Protected area overview
Fishing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing are just some of the outdoor pursuits that can all be enjoyed in Bearhole Lake Provincial Park.
The area teems with wildlife. Watch moose wade through the marsh and lake shallows or observe beaver busily chewing bark off of willow or aspen twigs. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy seeing nesting trumpeter swans or listening to many of the warblers found in and around the area.
Whatever you choose, this clear water lake definitely has a lot to offer.
Advisories
Safety info
Special Notes
- Trumpeter swans are easily disturbed during the nesting period. Please do not approach these elegant birds or their young during this critical time.
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
Camping
For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle-accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through the BC Parks reservations system.
There are vehicle-accessible camping facilities at the park.
Wilderness camping is allowed; no facilities are provided.
Facilities
There is a day-use area and picnic facilities in the park.
There are pit toilets in this park.
There is a boat launch in the park.
Campfires are permitted. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
Activities
There are no developed trails at this park but visitors can explore the area. Always be prepared when venturing out in the backcountry/wilderness area.
There are swimming opportunities in the park.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
There are wildlife viewing opportunities.
Bicycling is permitted in the park. Helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Bearhole Lake Protected Area. 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.
Horseback riding is permitted.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
There are snowshoeing and backcountry skiing opportunities in the park.
Maps and location
Bearhole Lake Protected Area is located 25 km east of Tumbler Ridge on the Alberta Plateau. Access is via 20 km west along the Kiskatinaw Forest Service Road You can access the Forestry Road from the Heritage Highway. Please note: The Forestry Road is not usually maintained and becomes rutted and slippery after rains. Caution advised.
Protected area and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF]
Learn more about this protected area
Protected area details
- Date established: January 25, 2001
- Size: 4755 hectares
Nature and culture
- Cultural Heritage: Area of traditional use by First Nations of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association.
- Conservation: Trumpeter swans find critical nesting habitat in and around Bearhole Lake. The area surrounding the lake contains undisturbed boreal white and black spruce forests and wetlands typical of the Kiskatinaw Plateau ecosection. The headwaters of the Kiskatinaw River are within the boundaries of the park. Low elevation caribou, moose and white-tailed deer find important winter range within the park.
- Wildlife (specific to this park or area): The lake contains yellow perch, burbot, rainbow trout, northern pike, large-scale sucker, and white sucker. Trumpeter swans use the lake and surrounding marsh to nest and fledge their young. Moose, caribou, black bear, white-tailed deer and numerous small mammals and birds all reside in the park.
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.