Moyie Lake Park | BC Parks

Welcome to the new BC Parks website

Share your feedback

View of Moyie lake through the tree tops

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.

Established Date: July 7, 1959
Park Size: 90.5 ha

Advisories

Dates of operation

All dates are subject to change without notice.

Open to public access May 5, 2023 to October 2, 2023

Current status:Open to public access

Be sure to check advisories above before visiting

Moyie Lake Campground

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

Stay Safe

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 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. Please refrain from the use of power equipment such as generators during these hours.

Camping

Reservations

All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first-come, first-served.

Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Vehicle-accessible camping

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites. There is a public telephone and information shelter at the park entrance. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $33.00 per party / night

BC Senior’s Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $16.50 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

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 15th, 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.

Information on other parks participating in this program, or a link to the Long Stay Policy document, is available on the Frontcountry Camping Policies and Fees webpage.

Long-stay camping available $140/week

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Picnic areas

This park has a large day-use/ 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.

Pit or flush toilets

Two flush toilet buildings are located centrally at the north and south loops of the campground. Pit toilets are located throughout the campground. A flush toilet building and one pit toilet are located at the day-use area.

Showers

Hot showers are available in the campground in this park. There is no additional fee for their use. The 4 unit (2 men, 2 women) shower building is located at the north end of the campground near campsite number 56. Shower facilities are for campground visitors only.

Drinking water

Ten cold water taps are located throughout the campground and operational during the operating season.

Playground

The playground in this park is located near the shower building at the north end of the campground.

Boat launch

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. Main gate to boat launch is open all year.

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 - look before you launch.

Sani-station

A sani-station/dump is located adjacent to the gatehouse on the main access road in the park which is available during the operating season.

Sani-station Use Fee: $5.00 per discharge

Campfires

Firewood can be purchased from the Park Operator or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. 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. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Bring a portable stove for cooking.

Activities

Hiking

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 2 km, 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.

Swimming

This park offers a sandy beach and day-use area, backed by a large grassy area. Moyie Lake water is cool and refreshing. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Canoeing

Canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing are popular on this lake.

Fishing

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 on leash

Pets/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.

Cycling

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 Provincial Park, see the e-biking section below.

e-Biking

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Moyie Lake Provincial Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.

Windsurfing

Moyie Lake provides good windsurfing opportunities at this park.

Winter recreation

Ice fishing opportunities are popular during the winter season. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Maps and location

View a more detailed map.

Approximately a 20 km (15 minute drive) south of Cranbrook on Highway 3/95. The small community of Moyie is located 5 km south of Moyie Lake Provincial Park.

Park and activity maps

Park Map [PDF]

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.