Park overview
Located 20 kilometres south of Cranbrook off Highway 3/95, Moyie Lake Park day-use area, boat launch and 111 site campground provides the only public access to the deep blue mountain waters of Moyie Lake.
This vacation friendly park features 1,300 metres of developed sandy beach, backed by a large grassy area. Swimming, wind surfing, sailing, boating, wildlife and bird viewing and a variety of fishing experiences enhance Moyie Lake Park. As well, an adventure playground and hot showers are on site.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access May 5, 2023 to October 2, 2023
Current status:
Open to public access
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: May 5 to October 2
- Reservable dates
- 2023: May 5 to October 1
- Service note
- or until snow depth restricts access
- Winter note
- The campground gate is closed during the off-season. The main gate to the boat launch remains open. If full services area provided, full fees will be in effect. If no services are provided, user-maintained with no fee. For details, contact the park operator.
- Winter note
- The main gate to the boat launch remains open. If full services area provided, full fees will be in effect. If no services are provided, user-maintained with no fee. For details, contact the park operator.
Safety info
- Mountain and lake weather can change rapidly. Be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds can come up quickly.
Special notes
- Quiet time is 11pm to 7am. Please refrain from the use of power equipment such as generators during these hours.
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. There is a public telephone and information shelter at the park entrance.
Long stay camping
Sites 54 to 62 & 65 are designated as “long-stay” sites. A minimum of 4 consecutive weeks must be booked. The long stay program is from opening date until June 15, and again after the Labour Day long weekend until the park closes for the season. Please contact the park operator to book one of these sites.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $33 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $16.50 per senior party per night |
| Long-stay camping | $140 per week |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page. Information on long-stay camping is available on the Frontcountry Camping webpage.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
The boat launch is a concrete double ramp launch located at the end of the campground. Milfoil plants must be removed from your boat prior to travelling through the park. Boat launch access is available when the campground is open for use in early May until November 1.
Park visitors should be aware of fluctuating water levels and the presence of underwater gravel deposits at the boat launch. Use caution while loading and unloading. Please look before you launch.
A sani-station and dump is located adjacent to the gatehouse on the main access road in the park, which is available during the operating season.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. 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. 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.
This park has a large day-use and picnic area and beach backed by a grassy play area. A change house and flush toilets are provided. The buoyed swimming area is shallow so is suitable for children’s waterplay. Roofed picnic tables allow for a shady lunch spot.
Hot showers are available in the campground in this park. There is no additional fee for their use. The four unit (two men, two women) shower building is located at the north end of the campground near campsite number 56. Shower facilities are for campground visitors only.
Activities
Moyie Lake Park has two nature trails that offer interpretive signage. The “Kettle Pond” Trail starts at the amphitheatre behind site #1. The “Meadow Trail” can be accessed near the park entrance across the road from the information shelter.
There are 2km, approximately 45 minutes, of trail, that takes you through a forest community typical of the Moyie Valley. Bicycles are only permitted on the main section of this trail. For your own safety and the preservation of Moyie Lake Park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.
Kokanee and burbot are two of a number of species are found in Moyie Lake. Ice fishing opportunities are popular during the winter season. 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.
Bicycles must keep to roadways or on permitted trails. Observe regulatory signs. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. For details on e-biking within Moyie Lake Park, see the e-biking section.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Moyie Lake Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Ice fishing opportunities are popular during the winter season. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Maps and location
Approximately a 20km (15 minute drive) south of Cranbrook on Highway 3/95. The small community of Moyie is located 5km south of Moyie Lake Park.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 7, 1959
- Size: 90 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
EK Parks Ltd.
camping@ekparks.ca
250 422-3003
Nature and culture
History
It is from the prevalence of water that Moyie received its name. Previously known as McDonald’s River and the “Grand Quete,” the name that endured was Moyie, a derivative of the French “Mouille” meaning “wet.” Moyie Lake Park was established in 1959 to provide day-use and camping for local visitors as well as the traveling public.
Conservation
A small wilderness area on the north shore of Moyie Lake consisting of lightly-forested land on the lower eastern slopes of the southern reaches of the Purcell Mountains, Moyie Lake Park protects vibrant riparian areas and features pond and forest trails. The preserved habitat is home to beaver, muskrat, water fowl, whitetail deer and numerous woodland birds.
Moyie Lake is a unique “kettle pond” lake, the result of a depression created at the outflow of a glacier. The 90.5 hectare park contains two distinct types of plant life based on moisture regime. Larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine and white spruce flourish in the drier areas. Predominate along waterways are black cottonwood, trembling aspen, willow and alder.
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.