Cathedral Provincial Park
Camping
Welcome
to Cathedral Provincial Park, a class “A” wilderness park.
To reduce the visitor impact on the park, please note the following
important points:
- Practice
"No Trace" camping and hiking. Pack out what you
pack in. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.
- The
pit toilets in the campsites work on a composting system.
The maximum composting season is a short 2-3 months. This is
due to the long periods of cold temperatures experienced in
the sub alpine and alpine environments. Only human waste and
organic materials that can be broken down quickly should be
deposited in the pit toilets. Soaps should not be deposited
into the pit toilets as it destroys the bacteria that aid in
decomposition. Garbage and feminine protection will not decompose,
so it is essential that those items be packed out.
- Outside
of the campsites pit toilets are not provided. Please observe
the backcountry technique of digging cat holes for human waste.
Find a suitable location away from bodies of water, and a minimum
of 10 m from well traveled areas. Using the toe and heal of
your boot scrape a hole 4 to 6 inches deep (some people prefer
to use a small garden shovel). Do what comes natural and cover
the cat hole over ensuring that the toilet paper is covered
over completely. This will ensure that decomposition time is
increased and unsightly waste and toilet paper is disposed of
appropriately. Garbage and feminine protection will not decompose,
so it is essential that those items be packed out.
- Fires
are only permitted in the fire rings provided, which are
located at Quiniscoe Lake. Never leave your fire unattended,
even a small or a smoldering fire can spread. Always be sure
to extinguish it completely when you leave your campsite. Fire
rings are not to be used as a receptacle for your garbage
that you plan to burn later. Garbage must be stored with your
food in a sealed container, i.e.: Ziploc bags, away from animals.
Otherwise, the garbage is spread by animals looking for a free
meal or by the wind.
- The
lakes and streams are our only source of drinking water.
Please follow some simple steps to ensure that we maintain the
highest water quality possible for all visitors. When washing
yourself or your dishes, dip water out of the lake, using a
clean container, and move 30 m (50 ft) away, so you do not to
contaminate the drinking water source. Dispose of used water
by throwing it over a large area, away from your site, the sites
of others, or flowing or standing water. Swimming in the lakes
is permitted, however, please do not use soap!
- The
alpine is a very sensitive area, mainly due to its very
short growing season (2-3 months). To reduce the amount of impact,
stay on designated trails, especially where there are switchbacks.
Short cutting a switchback will increase erosion by water, and
will destroy a slope, causing the trails to become muddy in
the spring and difficult to follow. Also, walking single-file
will reduce trail braiding (more than one path on a trail).
- Cathedral
Park supports a diverse Ecosystem. Many species of plants
and animals you will see depend on each other for their survival
through the long harsh winters. For this reason, it is necessary
that the wild flowers and trees remain undamaged, and that you
do not feed the animals when visiting the park. Feeding the
animals and damaging the plants will only hamper their efforts
to collect and store their natural foods. In effect you are
breaking the chain that has existed for centuries.
- Tent
pads were constructed to minimize the impact of camping
enjoyed by thousands of visitors in a few short summer months.
Efforts are being made to re-vegetate the surrounding area and
campsites, to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment
for visitors. Please cooperate and participate with our efforts
by using only the main trails and respecting our attempts at
re-vegetating areas as indicated by a sign or a rope throughout
the park.
Return to
Cathedral Provincial Park.