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Advisories

Camping

Group camping
Spectrum Lake group campsite is found approximately 100m from the main campground, on the northeast side of the lake. There is a large, covered picnic table shelter offering a place to keep dry, though it does not have a stove. There are six tent pads as well as a pit toilet. Use of these facilities is on a first-come, first-serve basis; reservations are not accepted. This area is also in a thick cedar forest with a meandering stream running through.
Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is permitted in other areas of the park without a backcountry permit. Campers must practice no-trace ethics. The park is open year-round, if accessible. 

Picnic areas
This park has a day-use/picnic area at Rainbow Falls. There is a 15 car gravel parking lot with one pit toilet and an information shelter beside the trail to Spectrum Lake. The other trail leaving the parking lot is a steep, well defined trail that leads down to the falls. Wet areas are covered with boardwalk and footbridges. There are no picnic tables at the falls or in the parking lot. There are two wooden viewing platforms below the falls offering a spectacular view.
Pit or flush toilets
There are three pit toilets at Spectrum Lake campground, one at the Spectrum Lake group site, and one pit toilet each at Little Peters, Big Peters and Margie Lake campgrounds, as well as one at the Spectrum Creek trailhead.
Campfires
Campfires are permitted within fire rings at Spectrum Lake campground only. 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. 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.
Hiking

This undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure for experienced, backcountry hikers. There are also trails for the willing beginner. 

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.

Trails to Spectrum Lake Area (all trail times are one way)

Spectrum Creek Parking Lot

Distance 6 km; 2 hours; easy

This is the most common access. The trail surface has been improved, widened to three feet and hardpacked for most of its length. There are well maintained boardwalks and bridges across streams and wet areas. It passes through a mixed forest of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, birch and some cedar and hemlock. Mountain bikes are not permitted.

Trails to Alpine Areas (from Spectrum Lake)

Little Peters Trail

Distance 5 km; 3-4 hours; difficult

This is the most difficult section of trail in the park. It winds its way up out of the Spectrum Lake basin gaining elevation rapidly through steep switchbacks. The trail is narrow and passes through sections of very rocky terrain found in avalanche chutes that are thick with alder. These sections can be slippery when wet and require caution. The climb does allow for some great views back down to Spectrum Lake and of the Chute, which is the outlet for Peters Lake that forms a waterfall as it cascades down the headwall towards Spectrum Lake far below.

Big Peters Trail

Elevation change 800 m; distance 9 km; 4-5 hours; difficult

This is a continuation of the Little Peters Trail to the camping area at the other end of Peters Lake. The bulk of the elevation has been gained upon reaching Little Peters Lake and the remainder of the trail follows the rolling sub-alpine terrain through patches Engelmann spruce/sub-alpine fir forest on the southeast side of Big Peters Lake.

Alpine Routes (from Big Peters)

These routes for experienced hikers are not always well defined. Map reading skills are an asset.

  • Margie Lake: Distance 5 km; 1 1/2 - 2 hours; easy
  • Fawn Lake: Elevation change 300 m; distance 4 km; 1 1/2 - 2 hours; moderate
  • South Caribou Pass: Distance 3 km; 1.5 - 2 hours; difficult
  • Mount Fosthall: Elevation change 1000 m; distance 5.2 km; 3 - 4 hours; technical equipment may be required (difficult)
Fishing

Visitors can enjoy fishing for rainbow trout. Peters Lake has numerous fish though they are generally smaller than those found in Spectrum Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Wildlife viewing
There are two viewing platforms at Rainbow Falls. One is found extended out over Spectrum Creek just downstream from the falls to give visitors a beautiful, unobstructed view of the entire falls. The second platform is perched on the rocks nearer the falls bringing the visitor closer to the enormous power of the rushing water. Spray from the falls drifts over both platforms to feed the mossy forest below. The platforms may be slippery if wet. Lucky visitors may get a glimpse of the rare mountain caribou or wolverine or the much more common mule deer, ground squirrels and pikas.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is permitted
Climbing
Mount Fosthall and Slate Mountain offer climbing/scrambling opportunities.