Sowchea Bay Park
Park overview
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 20 km from Fort St. James.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access May 15, 2023 to September 4, 2023
Current status:Open to public access
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 12
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 30
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: May 15 to September 4
- Reservable dates
- 2023: May 19 to September 3
- Winter note
- Gate is closed during the off-season.
Safety info
Stay Safe
- 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 Provincial Park (use facilities at Paarens Beach Provincial Park, just 5 km 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
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.
Campsite Reservations
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
This park offers 30 smaller vehicle-accessible campsites, 12 are reservable, and 18 are available 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. Reservation information »
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There are 5 pit toilets in this park.
Cold water taps 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. 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.
Activities
There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. 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 canoeing or kayaking opportunities at this park.
Stuart Lake anglers enjoy fishing for char and rainbow trout. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets/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.
Maps and location
From Prince George, travel 100 km west on Highway 16 to Vanderhoof. From Vanderhoof travel 55 km north on Highway 27 to Fort St. James. From Fort St. James, travel 20 km 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.