Park visitors enjoy canoeing, fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout or swimming in the lake’s clear, refreshing mountain water.
Mountain goats can often be viewed on rocky outcroppings and in late summer a natural spectacle occurs as thousands of toads emerge from the lake and migrate to the nearby forest to hibernate for the winter.
All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first-come, first-served.
Campsite reservations are accepted at this park and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
Note: Sites 5, 6, 7, and 9 are now reservable..
Group picnic shelter reservations are accepted for the picnic shelter through the BC Parks reservations system.
The small park and campground is located on a point of land at the south-west end of Summit Lake. The campground is circular and contains 35 vehicle-accessible sites, with a paved, one way traffic road. Seven of the sites are double sites. There are no pull-through sites, tent pads or tent sites. The sites are shady and small, in an intimate setting along the lake front or with in the cedar hemlock forest. Extra vehicles must pay the extra vehicle fee and can be parked in the day-use parking lot located near the park entrance. A pay phone is nearby at the pump house found in the centre of the campground. Services are offered in the high use season between May and September.
Reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served campsites are also available. Visitors without reservations can select any site with out a reserved sign and staff will come to collect fees.
A park gate is located just past the day-use parking lot. The closest store is in Nakusp, 18 km west on highway 6.
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Upon entering the park turn right to access the day-use/picnic parking lot. Just a short walk will lead you to the lake and the day-use/picnic area. Here you will find a 100 metres long, shale/pebble type beach. At the edge of the forest, approximately 10 metres from the shoreline, on a small grassy area are 6 tables. A pit toilet and water tap is nearby. There are no fire pits or barbeque stands.
In the campground by campsite #1 is a grassy field with an open picnic shelter that does not have any cooking facilities or services however a water tap with potable water is nearby. The shelter is equipped with four picnic tables. Group picnicking is open during the main camping season and reservations are available for the picnic shelter. Reservation information »
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the Park Operator for information.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Summit 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.
This park is located in the southern interior, Summit Lake Provincial Park is situated on Hwy 6, 18 kilometres southeast of Nakusp, a 15 minute drive and 26 km northwest of New Denver, a 20 minute drive.
This park proudly operated by:
West Kootenay Park Management Inc.
info@westkootenayparks.com
Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance. Please keep a clean camp and be Bear Aware.
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.