Lower Mainland. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Severe afternoon winds occur frequently on the lake and dangerous currents exist at the outflow of Chilliwack Lake. Avoid boating and rafting in this area and plan your trip accordingly.
Special notes
- Park gates are locked between 11pm and 7am daily.
- Backcountry registration is required for all backcountry campgrounds within Chilliwack Lake Park. Included are Lindeman, Greendrop, Flora, and Radium Lakes. Get a backcountry camping permit or find out more about backcountry registration.
- There is no cell phone reception past the On the Way store on Chilliwack Lake Road. Please make reservations prior to your trip.
- ATVs and other off-road vehicles (including those registered under the ORV Act ) are not permitted within the park.
- There are no camping and no fires permitted on any lakeshore of Chilliwack Lake. All camping and fires are restricted to designated sites and rings only.
- The Chilliwack Lake boat launch is not suitable for large craft. Vessels longer than 20 ft risk being damaged (at owners expense). Open headers are not permitted.
- Boaters, please adhere to the speed restrictions: 10 km per hour 100 m from shoreline and 25 km per hour on the remainder of the lake.
- Lindeman Lake parking lot is subject to break-ins. Do not leave anything of value in your vehicle.
- Fires are not permitted in the backcountry.
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
- Park Map [PDF 1.4MB]
- Campground Map [PDF] (May 12, 2020)
- Park Brochure [PDF]
- Google Earth KMZ file of the hiking trails (for use in Google Earth or similar)
Getting there
The park is 64 km southeast of Chilliwack, 40 km in from Vedder Crossing. Take Exit 104 from Highway 1 and follow the signs for Cultus Lake until Cultus Lake Road. Instead of turning here, follow Vedder Road across the bridge and turn right onto Chilliwack Lake Road. Follow this road for 40 km to the lake.
Things to do
There are three main trails at this park which all share the same trailhead at the Post Creek Parking Lot.
- Lindeman Lake is 3.4 km return
- Greendrop Lake is 10.4 km return
- Flora Lake is 14 km return
The Radium Lake Trailhead (16 km return) is accessible from the Chilliwack Lake Campground.
The Trans Canada Trail winds through park. See the Trans Canada Trail website for more information.
For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Hiking and trail notices
- South Fraser Trail Conditions Report [PDF] (scroll down to the Chilliwack Lake Park entry)
- From April to October, hikers can park in the day-use parking lot and follow the Trans Canada Trail to the Radium Trail.
- Lindeman Lake Trail: open
- The trail between Lindeman Lake and Greendrop Lake has experienced washing out and has been re-routed by the creek near Greendrop Lake. Hikers should follow the square orange markers, and not the flagging tape through this area.
- The trail between Greendrop and Flora Lakes has once again grown over and has become difficult to follow. It is not recommended for those without considerable experience in route-finding.
- The Greendrop/Flora Trail crosses several large landslides which requires hikers to scramble over, under, or around some large boulders. It should only be travelled by experienced backpackers with good footwear.
- Radium Lake Trail: From May to October, hikers can park in the day-use parking lot and follow the Trans Canada Trail to the Radium Trail. When the park gate is closed (October to May), hikers can park on Chilliwack Lake Road at the end of the pavement (not in front of gate) and follow the park road or the Trans Canada Trail in.
The Park Map [PDF] shows a number of 'routes' that are not actively maintained by BC Parks. Many of these routes are in poor condition, are unmarked, and are not recommended for travel. These routes are: Hanging Lake and the route from Radium Lake to the Chilliwack Lake Eco Reserve.
Travel should not be attempted on the aforementioned trails except by very experienced hikers familiar in the use of a map and compass for navigational purposes. Anyone hiking these routes should be prepared for travel through heavy understory for the duration of the hike.
Visitors can enjoy swimming at Chilliwack Lake, but the water is very cold. There are no swimming rafts. The beach area is sandy. This area is prone to high winds in the afternoons.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Only experienced paddlers should attempt to canoe or kayak in the park.
Dangerous currents exist at the outflow of Chilliwack Lake and several kilometres downstream. Avoid boating and rafting in this area. Strong winds are unpredictable.
There are no canoe or kayak rentals available in the park.
Only experienced paddlers should attempt to canoe or kayak in the park.
Dangerous currents exist at the outflow of Chilliwack Lake and several kilometres downstream. Avoid boating and rafting in this area. Strong winds are unpredictable.
There are no canoe or kayak rentals available in the park.
Visitors can fish for Dolly Varden, kokanee, rainbow, and cutthroat trout.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets must be on leash at all times inside the provincial park boundaries. Pets are permitted to be off-leash only when they are swimming in the dog-friendly area on the right side of the boat launch. Please do not leave pets unattended.
You are responsible for your pet’s behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Pets are not allowed in the day-use beach area to the left of the boat launch, the playground and field areas, or any park buildings.
Do not bring pets into the backcountry or on trails, as they can create potential conflicts with wildlife.
Bicycles must keep to roadways and bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are also not allowed on the trails within S⨱ótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake 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.
Hunting is permitted within Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. All hunters should refer to our hunting guide.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
About this park
The Hudson Bay Company cut the first recorded trail up the Chilliwack River in 1855, improving the Indigenous Trail which joined the nine Indigenous villages between Vedder Crossing and Chilliwack Lake. Logging in the valley began early in the century, and by the 1920s developed into a considerable railroad logging operation.
In 1938, a massive fire was started by a rail accident which led to the line being abandoned and the transition to truck logging.
In 1942, the army base was established in Chilliwack. Sappers Park at the south end of Chilliwack Lake was built by a visiting British company of military engineers.
Flowers, trees, and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage. Please don’t damage or remove them.
Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife.
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
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
