Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Campers must be prepared for extreme weather changes while camping and hiking in the subalpine areas of the park. Subzero temperatures are common.
- Please be aware that active logging occurs along Spectrum Creek Forest Service Road (FSR). Park users driving to the Spectrum Lake trailhead can expect to encounter logging trucks along this access, as well as Sugar Lake FSR. Log sorting activities on the Spectrum Creek FSR has impacted the road and low clearance vehicles may have issues crossing the sorting area.
Special notes
- Dogs are not permitted in this park due to potential conflict with red-listed Mountain Caribou.
- Fires are not permitted outside of the Spectrum Lake campground.
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
Located 111 km north of Vernon. Take Highway 97 to Vernon, then go east on Highway 6 from Vernon for 47 km, through Lumby to Cherryville. Turn north onto Sugar Lake Road and proceed 46 km until you reach the turnoff (km marker #22) to the park. Proceed on Spectrum Creek Road for 16 km to the park.
An alternative access to the park is from the Arrow Lakes side. Follow highway 23 south from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay Forest Service Road (FSR) and turn right. This active logging road is steep and narrow in sections. Follow the Sol Mountain Lodge signs. At kilometre 35 turn right onto North Fosthall Creek FSR, keeping right, for approximately 17 km. The North Fosthall Creek trail starts at the end of the road. The trail may not be well defined and is not regularly maintained. This access should be attempted by experienced backcountry travelers only. The majority of this road access is maintained by Sol Mountain Lodge.
Camping
Backcountry areas
Things to do
This undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure for experienced, backcountry hikers. There are also trails for beginners. 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 | Time: 2 hours | Rating: 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 | Time: 3 to 4 hours | Rating: 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
Distance: 9 km | Time: 4 to 5 hours | Rating: Difficult | Note: Elevation change 800 m |
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 subalpine terrain through patches Engelmann spruce and subalpine 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 | Time: 1.5 to 2 hours | Rating: Easy | |
Fawn Lake | Distance: 4 km | Time: 1.5 to 2 hours | Rating: Moderate | Note: Elevation change 300 m |
South Caribou Pass | Distance: 3 km | Time: 1.5 to 2 hours | Rating: Difficult | |
Mount Fosthall | Distance: 5.2 km | Time: 3 to 4 hours | Rating: Difficult | Note: Elevation change 1000 m, technical equipment may be required |
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 in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
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.
Mount Fosthall and Slate Mountain offer climbing and scrambling opportunities.
Hunting is only allowed in the Sitkum and Vigue Creek additions of this park, and along the Spectrum Creek trail that connects to the Rainbow Falls site.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Campfires are permitted within fire rings at Spectrum Lake campground only.
Bring a portable stove for cooking. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.
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 a day-use and 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.
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. There is also one at the Spectrum Creek trailhead.
About this park
The Monashee’s peaks reach elevations of 3000 metres and the bases are cloaked in dense vegetation. Hiking the low elevations can be difficult as the forest floor is comprised of clusters of devil’s club and nettles, but rewarding with groves of old-growth cedar, spruce and hemlock. Traversing upward, the distinctive alpine region unfolds with an array of wildflowers, heathers, mosses and lichens.
The Protected Area protects flood plain to alpine. It also protects critical habitat of caribou and ensures continuance of their migration corridors. The area around Rainbow Falls and the riparian zone along a section of the upper Shuswap River are also protected.
The cool summer temperatures and abundant vegetation provide ideal habitat a variety of wildlife. The park is home to one red-listed bird species, the Northern Goshawk, and two red-listed mammals, the wolverine and mountain caribou. As well as endangered species, the area also boasts moose, mule deer, mountain goat, marten, cougar, black bear, blue-listed grizzly bear and Townsend’s big-eared bat.
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
General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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