Cariboo. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- ORVs are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
- There is a BC Parks information shelter, which provides information on campground and picnic area locations as well as a sani-station, located at the south end of the park.
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
Access is approximately 16 km northeast of 70 Mile House off Hwy #97 along North Bonaparte Road or approximately 18 km south of Hwy #24 at Lone Butte and follow the signs along Watch Lake Road. The closest communities are 70 Mile House, Lone Butte and 100 Mile House.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers three vehicle-accessible campgrounds. Campsite reservations are accepted at all sites.
Emerald Bay and Sunset View are campgrounds nestled amongst the trees where as Arrowhead consists of waterfront camping in a fairly open area.
Emerald Bay campground has 51 sites, a few of which are double sites. Many of the sites are long and spacious. Sunset View has 54 sites, a few of which are also double sites. Arrowhead has 16 high density sites that are smaller than at the other campgrounds. Large rigs may still fit in some of these sites. There is room for extra vehicles at the larger sites.
If there is no staff at the campground upon arrival, choose a site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season. The closest store is at Little Horse Lake Lodge near Emerald Bay or at 70 Mile House.
If you are unsure of the specific campground locations, refer to the site map for further information.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $18 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $9 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
The Sunset View group site is composed of four pods with three tables at each pod. It is situated close to the lake and in an open setting surrounded by native grass and aspen trees for shade makes for a very private and quiet atmosphere. To reserve, there is a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 60 people per party.
| Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
| Regular group camping fee | $80 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the youth group policy see the group camping page.
Groupsites
Walk-in camping
There are four walk-in tent sites at Sunset View campground.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $18 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $9 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Walk-in campgrounds
Things to do
There is a self-guided 1 km interpretative trail at Sunset View campground. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
The sand and pebble beaches are shallow and warm with designated roped off swimming areas at all day-use and campground areas in the park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Powerboating is popular on the lake, waterskiing conditions are ideal. Canoeing or kayaking is not recommended due to the high winds that arise on the large lake.
An annual restocking program of rainbow trout provides fair to good fishing opportunities. Locally, fishing is best described as challenging. Try a dark flatfish lure.
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 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 the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
There are numerous cattle trails in the area outside the park which can be used for cycling. Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Green 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.
There are waterskiing opportunities at Green Lake.
No horseback riding, except for guided trail rides at Emerald Bay (the guide operator is operating under permit with BC Parks).
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Two paved, single-boat launches are located in the park. One is on the southside at Sunset View campground and the other is on the north side at Little Arrowhead picnic site. There is a parking area for vehicles and boat trailers at both places.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator in some parks or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable 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.
Cold water taps and handpumps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season. There are no hose hook-ups for campers and trailers.
Emerald Bay Campground picnic shelter
Sunset View group picnic shelter
Picnic and day-use areas are located at Blue Spring, Little Arrowhead, Emerald Bay, and Sunset View.
Day-use areas at Sunset View and Emerald Bay also feature picnic shelters. Blue Spring, Little Arrowhead, and Sunset View have a locked gate between 10pm and 8am. Group picnicking is open in the summer and reservations are available for the Sunset View picnic shelter.
This park only has pit toilets located throughout the campgrounds and day-use areas. A flush toilet building is located at the sani-station building.
Big Toy playground equipment is located at Sunset View and Emerald Bay campgrounds. Horseshoe pits are available in all three campgrounds. Please bring your own horseshoes.
A sani-station and dump is available during the collecting season. The sani-station facilities are located at the junction of North Green Lake Road and North Bonaparte Road, 12 km west of Sunset View campground and 18 km southwest of Emerald Bay.
About this park
Green Lake Park was established in July of 1975 as an area of high recreational opportunity. Popular summer recreational activities include swimming, boating, fishing, waterskiing, and nature walks.
As one of the largest water bodies in the southern part of the Cariboo Plateau, Green Lake is a valuable fish and waterfowl habitat area. The low flushing rate of this shallow lake maintains a high content of algae and other micro-organisms, which along with the chemical composition of the water itself, gives it the emerald green hue for which it is known.
The area is fairly abundant with moose and deer. Limited numbers of black bear, coyote, squirrels and marmots are also present. The west end of the lake attracts waterfowl as a nesting and migratory resting area. Owls and golden eagles can also be seen.
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 Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
