Park overview
Beatton Park is a year-round recreational facility located on the shores of Charlie Lake. This 320 hectare park is a popular summer recreation destination for swimming, fishing and hiking.
Beatton also offers excellent winter recreation opportunities. Experience over 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails designed for beginner, intermediate and advancing skiing. Visitors have a good chance of seeing deer or moose which frequent the park during the winter.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open May 9, 2024 to September 4, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 33
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 39
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 9 to September 4
- Winter season
- No services
- Booking required
- 2024: May 17 to September 2
- Winter season note
- The gate is closed during the off-season.
- Facility type
- Picnic areas
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 9 to September 4
- 2025: May 11 to September 10
- Winter season
- No services
- Booking required
- 2024: May 17 to September 2
- 2025: May 16 to September 2
- Winter season note
- The gate is closed during the off-season.
Special notes
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
- Whiskey Jack Nordic Ski Club has completed the expanded trail network at Beatton Park. This new trail expansion now offers over 15 kilometres of groomed trails for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. Trail maps are posted at the trailhead and major junctions. Trails are marked.
- There has also been an addition of an extensive snowshoe trail designated for those other enthusiasts.
- As part of this trail expansion and site enhancement, Treaty 8 Tribal Association and BC Parks are also involved with developing First Nation interpretive signage to be situated along some of the routes. While this project is ongoing, these trails are now available for public use and enjoyment.
- Charlie Lake offers winter opportunities for the ice fishing enthusiast.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total reservable frontcountry sites: 27
- Total vehicle-accessible sites: 39
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
There is an adventure playground located in the day-use area.
There is a double boat launch complete with turnaround and a large parking area for vehicles with trailers.
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.
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.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
There is a large day-use area with beach, picnic shelter, ball diamond, adventure playground and a large grassy area with 100 parking spaces available. Reservations for the group site picnic area are available. Click here for reservation information.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
Activities
There are 12 km of hiking trails throughout the park. For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.
There is a beach with a marked swimming area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoes and kayaks are welcome. There are no rentals located at the park.
Canoes and kayaks are welcome. There are no rentals located at the park.
Visitors can fish for walleye and northern pike.
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 day-use and beach areas (with the exception of the designated dog beach) or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets, due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife. Check with park staff for directions to the designated dog beach, which is located between the main day-use area and the boat launch.
Cycling is allowed in the park. Bicycles must keep to roadways. There are cross-country ski trails that are available to mountain bikers in the summer months.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Beatton Park. 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.
There are waterskiing opportunities on Charlie Lake.
There are windsurfing opportunities on Charlie Lake.
Beatton Park has excellent winter recreation opportunities.
- Cross Country Skiing: Experience over 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails designed for beginner, intermediate and advancing skiing. Trail maps are posted at the trailhead and major junctions. Trails are marked.
- Snowshoeing: an extensive snowshoe trail is designated.
- Tobogganing: a toboggan hill exists in the park.
This park is located 13 km northwest of Fort St. John off Highway 97 on the 244 road, approximately a 20 minute drive.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: September 14, 1934
- Size: 330 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Sandstorm North Contracting
For information concerning the vehicle-accessible campground:
sandstormnorth@gmail.com
Nature and culture
Conservation
Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please don’t damage or remove them.
Wildlife
Deer and moose frequent the park during the winter.
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.