Thompson. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
The park is used for informal cross-country skiing in the winter and connects to the Stake Lake Ski Trail system.
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
Take the Lac Le Jeune Exit off Hwy #5 (the Coquihalla) at 37 km south of Kamloops and 47 km north of Merritt. There is also 26 km of paved access off the Hwy #1 at Kamloops. Due to its elevation, at 1,280 metres, the weather is cooler, a welcome relief from the desert conditions of the valleys to north and south.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
There are vehicle-accessible campsites with 21 double sites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
Most sites will accommodate medium to large size recreational units. The sites are treed and provide a fair amount of privacy. With a small or medium sized camping unit, there will be room for a second vehicle.
During the shoulder season, if there are no staff at the gatehouse upon arrival, choose a site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day. During the high season staff will occupy the gatehouse during the opening hours of the park and fees can be paid there. If you have a reservation, check the reservation board beside the gatehouse to learn which site has been allocated to you.
- The front gate is locked from 11pm to 7am.
- There is a resort five minutes from the park providing a few amenities.
- A pay phone is located at the entrance to the park.
- There are two recycle centres in the campground.
- There is no wilderness backcountry camping.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $23 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
The Gus Johnson Trail circles the lake through forest and skirting wet meadows. It is approximately 8 km long. From the park there is access to the Gus Johnson Trail and the extensive Stake Lake trail system. Stake Lake provides over 45 km of trails. Both trails are used for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.
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.
There is 146 metres of sandy beach. Swimming is popular and there is a sectioned off swim area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Lac Le Jeune is famous for its rainbow trout fish, an average size of 1.5 kg. There is a 76 metre long fishing wharf located in front of the day-use area. There are numerous area lakes providing ice fishing opportunities during the winter season.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Find fun summer outdoor learning experiences with Discover Parks Ambassadors here all summer long. For specific dates, along with many more seasonal and year-round activities, visit dicoverparks.ca.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the park operator for more information.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings. On the beach, pets are restricted to a signed area near the west end of the parking lot. 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.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. Cycling opportunities are available on the Gus Johnson and Stake Lake trails with over 45 km of trails.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Lac Le Jeune 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.
Cross-country skiing is popular on the Gus Johnson Trail on the east and south side of the lake, and the adjacent Stake Lake ski area provides 45 km of groomed trails. Snowshoeing opportunities and ice skating are available in the Stake Lake area.
There are numerous area lakes providing ice fishing opportunities during the winter season. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is a concrete car ramp for boats. There is also a speed restriction of 20 km per hour on the lake.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared by bringing a portable stove for cooking.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, it is prohibited to 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.
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.
There are potable cold water taps located throughout the campground.
There are 34 picnic tables. The day-use is a large grassy area near the shore of the lake. Large fir trees shade some of the tables. There is a parking lot adjacent to the day-use.
Next to the day-use is a picnic shelter. The picnic shelter contains five tables, counter space, a sink but no water hook-up and has lexan windows to provide protection from the wind.
A user pay sani-station is located near the entrance to the park.
About this park
The original 47 hectare park was designated in 1956. An additional 118 hectares of upland and 48 hectares of foreshore was designated in 1996 as a result of recommendations made in the Kamloops Land and Resources Management Plan. It was intended that the addition be kept natural, with no development or vehicle access. The park will be managed according to the Management Direction Statement for Lac Le Jeune Park.
The park protects upland and riparian habitats on portions of Lac Le Jeune. The trout fishery is provincially significant. A marsh on the east side of the lake is protected. A sunscreening canopy of lodgepole pine plays shadows on the pine grass of this lakeside park. The waters of Lac Le Jeune are famous for fighting rainbow trout.
The park provides habitat for moose, mule deer, beaver, osprey, song birds and waterfowl.
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. |
