Peace. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
- Please note: This park is being maintained by a local community organization or business. Services and facilities may vary from provincial standards.
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
This park is located 56 km southeast of Chetwynd. Take Highway 29 south off Highway 97 (paved access).
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Things to do
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 are swimming opportunities in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoes and kayaks are welcome. Beware of easterly winds that create high waves in the open water.
Canoes and kayaks are welcome. Beware of easterly winds that create high waves in the open water.
Anglers can try their luck fishing for lake trout, bull trout, mountain whitefish, arctic grayling, northern pike and burbot.
Ice fishing is allowed during the winter season but visitors should be aware that the park road from Highway 29 to the lake is snowed in usually until late April or early May. Snowmobiles have been used to travel this 1 km of road.
Please note that the school camp road is private and there is no access to the park from this road.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are wildlife viewing opportunities.
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.
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 Gwillim 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.
There are windsurfing opportunities.
Horseback riding is permitted in the Elephant Ridge addition to Gwillim Lake Park. Please contact the Fort St. John Ministry of Environment office for a letter authorizing horseback use in the park.
There are scuba diving or snorkelling opportunities.
There are climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
Hunting is allowed in the Elephant Ridge addition to the park. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are snowshoeing and backcountry skiing opportunities.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is a boat launch complete with turnaround and a large parking area for vehicles with trailers.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). 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.
A hand pump is located in the park. The hand pump may be removed during the off-season.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
An adventure playground is situated in the middle of the campground.
About this park
Located in the Hart Foothills ecosection, Gwillim Lake Park houses a diverse array of both coniferous and deciduous tree species. Lodgepole pine, white spruce, trembling aspen, paper birch and balsam poplar are found along the lakeshore intermixed with low wetlands of black spruce, willow and alder. Forests at higher elevations consist of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir that open up into parklands and alpine meadows higher up.
The deep blue waters of Gwillim Lake are home to bull trout, mountain whitefish, lake trout, Arctic grayling, and northern pike. Due to low nutrient levels, the lake has a low regeneration capability for fish populations and is not able to sustain heavy fishing pressures. Please obey the catch limits posted in the B.C. Environment Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
If you are an early riser, you might get a glimpse of a moose or deer foraging for food. The wetlands at the east end of the lake attract a large variety of waterfowl and shorebirds and the park is home to a small population of bald eagles.
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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| Frontcountry campground information | This park is operated by Sandstorm North Contracting. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
