Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
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 40km north of Creston on Highway 3A or 19km south of Crawford Bay on Highway 3A. Located on the east side of Kootenay Lake with Crawford Bay and Creston being the closest communities.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
The 18 site campground offers vehicle-access campsites by reservations and first come first served sites as also available. There is one drive-through site and three double sites. There is no phone at Lockhart Beach, however nearby towns and resorts offer telephone and tourist services.
| 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
The adjacent Lockhart Creek Park has a well maintained hiking trail that follows the north side of Lockhart Creek gaining about 800 metres of elevation over a three hour hike.
An old cabin site about two hours up is a favourite destination. Though open to wilderness recreation, the park has no facilities or marked trails and is not regularly serviced. Visitors should be self-sufficient and proficient in back country travel practices.
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 Kootenay Lake at this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park.
There area fishing opportunities in Kootenay Lake especially for Gerrard rainbow trout.
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 Lockhart Beach 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.
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. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
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.
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.
Hand pump wells provide water. To ensure water is safe for drinking, all water must be boiled for at least five minutes.
This park has a day-use and picnic area and sandy beach along Kootenay Lake. There is capacity for 12 vehicles in the day-use area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
About this park
Lockhart Beach is situated near the outflow of Lockhart Creek into Kootenay Lake. The beach is backed by a lakeside forest that protects temperate rainforest habitat. Birdwatchers and plant identification enthusiasts will be rewarded by a visit to this diverse area. Rainbow trout, bull trout and kokanee inhabit Lockhart Creek.
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. |
