Park overview
Seven world-class stocked rainbow trout lakes, only two of which are served by maintained gravel roads, on the Thompson Plateau. The park includes rustic campsites that are located on Horseshoe Lake and Roche Lake.
This is a year-round recreation area, noted for camping, hunting, wildlife viewing, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Established Date: April 30, 1996
Park Size: 2,027 hectares
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access year-round
Current status:
Open to public access
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 4
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Winter note
- Off-season: no fee, no services.
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 8
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Winter note
- Off-season: no fee, no services.
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 21
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: Year-round
- Winter note
- Off-season: no fee, no services.
- Service note
- Services may be available and fees charged later/earlier than these dates, weather permitting. For confirmation, please use the contact the park operator.
Safety info
Stay Safe
- The park is natural habitat for black bears. Campers must keep all food in vehicles and deposit garbage in bear-proof garbage cans.
As of August 29, 2013, the backcountry of Roche Lake Provincial Park has multiple hazard trees that pose a potential safety risk. Camping outside of managed campgrounds is not recommended at this time. For more information, contact BC Parks at 250 371-6200.
Special Notes
- A pay telephone is available at Roche Lake Resort, which is located on the same gravel road that is used to access the park, just follow the signs.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total vehicle-accessible sites: 33
- Total groupsites: Informal (see Group Camping below)
This park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis; campsite reservations are not accepted.
There are three rustic campgrounds; Roche Lake North (8 sites), Roche Lake West (21 sites) and Horseshoe Lake (4 sites).
As of August 29, 2013, the backcountry of Roche Lake Park has multiple hazard trees that pose a potential safety risk.
Camping outside of managed campgrounds is not recommended at this time. For more information, contact BC Parks at 250-371-6200.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
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.
Activities
Swimming is available in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
Lakes are stocked with rainbow trout. This is a world-class rainbow trout fishing area. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Ice fishing is sometimes available. Ensure that ice is safe before attempting this activity because aeration is used in some of the lakes to prevent winter kill.
The Freshwater Fishing Society provides more information on fishing at Roche Lake.
There are many informal trails for cycling. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Roche 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.
Hunting is permitted only during lawful game hunting season. Check the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for regulations.
There are many informal unset trails for cross-country skiing and for snowshoeing. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails.
There are many informal trails for snowmobiling. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails.
Ice skating is available in this park. Ensure that ice is safe before attempting this activity because aeration is used in some of the lakes to prevent winter kill.
Maps and location
36 km southeast of Kamloops, accessed via gravel road from Hwy 5A at the north end of Trapp Lake. Communities close to the park are Kamloops, Quilchena and Merritt.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: April 30, 1996
- Size: 2027 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250 320-9305
Nature and culture
- History: Established April 30, 1996 as a result of recommendations made in the Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan.
- Conservation: The park protects a series of world-class recreational trout fishing lakes in a plateau setting, and encompasses small stands of old-growth interior Douglas-fir forest, highly productive habitat for moose, waterfowl and perching birds.
- Wildlife: Black bear, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer and birds such as the Canada goose, mallard, common snipe, vesper sparrow and mountain bluebird all make their home in 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.