Canoe circuits

Parks across British Columbia offer multi-day canoeing routes. For detailed, region-by-region information on some of the most popular canoeing adventures, see the canoeing and kayaking page.

On any multi-day canoe trip, you will need to use campgrounds or user-maintained camping areas along the way. Plan your route and camping options carefully to ensure you have somewhere appropriate to stay each night of the trip.

On some canoe circuit trips, you will need to stay at campgrounds that require reservations. Currently, the only circuit that requires reservations for the entire route is the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit. 

The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is a 116 km chain of waterways and connecting land. The full circuit takes between six and 10 days to complete. For a shorter trip, the West Side can be paddled in two-to-four days.

The circuit is in Bowron Lake Park, a remote area in east-central B.C.’s Cariboo Mountain Range. We recommend trips on this circuit only to people with some previous backcountry canoeing experience.

You must book in advance to paddle and camp overnight on the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit. This circuit is extremely popular, so we encourage you to make your reservation as early as possible.

For detailed information on making a reservation for this canoe circuit, see Bowron Lake reservations, below.

Know before you go

• A maximum of three people can travel in any single canoe (four people may be allowed if two of them are small children)
• Camping is allowed only on tent pads or established campsites at campgrounds along the circuit
• Tent pads are a maximum of four square-meters and can accommodate two tents and four people in total
• For parties of seven or more people, you need to make a group reservation (see reservations for larger groups, below)
• You must attend an orientation session before starting the circuit (sessions are held in the visitor centre daily from 8 am to 12 pm)
• If you do not attend an orientation on your first reserved day, your reservation is cancelled without refund
• To paddle the circuit, you must bring or rent the essential equipment outlined in our pre-trip information booklet [PDF]

For more information on the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit, download our pre-trip information booklet [PDF]. To see campsite locations, download the campground map [PDF].

A standard reservation secures an arrival date on the circuit for up to six people. For parties of seven to 14 people, you must book a group reservation. To get detailed information on group bookings, see reservations for larger groups, below.

Starting on the reserved arrival date, a standard party can use the circuit for between one and 14 nights. Larger groups must complete a fixed seven-night full circuit or three-night West Side circuit.

Look below for information on:

• How to make a Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit reservation
• Reservations for larger groups
• Changing or cancelling your reservation

For information on booking a reservation at the frontcountry campground in Bowron Lake Park, visit our frontcountry camping page.

How to make a Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit reservation

• Anyone 16 years of age or older can make a reservation for the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit via camping.bcparks.ca  
• You can also make a reservation by calling 1-800-689-9025 from Canada and the US or 1-519-858-6161 internationally
• Reservations cannot be transferred or sold to another party, and attempting to do so leads to cancellation without refund
• Your camping fees and transaction fees must be paid in full when you book (for details, see fees, below)

Named occupant

• When booking your reservation, you must specify the ‘named occupant’ who will be your official reservation holder
• This can be yourself or another person, but they must be present when your party arrives and throughout your trip 
• If they cannot be present throughout your trip, your reservation must be rebooked with an occupant who can be present
• The named occupant may be asked to show ID upon checking-in at the visitor centre, to keep your reservation valid

For more information on booking an adventure in the backcountry, see the backcountry camping reservations page.

Reservations for larger groups

Group reservations can be booked for parties of between seven and 14 people. Because space is limited, and overall demand has increased significantly, two group departures are available per day.

From November 5, 2024 to March 15, 2025, group reservations will be available to book, change or cancel at camping.bcparks.ca or via our call centre (1-800-689-9025).

Starting March 16, 2025, no additional group reservations will be accepted for the 2025 season and existing 2025 group reservations can be changed or cancelled via the call centre only.

Group reservations will re-open again for the 2026 season, in the fall of 2025.

There is a $6 fee for changing or cancelling your reservation, and a $5 call centre surcharge. For more information, see fees, below.

Parties who have booked a group reservation must complete a fixed seven-night full circuit or three-night West Side circuit. All other rules that apply to standard parties also apply to larger groups. For details, see know before you go, above.

If someone drops out before your trip, making your group less than seven people, group policies still apply. Additionally, you are still required to pay fees for at least seven people.

Each canoeing group must have a designated leader. The designated group leader is responsible for the behaviour of your entire group.

Changing or cancelling your reservation

• You can change or cancel your reservation via camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally)
• Camping fees are refunded if you cancel over 28 days before your arrival date (subject to policies outlined on the cancellations and refunds page)
• If you cancel your trip 28 or fewer days from your arrival date, camping fees cannot be refunded
• There is an additional $6 transaction fee for any cancellation or change to your reservation
• All transaction fees, including vessel fees as well as change and cancellation fees, are non-refundable
• After March 15, 2025, group reservations can be changed or cancelled only via our call centre (1-800-689-9025)

For definitions of camping, vessel, and transaction fees, please see the fees section, below.

For more information on getting a refund, see the cancellations and refunds page. For full details of our cancellation and refund policies, download the reservation services policies and terms [PDF].

There are two types of fees that you must pay when making any backcountry camping reservation:

• Camping fees, which pay for the use of campsites and other facilities
• Transaction fees, which help us maintain the reservation service

On any multi-day canoe trip in a BC Park, you will need to pay for the use of camping facilities. On the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit, there is a per-person camping fee for the circuit. This fee varies, depending on whether you complete the full circuit or the shorter West Side circuit.

There is a per-vessel transaction fee for any Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit reservation. You must pay additional transaction fees to change or cancel your reservation. There is also a surcharge for any reservation, change, or cancellation made via our call centre.

Tax is included in camping fees, but tax is added to transaction fees, including vessel fees. For detailed information about camping fees and transaction fees, please visit the camping fees page. For full details of Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit fees, see the table below.

Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit fees

Camping fees, transaction fees, and vessel fees do not include equipment rental. This must be paid for separately, if needed.

Multi-day canoe trips through the backcountry inevitably include an element of personal risk. Additionally, backcountry areas have especially sensitive ecosystems. Many of these areas also have special importance to Indigenous Peoples.

At BC Parks, we are committed to ensuring everyone can enjoy the backcountry safely, responsibly, and respectfully. Before any canoeing adventure, please review our backcountry guide and marine visitor guide in full.

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