Thompson. 
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Advisories
Visitor guidelines
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Look in this ‘visitor guidelines’ section for general safety instructions and other important information about Marble Canyon Park. For the latest information, see advisories.
Use caution if visiting Pavilion Lake
Access to Pavilion Lake is limited. The most-used access routes pass close to private homes. Please be respectful to the residents of this area when visiting.
Additionally, Pavilion Lake has no day-use facilities. If you are visiting this lake, please use the toilets and other facilities at Crown Lake Campground.
Prepare for the weather conditions
During summer, Marble Canyon can be very hot and dry. Make sure your whole party has plenty of drinking water.
During winter, you may run into dangerous conditions. For help staying safe, see the winter safety page.
Always ensure you are properly equipped before visiting. Check the weather forecast and advisories before heading out.
Be careful around busy roads
Highway 99 passes through Marble Canyon Park. This road can be very busy. Use extreme caution when walking or cycling on the road.
When driving to and from the park, watch out for pedestrians and wildlife. Do not park on the shoulder of Highway 99.
Park in designated spots
Vehicle parking is allowed only at designated parking lots and drive-in campsites. Parking in other areas causes erosion and damages ecosystems.
In the winter, the park gate is closed (for dates, see the top of this page). A pull-out by the gate has parking space for around six vehicles. From here, it is a short walk to the campground.
Practice campfire safety
Closely follow our guidance on campfires. Check the advisories for restrictions. Keep fires small, if they are allowed. Bring a gas stove for cooking. Never gather firewood in the park.
For more detailed information, see the campfire safety section of the responsible recreation page.
Use generators responsibly
Generators can only be used on vehicle-accessible campsites. Generator use is allowed from 9 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 8 pm. For more information on our generator policies, see the peace and quiet section of the responsible recreation page.
Observe quiet hours
Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 7 am. Music, generators, and other sources of noise must be shut off completely between these hours.
For more information, see the peace and quiet section of the responsible recreation page.
Leave No Trace
Always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. Minimize your impact on plant and animal life and be considerate of other visitors. Dispose of waste properly.
For detailed information on outdoor ethics, visit the Leave No Trace Canada website.
Prepare for the trail conditions
Before hiking here, ensure everybody in your party has the equipment and ability required for the terrain and conditions.
To get information on hikes in this park, see the hiking section of this page.
Stick to designated trails
For your own safety and to protect the local environment, hike only on designated trails. Hiking off-trail damages fragile ecosystems and causes erosion.
For more information, please watch our short video guide to responsible day-hiking.
Leave a trip plan
Before heading into the backcountry, make a detailed trip plan. Leave it with someone you trust, to help emergency services find your party, if you run into trouble.
You can make an ideal trip plan with the AdventureSmart trip plan tool.
Keep pets leashed
Dogs and other pets are welcome but must be leashed. Pets are not allowed in most park buildings and beach areas. Please dispose of their waste responsibly.
For more information, see the pet etiquette section of the responsible recreation page.
Stay safe around wildlife
Black bears are common in this park. On trails, make noise, to prevent unexpected encounters. Be aware that food waste and other scents will attract wildlife and other dangerous animals.
To learn how you can avoid encounters and ensure unavoidable encounters do not escalate, see the wildlife safety page.
Bike safely
Cycling in Marble Canyon Park is allowed on roads only. Bikes are not allowed on hiking trails. Bike helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
For more information, see our information about riding responsibly, on the cycling page.
Swim safely
Always swim with others, never alone. Closely supervise young children near the water. Take extra care when the water is especially cold.
Get more detailed information on how to practice water safety from our marine visitor guide.
No drones
Operating drones without permission is illegal in BC Parks. In the rare cases when we grant permission, you must keep your drone away from wildlife and other visitors.
No harvesting
Harvesting mushrooms or any other crops is forbidden in all BC Parks. The only exceptions are for Indigenous Peoples and research permit holders.
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
Marble Canyon Park is 40 km northwest of Cache Creek, a village in the Thompson region of B.C.’s southern interior. The nearest town is Lillooet. Most visitors access the park via the gated entrance to Crown Lake Campground.
From Cache Creek, head north on Cariboo HWY/BC-97 S for 11 km. Turn left onto BC-99 S, toward Lillooet and Whistler. Stay on HWY 99 for 27.5 km. The campground entrance is on your left.
In the winter, the campground gate is closed. A pull-out by the gate has parking space for around six vehicles. From here, it is a short walk to the campground. For information on when the gate is open, see the top of this page.
Things to do
Marble Canyon Park has one maintained hiking trail. This trail starts at the pullout at the west end of Crown Lake. It provides access to the waterfall on the lake’s south shore. There are no maintained trails from the campground.
For your own safety and to protect the local environment, hike only on designated trails. Hiking off-trail damages fragile ecosystems and causes erosion.
For more information, please watch our short video guide to responsible day-hiking.
The best place to swim in Marble Canyon Park is from the small beach on the shore of Crown Lake.
