Park overview
Sowchea Bay Park is a picturesque park that was formerly a forestry campsite. The campground is along Stuart Lake, with the majority of campsites right next to the water. The park is located only 20km from Fort St. James.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open May 15, 2024 to September 2, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 12
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 30
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 2
- Winter season
- Not known
- Booking required
- 2024: May 17 to September 1
- Winter season note
- Gate is closed during the off-season.
Safety info
- For safety reasons, firearms are not permitted in the park. Sowchea Bay is closed to hunting.
Special notes
- There is no day-use area at Sowchea Bay Park (use facilities at Paarens Beach Park, just 5km east on Sowchea Bay Road).
- This campsite was once a Forest Service recreation site. Site layout is not BC Parks standard. Larger RVs may have difficulty maneuvering.
- This is a busy destination for boaters and anglers, with a single lane gravel boat launch available with limited parking.
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
This park offers 30 smaller vehicle-accessible campsites with 12 are reservable, and 18 function on a first come, first served basis. This used to be a forestry recreation site, therefore the sites may not be up to the BC Park standards that visitors may be accustomed to.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Hand pumps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
There is a single lane gravel boat launch available with limited parking.
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.
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.
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.
There are five pit toilets in this park.
Activities
Safe swimming practices are a must! Visitors are encouraged to remain within the designated area. An abrupt drop-off is marked with floats.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are canoeing or kayaking opportunities at this park.
There are canoeing or kayaking opportunities at this park.
Stuart Lake anglers enjoy fishing for char and rainbow trout.
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.
There are waterskiing opportunities in this park.
There are windsurfing opportunities in this park.
From Prince George, travel 100km west on Highway 16 to Vanderhoof. From Vanderhoof travel 55km north on Highway 27 to Fort St. James. From Fort St. James, travel 20km west on Sowchea Bay Road.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 28, 1989
- Size: 13 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Quartz Contracting
northquartz@aol.com
250 964-3489
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.