Sproat Lake Provincial Park

Fresh water adventure seekers will not want to miss a visit to Sproat Lake Provincial Park in the Alberni Valley on central Vancouver Island. Located 15 minutes west of Port Alberni, Sproat Lake is a favoured location for swimming, fishing, waterskiing and, when the wind is up, windsurfing.

A variety of short access trails lead visitors around this park, including a trail to the eastern end of Sproat Lake, which is home to one of the finest panels of prehistoric petroglyphs in British Columbia. Little is known about this petroglyph, named K’ak’awin, but it isn’t hard to imagine this rock carving as depicting some mystical ancient monsters of the lake.

Two separate campgrounds and a large day-use area make this park a popular destination for campers and picnickers, who come here to enjoy the host of recreational pursuits available or just relax in the sun by the warm lake.

All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first-come, first-served.

Campsite Reservations

Campsite reservations are accepted at this park. If sites are not reserved, then they are available for first-come, first-served camping.

Sproat Lake Provincial Park is located 13 km northwest of Port Alberni on central Vancouver Island. The park sits on the north shore of Sproat Lake, and can be reached via Hwy #4.

There is no motorized vehicle access on the trail network or in the day use area in this park.

• Park Map [PDF]
• Brochure [PDF]

• History: Sproat Lake is named after Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, a native of Galloway, Scotland who arrived on Vancouver Island in 1860 with men and equipment to establish a sawmill at the head of the Alberni Canal.

  Sproat was the resident manager of Anderson & Company, Victoria, that exported spars to Europe from Puget Sound and Vancouver Island, a business transferred to southern ports after the end of the US Civil War. As Sproat was a frequent visitor to the west coast of Vancouver Island in connection with his business, he was appointed Principal Customs Officer; his duties included control of the First Nations. Some of his experiences and observations are embodied in his very interesting and now scarce book “Scenes and Studies of Savage Life,” published in London in 1868.

  The park was given to the province in 1966 by MacMillan Bloedel Limited. Before it became a provincial park it was known as Smith’s Landing, after George Smith, who farmed the area.

• Cultural Heritage: Sproat lake Provincial Park is home to one of the finest panels of prehistoric petroglyphs in British Columbia. Little is known about this petroglyph, named K’ak’awin, but it isn’t hard to imagine this rock carving as depicting some mystical ancient monsters of the lake.

• Management Planning Information
• Approved Master Plan for Fossli, Taylor Arm and Sproat Lake Provincial Parks [PDF]
  Disclaimer:
  This is not the original management planning product. This document has been scanned from the original format of the plan. It may contain some formatting changes, however the content is consistent with the original.

Canoeing

Cycling

Fishing

Hiking

Pets on Leash

Scuba Diving

Swimming

Waterskiing

Wildlife Viewing

Windsurfing

Accessibility

Boat Launch

Campfires

Drinking Water

Picnic Areas

Pit or Flush Toilets

Playground

Showers

Vehicle Accessible Camping

Winter Camping