Paul Lake Park

There is a group campsite consisting of a large grassy area, a hand pump and a picnic shelter surrounded by trees. the group campsite is reservable year-round. 

Reservation Information

This park offers 90 vehicle-accessible campsites nestled amongst the trees on a first-come, first-served basis; campsite reservations are also accepted.

There are three double sites and no pull through. If staff is not around when you arrive at the campground, choose your site and pay later when they drop by to collect. The gate to the park is locked between 11:00pm and 7:00am. Only registered campers are allowed in the campground after 11:00pm and quiet time is between 10:00pm and 7:00am. The nearest public telephone is in the day use or at Pinantan Country Store, five minutes from the park; turn right at the park entrance.

Accessibility information is available for this park, as well as for Paul Lake Recreation Area.

Cold water taps are located throughout the park. There are no hose hookups for campers/trailers. Taps are shut off during the off-season.

Car-top boat launch; boaters must stay outside the buoyed swimming area.

While 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. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.

Campfires must not exceed half a metre in height. Keep fires small, save trees and conserve firewood. Do not leave your campfire unattended. This is a high-risk forest fire area.

The park has over 7 km of hiking trails. The trails take you from the lakeshore up a gentle grade through a mature Douglas-fir forest to the summit of Gibraltar Rock, 900 metres in elevation. The last portion of the trail (about 300 metres) is somewhat steep but there are rest stops along the way. Be aware of steep cliffs near top of the Gibraltar Rock trail. The summit gives spectacular views of the lake and Harper Mountain, as well as a bird’s eye view of ospreys, swallows and the rare white-throated swift. You may wish to take the alternate return route by way of the campground. 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.

• Trail Map [PDF] 

Paul Lake is stocked with blackwater and pennask strains of rainbow trout. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the Park Operator for more information.

Cycling is permitted on roads in the park but is not permitted on the hiking trails.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Paul Lake Provincial 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.