Browne Lake Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Browne Lake Park was established May 20, 2004 to protect the Interior Douglas fir-Montane Spruce transition forest and provides opportunities for non-intensive activities such as nature study and hiking.

The recreational camping site on the south-east side of the lake has approximately six spots, and is equipped with outhouses, fire rings, and picnic tables. There is no charge for the use of the sites, and is user-maintained. Lake use is mainly trout fishing and associated boating. There is a boat launch at this site.

The park is adjacent to an ecological reserve that protects the upper slopes of this ecosystem.

Know before you go

Advisories

Special notes

The park does not include the cut-off dam and adjacent land on the north end of the lake. The dam area remains within the user-maintained Forest Recreation Site (FRS), now administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The FRS also covers much of the lake’s shoreline on the east and south sides.
Camping, fires, and motorized vehicle use are prohibited on the north end of the lake within the park.
Browne Lake Ecological Reserve is closed to hunting. The provincial park, located at the north end of the lake is open to hunting. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more details.

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

From the city of Kelowna, travel southeast on Hwy 33 to the Hydraulic (McCulloch Reservoir) Lake Road. Turn west (right) and follow this road 2 km past Hydraulic Lake. Turn north (right) on Browne Lake Forest Service Road and follow it to Browne Lake. Browne is approximately 46 km.

Things to do

Hiking

For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting on trails destroys plant life and soil structure. There are no maps of hiking trails available at this time.

Swimming

A natural gravel beach and cool water makes this park ideal for swimming.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

With approximately 2.8 km of waterfront, the park has lots of opportunities for canoeing and kayaking.

Fishing

There are rainbow trout available in Browne Lake. There is a daily quota of two (only one over 50 cm). Only artificial flies on single barbless hooks are allowed, and there is a bait ban in Browne Lake.

Please obey posted signs regarding speed and vessel restrictions. There is no fishing between December 1 and April 30.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. 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.

Horseback riding

Horses and horseback riding are permitted within the park area. Please stay on designated trails.

About this park

Conservation

This park protects a representation of the Interior Douglas-fir-Montane Spruce transition forest. There is limited information available on the rare species in the park. There is a community of yellow-listed Lewisia pymgaea in a rock crop in the adjacent Browne Lake Ecological Reserve.

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