Lakelse Lake Park is situated in the Skeena River Watershed and is surrounded by the mountains of the Kitimat Range.
The park preserves stands of impressive old growth cedar, hemlock and Sitka spruce forests which thrive in the moist air swept in from the Pacific Ocean. Salmon-bearing streams, sandy beaches, water sports and wildlife are some attractions this park offers.
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. Group campsite and group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park.
All campsite and group site reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
There is a group campsite at this park. It offers 8 campsites, a covered shelter, a grassy area, a sandy beach, volleyball net and a large fire ring.
Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
Regular group camping fee | $120 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the youth group policy see the group camping page.
This park offers reservable vehicle-accessible campsites in Furlong Bay campground. The campground is half paved and half gravel and there are 16 double sites. The campsites can accommodate RVs and are shaded and treed. Parking is available for extra vehicles.
The park has a gatehouse and gate that is locked from 11pm to 5am. The nearest store is approximately 20km away in Terrace.
As the campground is fully reservable, you must register at the gatehouse during gatehouse hours. Outside of gatehouse hours, register with the park operator at campsite #21 before occupying a campsite.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $28 per party per night |
Electrified sites | Additional $7 per night (whether power is in use or not) |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $14 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Hose hookups for campers and trailers are not available. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
A double, paved boat launch and loading dock complete with parking are conveniently situated to the nearby day-use area at Furlong Bay. Boating, water-skiing and fishing are popular activities on Lakelse Lake. There is no access to the boat launch from 11pm to 7am during the camping season and off-season.
A sani-station and dump is available during the collecting season. It is located between the park entrance gate and the main information shelter at the Furlong Bay campground.
50 campsites have RV electrical outlets (120V, 30Amp, 60Hz):
Sites 10, 11, 25 - 34, 39, 41 - 51, 110 - 123, 129 - 133, 136, 137, 138, 144 - 147.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator for a fee. Campfires are allowed in the day-use areas but must be contained in the provided fire rings. Fires are not allowed at Gruchy’s Beach area.
You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t 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.
This park has two day-use and picnic areas. They both have tables, a covered picnic shelter with wood stove, parking, fire rings, water and sandy beaches. The Furlong Bay picnic site also has a grassy playground area, wheelchair access to the beach, volleyball net, a toilet and changehouse as well as a pay phone. Gates are locked from 11pm to 7am.
There are three toilet and shower buildings they are located in Furlong Bay Campground.
Take the 2km Twin Spruce Trail or the 1km Gruchy’s Beach Trail to observe the coastal old growth forests and salmon streams. Both trails are easy to hike. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
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.
Some excellent fishing opportunities await during summer and winter. Dolly Varden trout are a common catch in the lake, while the area’s rivers boast world-class salmon and steelhead runs. All five species of Pacific salmon spawn in these waters. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
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.
There are no bicycle trails in this park. 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 Lakelse 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 on Lakelse Lake.
Snowshoeing is available in the winter on existing hiking trails. Ice skating is available on Lakelse Lake. Check for proper ice thickness before going out and bring your own skates. Cross-country skiing is available at Onion Lake approximately a five minute drive south of Furlong Bay Campground. Downhill skiing and tobogganing are available outside the park at Shames Mountain, approximately a 45 minute drive west of Terrace.
Approximately 20km south of Terrace and 40km north of Kitimat on Highway #37. Located approximately 2.5km north of the Mount Layton Hotsprings. From the junction of Highway #37 and #16, it is 14km to Gruchy’s Beach day-use area, 15km to the Lakelse Lake picnic site and group site and 19km to Furlong Bay campground.
This park operated by:
Wilderness Recreation Services Ltd.
jason@wildernessparks.ca
History
The word “Lakelse” comes from the Tsimshian language meaning “fresh water mussel,” for the mollusk that is found on the bottom of both Lakelse Lake and River. Prior to Lakelse Lake becoming a provincial park, Hatchery Creek, which runs throughout the park, was the site of a sockeye salmon hatchery operated by the Canadian Government between 1919 and 1936. Lakelse Lake Park was established on March 16, 1956.
Wildlife
Within this old growth coastal forest, diverse wildlife populations and plant communities exist. The Kermodei bear, a white species of black bear, is native to the area. Coyote, moose, wolf, cougar, and many other mammals are also in the area.
About 100 bird species have been counted in the area, including Canada geese, bald eagles, ospreys and trumpeter swans. This swan is the largest species of North American waterfowl and was once on the brink of extinction. A good sized group of them spends the winter at Lakelse Lake.
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.