Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Use extreme caution on the Whiteswan Lake road at all times. Extreme care must be taken when driving the canyon portion (15km to 18km) of the access road to the park. For improved safety turn your headlights on. Be aware that mine ore trucks and oversized loaded logging trucks are on the route. Always give them the right of way.
- Mountain and lake weather can change rapidly, be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds can come up quickly, use caution while boating.
- There is no public phone or cell phone service at Whiteswan Park.
Boating and Fishing
- No towing is allowed on the lakes and no power boats are allowed on Alces Lake.
- Read the current fishing regulations.
- Snowmobiles are allowed only on Whiteswan Lake for access to the winter fishery. Snowmobile use is prohibited everywhere else in the park, including Alces Lake.
- Read the fishing and boat launch information below
Lussier Hot Springs
- Compact snow and ice may be present on the access trail and at the parking area. Access is not recommended when conditions are icy. The use of shoe or boot traction devices is recommended.
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
Whiteswan Lake Park is located within the Kootenay Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, 22km southeast of the Village of Canal Flats, the nearest community. Access is from Highway 93/95, turn east 4.5 kilometres south of Canal Flats onto the gravel Whiteswan Forest Service Road. Whiteswan Lake is about 25km from the highway, the hot springs are located near the west boundary of the park at 17.5km.
Things to do
The north shore trail is a pleasant outing that travels through a Douglas-fir forest and provides views of Whiteswan Lake and surrounding mountains. The total one-way distance of the trail is 8km from the Alces Lake campground to Home Basin campground. The trail can also be accessed from a trailhead at the east end of Alces Lake, approximately 2km by trail from the Alces Lake campground. Where the trail crosses Cave Creek, a short branch trail leads to the Cave Creek campground.
There is a swimming beach area at Home Basin day-use area but this swimming area is not marked swimming area. Use caution in the area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are paddling, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities at this park.
The fishery at Alces and Whiteswan Lakes are of one of the highest quality rainbow trout fisheries in the East Kootenays. Whiteswan Lake also provides ice fishing opportunities.
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 wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
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 Whiteswan 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.
Whiteswan Lake Park is open to hunting management unit 4-24. Please check the BC hunting and trapping regulations for more information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
About this park
Whiteswan Lake was an important seasonal hunting camp of the K’tunaxa (Kootenai) native people and their use of the area dates back at least 5,000 years. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s trappers, prospectors and guides worked in the area and soothed their work worn bodies in the hot mineral waters of Lussier Hot Springs.
The area surrounding the park is part of the Kootenay Region working forest. Logging and mining currently provides jobs for many people living in the region, as well recreation and tourism have become important aspects of the economy.
In May and June, spawning Rainbow trout can be seen in the inlet and outlet creeks of Whiteswan Lake. In the summer of 2001, wildfires swept through the forests north and west of the park. These fires, while seemingly “destructive,” are recognized as part of a natural cycle of renewal that ensures the long term viability of diverse ecosystems and their inhabitants.
Exploring the back roads of the Kootenay Ranges offers sightings of mountain goats and bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer, grizzly and black bears. Common loons, red-necked grebes, belted kingfishers, blue herons, bald and golden eagles, and many other bird species can be seen on the lakes and in the surrounding woodlands.
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
| Park operator | This park is operated by EK Parks Ltd. |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
