Thompson. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
The park is used for informal cross-country skiing in the winter and connects to the Stake Lake Ski Trail system.
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
Take the Lac Le Jeune Exit off Hwy #5 (the Coquihalla) at 37 km south of Kamloops and 47 km north of Merritt. There is also 26 km of paved access off the Hwy #1 at Kamloops. Due to its elevation, at 1,280 metres, the weather is cooler, a welcome relief from the desert conditions of the valleys to north and south.
Things to do
The Gus Johnson Trail circles the lake through forest and skirting wet meadows. It is approximately 8 km long. From the park there is access to the Gus Johnson Trail and the extensive Stake Lake trail system. Stake Lake provides over 45 km of trails. Both trails are used for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing.
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 is 146 metres of sandy beach. Swimming is popular and there is a sectioned off swim area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Lac Le Jeune is famous for its rainbow trout fish, an average size of 1.5 kg. There is a 76 metre long fishing wharf located in front of the day-use area. There are numerous area lakes providing ice fishing opportunities during the winter season.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Find fun summer outdoor learning experiences with Discover Parks Ambassadors here all summer long. For specific dates, along with many more seasonal and year-round activities, visit dicoverparks.ca.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the park operator for more information.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings. On the beach, pets are restricted to a signed area near the west end of the parking lot. 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. Cycling opportunities are available on the Gus Johnson and Stake Lake trails with over 45 km of trails.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Lac Le Jeune 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.
Cross-country skiing is popular on the Gus Johnson Trail on the east and south side of the lake, and the adjacent Stake Lake ski area provides 45 km of groomed trails. Snowshoeing opportunities and ice skating are available in the Stake Lake area.
There are numerous area lakes providing ice fishing opportunities during the winter season. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
About this park
The original 47 hectare park was designated in 1956. An additional 118 hectares of upland and 48 hectares of foreshore was designated in 1996 as a result of recommendations made in the Kamloops Land and Resources Management Plan. It was intended that the addition be kept natural, with no development or vehicle access. The park will be managed according to the Management Direction Statement for Lac Le Jeune Park.
The park protects upland and riparian habitats on portions of Lac Le Jeune. The trout fishery is provincially significant. A marsh on the east side of the lake is protected. A sunscreening canopy of lodgepole pine plays shadows on the pine grass of this lakeside park. The waters of Lac Le Jeune are famous for fighting rainbow trout.
The park provides habitat for moose, mule deer, beaver, osprey, song birds and waterfowl.
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 Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