Swimming is also possible at Turquoise and Pavilion lakes. Turquoise Lake does not have an ideal swimming beach.
Pavilion Lake offers better swimming opportunities, but this area has limited public access.
Please use caution when swimming at Pavilion Lake, as there is motorboat traffic on the lake. There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing and kayaking are available on Pavilion Lake, Crown Lake, and Turquoise Lake. You can access Crown and Turquoise lakes by launching from the campground. Pavilion Lake is harder to access and has limited parking.
Canoeing and kayaking are available on Pavilion Lake, Crown Lake, and Turquoise Lake. You can access Crown and Turquoise lakes by launching from the campground. Pavilion Lake is harder to access and has limited parking.
Fishing is one of the most popular activities at Marble Canyon Park. You can fish for rainbow trout at Pavilion Lake, Crown Lake, and Turquoise Lake.
In the winter, all three lakes offer great ice fishing opportunities. Vehicles and fires are not allowed on the ice.
Never use anchors and downriggers on Pavilion Lake at any time of year as they can damage sensitive microbialite formations.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Birdwatching is a popular activity in Marble Canyon Park. The canyon offers great bird watching opportunities.
The park is also home to large mammals. Mule deer may be seen on the less steep slopes around the lake. Black bears are common in this park.
There are also opportunities to see a wide variety of fish, snakes, and amphibians here.
For detailed information on wildlife species you may observe, see the wildlife section. For information on staying safe, visit our wildlife safety page.
Dogs and other domestic animals must be leashed and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You must always be in control of your pets and dispose of their waste appropriately.
Marble Canyon Park is popular with scuba divers, who visit to view the internationally significant stromatolite structures in Pavilion Lake.
These sedimentary deposits are comparable to microbial reefs that existed on earth over 500 million years ago. They are very sensitive and need special care.
Recreational scuba diving is only allowed in three areas of the lake. During the scuba diving season, these are marked by mooring buoys.
Diving is not allowed in other parts of the lake. Before diving, please read Pavilion Lake’s diving zones and safety guidelines [PDF].
Access to Pavilion Lake is limited. The most-used access routes pass close to private homes. Please be respectful to the residents of this area when visiting.
Additionally, Pavilion Lake has no day-use facilities. If you are visiting the lake, please use the toilets and other facilities at Crown Lake Campground.
Marble Canyon Park offers some rock-climbing opportunities. For the latest information on access and conditions, please contact BC Parks.
Hunting is allowed in Marble Canyon Park during legal hunting season, but opportunities are limited. The terrain is far from ideal and much of the park is close to a busy road and private homes.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
About this park
Ts'kw'aylaxw First Nation, also known as Pavilion Indian Band, holds special heritage and spiritual connections to Pavilion Lake and the surrounding land.
Marble Canyon Park was established in 1956 to protect the area’s outstanding natural features. Initially, the park encompassed Crown and Turquoise lakes and part of Pavilion Lake.
In 2001 the park was expanded by 215 hectares to include most of Pavilion Lake. This expansion was undertaken to protect the lake’s environment, especially its internationally significant stromatolite structures.
The park was expanded again in 2010 by almost 2,000 hectares. Since this expansion, Marble Cayon Park has encompassed the spectacular limestone cliffs and rock faces that give the park its name.
Marble Canyon Park is world-renowned for the unique and sensitive freshwater stromatolites found in Pavilion Lake. These coral-like structures are formed from fossilized remains of microorganisms. The microorganisms are thought to be some of the oldest known lifeforms on Earth.
Pavilion Lake is one of only a few places in the world that have freshwater stromatolites. Because the structures are fragile, special care must be taken by park users not to damage them. Boaters must not use anchors or downriggers. Vehicles and fires are not allowed on the lake when it is frozen.
Some scientists speculate that fossils of organisms like the ones that created stromatolites may be found on other planets. Pavilion Lake has been designated a Canadian Analogue Research Network (CARN) site by the Canadian Space Agency. Read more about the Pavilion Lake Research Project [PDF].
The forest, lakes, and shoreline habitats in Marble Canyon Park are home to a variety of wildlife. Black bears are common, and you may see mule deer on the less steep slopes around the lake. For information on staying safe, see the wildlife safety page.
The canyon offers great bird watching opportunities. You may spot loons and other waterfowl on the chain of lakes in the valley bottom. Osprey, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon use the trees along the canyon walls to hunt for fish and small wildlife
Marble Canyon Park also provides a home to Flammulated Owls and Western Screech Owls, two at-risk species. Along the lake shorelines, you may see spotted sandpiper and a variety of songbirds including Western Tanager and Cedar Waxwing.
Snakes including Western Terrestrial Garter Snake and Rubber Boa live among the south-facing rock slopes below the canyon walls. The crystal-clear waters of Pavilion Lake offer a great place to see fish such as Rainbow trout and a variety of amphibian species.
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
| Park operator | This park is operated by Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd. |
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| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
