Ruth Lake Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Ruth Lake is a recreational day-use area popular with local residents for fishing and swimming. A grassy area overlooks a small beach. The remainder of the park is undeveloped forest above the lake. This open forest of fir and pine shades large boulders or "erratics," reminders of the great ice sheets of 10,000 years ago.

This park is cooperatively managed by a community, society or other partner. Services and facilities may differ from those offered in other BC Parks.

Know before you go

Advisories

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

Location Map

Getting there

The park is located 30 km northeast of 100 Mile House. Turn off Highway 97 just north of 100 Mile House, drive towards Forest Grove. Continue straight to park.

Things to do

Swimming

There are no facilities for swimmers. Ruth Lake is very popular with local residents for swimming. There is no area roped-off for swimming at this park.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Canoeing and kayaking are enjoyable activities on Ruth Lake. However, the lake is also used for power boating.

Fishing

Ruth Lake is a popular spot for fishing for trout.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

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.

Waterskiing

People can enjoy waterskiing at Ruth Lake.

Facilities

Boat launch

There is a single-wide rough boat launch ramp that provides access to Ruth Lake.

Picnic areas

This park has a day-use and picnic area operated by a local community group. The day-use area is the beach with grassy area, bear proof garbage can and pit toilets. There are no picnic tables.

Pit or flush toilets

This park only has pit toilets.

About this park

Cultural heritage

This area was home to the Shuswap First Nations and supported their semi-nomadic lifestyle of sustenance hunting, fishing and food gathering. No archaeological sites are known in the park. However, if you find any such sites, remember it is illegal to damage them or remove artifacts.

History

Ruth Lake Park was designated as a class "A" park in 1959. It was originally established to address the increasing demand for recreational opportunities in the South Cariboo. The undeveloped portion of the park protects a unique landscape that illustrates the impressive geology of the last ice age.

Conservation

This park is within the drier portion of the subboreal spruce biogeoclimatic zone of the Cariboo Plateau. This area features moderate to steep slopes blanketed with old growth Douglas fir veterans dispersed among pine and spruce trees.

Wildlife

The forest surrounding Ruth Lake is a diverse and important habitat for wildlife such as black bear, mule deer, hawks, songbirds and waterfowl.

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.

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