Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Mountain and lake weather can change rapidly, therefor please be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds can come up quickly
Special notes
- No skiing or towing is permitted at the south end of Premier Lake. There is also a boat speed restriction of 16 km per hour at the south end of the lake.
- four-by-four and high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for access the Rod and Gun Club boat launch.
Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited.
This park is becoming increasingly popular with boaters. Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited and on some busy days there may be no parking spaces available. To avoid this problem, all visitors are encouraged to use car-top boats that don’t require the use of a trailer, and overnight users with trailered boats are encouraged to store boat trailers at their campsites, rather than in the day-use parking lot, if the site size allows it.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
Access is from Highway 93/95. The well marked turnoff leads east to a 12 km paved and gravel road to the park. The smaller nearby communities of Skookumchuck (12 km south) and Wasa (16 km further south) are closest the park. The larger communities near the park are Cranbrook (72 km south) and Kimberley (60 km southwest).
Camping
Frontcountry camping
The campground has vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. During the winter, campers are permitted to camp in the campground areas if accessible. Ministry of Transportation maintains access to the area.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $25 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $12.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Winter camping
Things to do
The hiking trails in the park connect Yankee, Canuck and Turtle lakes. They are short loop trails offering easy access for families to these picturesque lakes. The duration of the hike can be between one and a half, to four hours.
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.
Enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool water of Premier Lake. The wharves provide an ideal enclosed swimming area, with a small sandy beach. The water is warmest during July and August.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Fishing is good year-round in this park. Ice fishing is popular at Premier Lake. Please check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for current angling regulations. During the winter, access through to the boat launch is maintained by Ministry of Transportation and Highways.
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 the playground, beach, day-use areas or park buildings.
Exceptions: Pets are permitted at the Rod and Gun day-use area and the Quartz Lake day-use area. Dogs may be off leash at these sites but must be under control at all times so as to not disturb wildlife or other park users. 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.
Cycling is permitted on all park roadways as well as on the Yankee-Canuck Lakes Loop Trail. Cyclists riding the Yankee-Canuck Lakes Loop Trail are asked to be courteous to other trail users and practice ‘low impact cycling’ by avoiding the trail in wet conditions, minimizing skidding, and by not shortcutting switchbacks. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Premier 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.
Hunting is allowed in Preimer Lake Park from September 1 to June 30 during a lawful game hunting season. Please check the BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for specific details.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for the park, as well as for Quartz Lake.
Premier Lake boat launch
The boat launch located at the far end of the day-use area, is concrete slab with limited moorage at the floats. The boat launch is most suitable for small boats and trailers. Users are advised to use caution on the ramp and to avoid backing off the end of the concrete slab.
This park is becoming increasingly popular with boaters. Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited and on some busy days there may be no parking spaces available. To avoid this problem all visitors are encouraged to use car-top boats that don’t require the use of a trailer, and overnight users with trailered boats are encouraged to store boat trailers at their campsites rather than in the day-use parking lot if the site size allows it.
Please note that boating restrictions are in place on the southern half of the lake. In this area towing (waterskiing) is restricted and boat speeds are limited to 15 km per hour or less. Please refer to the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator in some parks 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. 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.
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.
The park has three hand pumps, two in the campground and one in the day-use area. Although the water is tested regularly, it remains under a permanent boil water notice. To ensure safety, all water should be boiled for at least five minutes before drinking. Handles on the hand pumps are removed during the off-season, and water is not available.
Premier Lake day-use area
Quartz Lake day-use area
The day-use area at Premier Lake has six lakeside picnic tables. You can enjoy a picnic at any of the other four smaller lakes in the park but there are no picnic facilities.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There ten pit toilets in the campground, two pit toilets in the day use area and one pit toilet at Quartz Lake.
There is one solar shower enclosure for camper use. User must supply shower bag.
About this park
This site was used by the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) First Nations as a camp area and food fishery.
Established in 1940, this park was named after Mr. William Smithe’s title, who was the Premier of B.C. from 1883 to 1887.
Forests of Douglas fir extend from the shoreline while stands of Western larch are common along the ridges. Premier Lake Park also contains four smaller lakes: Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye and Quartz. Staples Creek fish ladder and fish collection station provides eggs for the Kootenay Fish Hatchery Signs along Staples Creek interpret the life cycle of the rainbow trout. Bird and ungulate wildlife viewing opportunities abound and the Douglas Fir and Western Larch forests exemplifies East Kootenay ecosystems.
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.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by EK Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
