Cariboo. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- The park supports multiple lake-oriented activities. Please adopt safe boating procedures at all times, and be aware of swimmers, canoeists and kayakers.
Special notes
- ORVs are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side by sides.
- There is no sani-station available within the park, but the local community has sani-station services available.
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
The park is located on Horsefly Lake, approximately 65km from 150 Mile House off Highway 97. 55km of the route is paved, and 10km is well-maintained gravel. The closest community is Horsefly, located 13km southwest of the park. Other communities are Likely and Williams Lake.
For map information, please refer to topographical map numbers: 1:50,000 92P/11.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers 23 vehicle-accessible campsites with both first come, first served and reservable campsites.
There is a mixture shaded, treed, and open sites (most of medium size) and one of which is a double site. There are no pull through sites but the overflow area is a large grassy area where large rigs will fit. There are also seven tent sites on the lakeside and parking available for extra vehicles.
| 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
Walk-in camping
There are seven walk-in tent sites situated along the shoreline of the lake.
Fees (per night)
| Walk-in camping |
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| BC Senior Camping Discount rate | Day after Labour Day to June 14 only
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Walk-in campgrounds
Things to do
There is a 1.2km hiking trail to a view point above the lake where there are two benches to sit on. The trail is of moderate hiking with some steep elevation changes. 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 change rooms and a beach where the swimming area is roped off. Be cautious of the steep drop off. There are snorkeling and scuba opportunities but no rental places nearby.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park. Canoes, paddle boats, and a powerboat can be rented from the park operator.
There is a large, deep lake and is usually fished on a troll and also included nearby are a number of smaller lakes excellent for fly fishing. Fishing for rainbow trout is a favourite pastime of many visitors.
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 Horsefly 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.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Horsefly Lake boat launch
There is a single-wide concrete boat launch at this park. It is located at the far end of the campground. There is parking available for vehicles and boat trailers, and they can be left overnight. Boats should not be left in the water or beached overnight.
While 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.
Cold water taps are located throughout the park. One at the entrance and one at the boat launch area. Taps are shut off during the off-season. Water taps do not have hose hook-ups for campers and trailers.
This park has a day-use and picnic area. It is a grassy area with a pebbly beach on the lake. There are two change houses, horseshoe pits, basketball net, feather ball, BBQ, and a dock for swimming. Firewood is available for purchase.
There is a coin operated shower and laundry facilities at the park operator’s site.
About this park
There are historical features and fossil beds to explore near the park. The park operator can provide further details. The park itself was established in August of 1974 as a high recreational value area. Prior to this, a small fish hatchery operated in the area now protected as park and evidence of the old spawning channel can still be seen.
Horsefly Lake Park incorporates a large, deep lake surrounded by diverse landscape and vegetation. Wetbelt forests of cedar, hemlock, spruce, and birch surround the lake, while pine and Douglas-fir forests inhabit drier sites.
Wildlife species found in the park include moose, mule deer, coyotes, black bear, cougar and a number of small mammals, while wolves may be found in surrounding areas.
Horsefly and other smaller lakes in the area support healthy populations of rainbow trout and amphibians can be found in lake and wetland areas. While the park’s name leads many to expect an unpleasant camping experience, there are relatively few biting flies in the park.
Just outside the community of Horsefly, there are spawning channels on the Horsefly River with dyked paths for viewing. The channels provide spawning beds for sockeye salmon that travel up the Fraser River to the Quesnel River, Quesnel Lake and finally to the Horsefly River to spawn. The best time to see these brilliant red and green salmon is mid-September.
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 Silvertip Park Services Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
