rocks and river edges can be extremely slippery.
Special notes
- The nearest telephone is located at Adams Lake Store, approximately 5 km from the park.
- Consumption of alcohol is prohibited in provincial parks, except within your campsite.
- Adams Lake West Forest Service Road frequently has heavy logging truck traffic. Use caution on this road and yield to logging trucks.
- Please help to prevent the spread of Eurasian Water Milfoil by removing all weeds from your boat and motor before launching and after removing from the lake.
- Please be advised that overnight parking for boat launch use is not permitted. Only vehicles registered for overnight camping will be permitted. All other vehicles will be towed at owners expense.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
The park is on the southwestern shores of Adams Lake. It is located 15 km from Highway 1 at Squilax, east of Kamloops, 30 km north of Chase. Take the Holding/Adams Lake West Road off the Squilax-Anglemont Road. The closest communities are Scotch Creek, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Kamloops and Chase.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. You can self-register by choosing a site and depositing payment at the pay station. Campsite reservations are not accepted.
The campsites are suitable for campers and small trailers only. There are no pull-through campsites. All sites are shaded and very rustic, with fire rings. There is no gatehouse at this park. There is limited parking for extra vehicles. The park may be accessible earlier and later depending on weather and snow-load. The gates are closed in the off-season and camping is not permitted.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $13 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $6.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
At the campground there is a natural sand and pebble beach on Adams Lake. There is no roped off swimming area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking at this park.
It is popular to fish for kokanee and rainbow trout at Adams Lake. Access to the park is closed after snowfall accumulations are deep enough to make the road unsafe.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Cycling is permitted only on public and park roads. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Adams Lake Park – Bush Creek Site. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Adams Lake has waterskiing opportunities. Adams Lake is a very large lake and it’s water conditions can change quickly. Be aware of the weather and water conditions before waterskiing. There are no motor size restrictions on Adams Lake.
Adams Lake can get strong winds, which are great for windsurfing.
Facilities
There is an undeveloped gravel boat launch. The small parking area for vehicles and boat trailers is at the bottom of the entrance road, before the camping area. Please check with the park operator before parking any vehicles or trailers in the parking area. It is prohibited to park vehicles on any roadways within the park.
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. The park operator does not provide firewood in this park. However, you are welcome to bring your own firewood as long as it meets current campfire restrictions of 0.5 m by 0.5 m in size.
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.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
About this park
There are a number of known archaeological sites at this park.
The area was established for recreational use in 1988. It obtained park designation in 1997 as a result of the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan.
The park protects beaches and shoreline on Adams Lake as well as mixed forests of aspen, birch, willow, Douglas fir and cedar.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Park operator | This park is operated by Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Visitor centre | There is a Visitor Information Centre in Clearwater. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
