Emar Lakes Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Emar Lakes Park is a chain of large and small lakes, potholes and wetlands in a forested setting in the upper Emar Creek watershed. This park offers small, user-maintained, wilderness campsites, and a circular canoe route with short portages.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

The park is a wilderness area that is not regularly serviced or patrolled.
Visitors must be self-sufficient and prepared for user-maintained camping.
Bring your own water, as potable water is not available in the park.

Special notes

Parking and camping is at Janice Lake and Willowgrouse Lake.

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

Emar Lakes Park Map [PDF 1.57MB] (August 2008)

Getting there

Drive North on Hwy 5 to Little Fort. Turn left onto Hwy 24 and head west approximately 22 km. Entrance to the park is unmarked as of yet and is approximately 500 m west of the summit sign, on the left.

Camping

Frontcountry camping

User-maintained parking and camping is available at Janice Lake and Willowgrouse Lake. There is a pit toilet and rustic picnic tables at each location. Note that the resort at the northwest end of the lake is privately owned. There are only a few, first come, first served sites at each location. Camping opportunities in this park are not suitable for large units.

Things to do

Hiking

There are primitive trails between the lakes as part of the canoe route.

Swimming

There are swimming opportunities in this park.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

A circular canoe route with short, user-maintained portages, is cleared at the beginning of each summer. Portage through Janice Lake, Dytiscid Lake, Emar Lake, Willowgrouse Lake, Boulder Lake, Club Lake and Next Lake. Parking and camping is available at Janice Lake and Willowgrouse Lake.

Fishing

Fishing opportunities for rainbow trout exist in all lakes in the chain.

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

Wildlife viewing

There is no viewing platform but there are excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas 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 wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Hunting

The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Winter recreation

There are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in this park but there are no maintained winter trails.

Facilities

Boat launch

There is a car top only launching area at Janice (Long Island) Lake.

Campfires

Fire rings are located at Janice Lake site only. No firewood is provided. Bring in your own firewood as cutting and foraging for wood is not permitted. Please keep fires small and ensure they are completely out before you leave. Use a camp stove for cooking.

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.

About this park

Cultural heritage

The Hudson’s Bay Company Brigade Trail has been identified near Jim and Richard Lakes (the trail may be given a Heritage Trail designation). There is evidence for possible traditional native use in the area.

History

The park was created April 30, 1996 as a result of recommendations made in the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan. The park will be managed according to the Management Direction Statement for Emar Lakes Park.

Conservation

The park encompasses a small chain of lakes and surrounding forested plateau in the upper Emar Creek drainage. Protection to lodgepole pine, mixed spruce and pine stands as well as aspen groves, is ensured along with important habitat for wildlife.

Wildlife

Habitat for moose, Black Tern, Common Loon, Ruffed Grouse, and Great Horned Owl.

General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information.

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.

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