Skeena West. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- For safety reasons, firearms are not permitted in the park. Lakelse Lake Park is closed to hunting.
- Please boat and water ski with care. Areas around docking and launching facilities are not suitable for waterskiing. Please avoid them.
Special notes
- Licenced motor vehicles, including motorcycles, are restricted to vehicle roads and parking areas. Please keep vehicles and equipment on the camp pads or driveways. Unlicenced vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, are not permitted in 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
Approximately 20 km south of Terrace and 40 km north of Kitimat on Highway #37. Located approximately 2.5 km north of the Mount Layton Hotsprings. From the junction of Highway #37 and #16, it is 14 km to Gruchy’s Beach day-use area, 15 km to the Lakelse Lake Picnic Site and groupsite, and 19 km to Furlong Bay Campground.
Things to do
Take the 2 km Twin Spruce Trail or the 1 km Gruchy’s Beach Trail to observe the coastal old growth forests and salmon streams. Both trails are easy to hike. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
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.
A swimming area is roped off at Furlong Bay and the Lakelse picnic site. The beaches are sandy and the water temperature is cool in August.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Some excellent fishing opportunities await during summer and winter. Dolly Varden trout are a common catch in the lake, while the area’s rivers boast world-class salmon and steelhead runs. All five species of Pacific salmon spawn in these waters.
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 no bicycle trails in this park. 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 Lakelse 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 on Lakelse Lake.
Snowshoeing is available in the winter on existing hiking trails. Ice skating is available on Lakelse Lake. Check for proper ice thickness before going out and bring your own skates. Cross-country skiing is available at Onion Lake approximately a five minute drive south of Furlong Bay Campground. Downhill skiing and tobogganing are available outside the park at Shames Mountain, approximately a 45 minute drive west of Terrace.
About this park
The word “Lakelse” comes from the Tsimshian language meaning “fresh water mussel,” for the mollusk that is found on the bottom of both Lakelse Lake and River. Prior to Lakelse Lake becoming a provincial park, Hatchery Creek, which runs throughout the park, was the site of a sockeye salmon hatchery operated by the Canadian Government between 1919 and 1936. Lakelse Lake Park was established on March 16, 1956.
Within this old growth coastal forest, diverse wildlife populations and plant communities exist. The Kermodei bear, a white species of black bear, is native to the area. Coyote, moose, wolf, cougar, and many other mammals are also in the area.
About 100 bird species have been counted in the area, including Canada geese, bald eagles, ospreys and trumpeter swans. This swan is the largest species of North American waterfowl and was once on the brink of extinction. A good sized group of them spends the winter at Lakelse Lake.
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 Wilderness Recreation Services Ltd. Available 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
