Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- Power boats are prohibited. Car top boats or canoes only.
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
Access the park from Hwy 3/95 at the south side of Cranbrook, then drive west 4km on a paved secondary road to the park entrance. The community of Cranbrook is 5km east of Jimsmith Lake Park.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come first served sites are available. Originally quite isolated, the park is now surrounded by acreages and a growing residential community.
| 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
Things to do
There is a sandy beach and swimming area in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park.
Fishing for jumbo rainbow trout and largemouth bass is a regular sport here.
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, day use areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
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 Jimsmith 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.
There is a paved boat launch at this park. Powerboats are prohibited. Car top boats or canoes only.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator in some parks or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
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.
The park provides the only developed day-use facility immediately adjacent to Cranbrook. The day-use area is split by the access road with the lower part accommodating sunbathers and swimmers and the upper area used by groups for picnicking and field games. The day-use gates are open from 8am to 10pm.
The new playground is located at the upper day-use area above the large parking lot.
About this park
This arid montane bench land lake situated amid a Douglas fir and larch forest is a perfect setting for nature study and wildlife viewing. Cattail marshes at the edges of the lake provide habitat for many birds, fish and insects.
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 EK Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
