Park overview
Pennask Lake Park is found found north of Peachland, in the Okanagan. The rainbow trout from the 1,450 metre high lake provide eggs for much of the provincial stocking program in the south-central interior.
This area is can be difficult to access. The last portion of the road is rough and not suited for most recreational vehicles. Four-wheel drive vehicles are strongly recommended.
Advisories
Safety info
- There is no drinking water available. The hand pump is out of commission.
- There are no cabins for public use in this park. The Pennask Lake Fishing and Game Club owns and operates a lodge on the lake. Though it is outside the park, the lodge is one of the main attractions in the area. With the exception of the small area of the park, all of the land around the lake is owned by the club.
Camping
Access to the campsites is very rough, often requiring four wheel drive vehicles. The 25 natural sites and not maintained. Some of the sites are becoming poorly defined due to unregulated use. There are fire rings at most sites. The park is open year-round, though access may be extremely difficult and is not recommended.
Facilities
Campfires are allowed, but please keep them small. The surrounding forest is filled with dry, beetle-killed trees. Do not cut standing trees.
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.
Activities
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
The rainbow trout from the 1,450 metre high lake provide eggs for much of the provincial stocking program in the south-central interior. The fishing is excellent.
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. 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.
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 Pennask 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.
Pennask Lake is approximately 50km northwest of Peachland. The user-maintained campsite is accessed from the Coquihalla Connector (highway 97C). The 19km of forest service roads are not built or maintained to the same standards as paved public roadways, and certainly not suited for most recreational vehicles.
Travel at your own risk and drive with caution at all times. The last 7km are very rough. Travel will require a 4WD vehicle and high clearance, and will take most vehicles about 35 to 45 minutes. Early in the season or after heavy rains the road will have very large and deep puddles, as much as 12 metres long and near one metre deep.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: January 23, 1975
- Size: 244 hectares
Nature and culture
History
Established January 23, 1975.
Conservation
The Pennask Lake fishery is the dominant resource value. Producing 3 to 5 million native rainbow trout eggs annually and roughly 40% of the provincial hatchery needs, the fishery is considered vital for the provincial fish culture program. The Pennask Lake fishery is particularly valuable since its large spawning runs peak around two or three weeks later than other runs, allowing flexibility in the hatching process to maximize hatchery outputs. Along with the egg collection program, the fishery is considered to be of provincial significance for its outstanding sport fishing.
There is an extensive low lying upland at the south end of the park which tends to be wet and covered by heavy spruce forest with dense shrub growth of Labrador tea, twinberry and white rhododendron. Sloping upland and elevated benches on the east side of the park have relatively open spruce and pine forests with soopalallie and grouseberry shrub cover. Eskers, particularly to the north of the park, are evidence of the most recent period of glacial retreat.
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.