Park overview
Just south of Fort Steele, Norbury Lake Park encompasses Peckham’s Lake and fronts on Norbury Lake.
Beach areas, water sports and pleasant walking trails are available to visitors. Rainbow trout in Peckham’s Lake and the Kootenay Fish Hatchery at Wardner is a short distance away.
The Steeples, a distinctive feature of the Hughes Range of the Rocky Mountains, stands clear against the sky to the east of this lightly wooded area.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open year-round
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 23
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 46
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 16
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: May 15 to September 15
- Winter season note
- Gate is closed during the off-season.
- Winter season note
- The campground gate is closed during the winter. In the off-season, no services are provided at the campground.
Special notes
- Powerboats are prohibited.
- Pets are permitted on the north end of Pecham’s Lake, as indicated by the signs. Dogs must remain on leash at all times as to not disturb wildlife or other park users. Park visitors are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
Camping
Campsite Reservations
Campsite reservations are accepted at this park and first come, first served sites are available until March 20, at which time all sites become reservable. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
Check-in for reservation holders is between 1 pm and 10 pm. Check-in for non-reservation holders is between 8 am to 10 pm. Check-out time for all sites is 11 am. Gates open 7 am and close at 11 pm.
Group Campsite Reservations
Group campsite reservations are accepted at this park. All campsite and group site reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system.
This park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. Campsite reservations are not accepted.
Long-stay camping
Sites 12 to 21 are designated as “long-stay” sites. A minimum of four consecutive weeks must be booked. The long-stay program is available during the shoulder season in this park (park opening until June 14, and Labour Day until park closing). Long-stay sites are first come, first serve only.
Long-stay camping at Norbury Lake is only available during the shoulder season. Sites must be occupied by a paying camping party and can not be held by placing camping equipment on site. Equipment left unattended will be removed.
Long-term stays may not extend beyond their registered dates. Trailers parked on site prior to long-term registration are subject to the 14 day per year park stay. Trailers left on site unattended may be towed at the owners expense.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
| Long-stay camping (May to June 14th and after the Labour Day long weekend in September) | $56 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.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
Activities
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There is a boat launch at this park. Use is restricted to non-motorized boats only.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings.
Exceptions: Pets are permitted on the north end of Pecham’s Lake as indicated by the signs. Dogs must remain on leash at all times as to not disturb wildlife or other park users. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Norbury Lake Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Located 18 km north from Hwy 3 and 16 km south from Hwy 93/95 near Cranbrook.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 15, 1958
- Size: 97 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
EK Parks Ltd.
camping@ekparks.ca
250-422-3003
Nature and culture
History
The two lakes within the park (Norbury and Peckham’s) were originally both named Norbury. The name commemorates the Honourable F. Paget Norbury who settled in the area in the late 1800’s. He ranched here and was a magistrate at nearby Fort Steele during the town’s heyday. Later, the Peckham family bought some land from Norbury and the lake closest to their property was subsequently called Peckham’s Lake.
Conservation
This climate promotes the growth of Lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and western larch. Trembling aspen is located near Peckham’s Lake. Chokebery, thimbleberry, willow and several species of grass form the ground cover. Alongside Norbury Creek and along the trail from the campground to the picnic area on Peckham’s Lake, one can see a diversity of plant and bird life.
Wildlife
Elk, deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep may be seen in the area, especially during winter months. The Columbian ground squirrel and other members of the squirrel family can be seen within the park.
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.