Trembleur Lake Park

Highlights in this park

This small park on Trembleur Lake has been preserved as part of the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla Lakes boating system. The site provides no facilities but offers a protected anchorage and sandy beach.

Trembleur Lake is almost 50 kilometres long. It has an irregular shoreline with sheltered bays and coves, and a scenic wilderness setting. Wildlife viewing, boating, hunting, and angling are popular pursuits in the area. The west end of Trembleur Lake is protected as part of Rubyrock Lake Park. There is one marine park site on Trembleur Lake.

The Stuart-Trembleur-Takla Lake boating system is located in north central British Columbia and comprises nearly 300 kilometres of waterway. These long, narrow lakes are among the region’s most significant recreational features. The lakes offer great sports fishing opportunities for rainbow and lake trout, burbot, kokanee, and mountain whitefish. The chain is also part of the longest migration route of chinook and sockeye salmon in British Columbia. With more than 630 kilometres of lakeshore to explore, few developed facilities, and sparse levels of use, this chain of lakes provides a remote wilderness experience.

Stuart Lake, one of the largest lakes in the province at 90 kilometres long, is the southernmost lake of the chain. The community of Fort St. James is located on the southeast end of the lake. The main body of the lake is between six to 10 kilometres wide and is road accessible at many locations. The northwest arm of the lake is narrower, has limited road access, and more of a wilderness feel. This portion of the lake is very scenic with numerous bays, points, and islands. There are four marine park sites on Stuart Lake and two provincial campgrounds.

The Tachie River connects Stuart Lake to Trembleur Lake. The 26 kilometres of river can be a challenge to navigate with fast water and small rapids.

The Middle River flows from Takla Lake into Trembleur Lake. The river, designated as a Provincial Heritage River, is 22 kilometres long and navigable. At 96 kilometres in length, Takla is the fifth largest lake in the province. Almost 250 kilometres of undisturbed shoreline with sandy beaches and isolated bays are available to explore. There are three marine park sites on Takla Lake. There is sporadic road access on the east side of the lake.

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

Getting there

Trembleur Lake Park is located on the north side of the lake approximately 9 km west of the Middle River. The nearest community is Fort St. James.

UTM Zone 10: 356500E – 6077500N (NTS map reference: 93K/14)

NTS map references:

Stuart Lake – 93K/7, 93K/8, 93K/9, 93K/10, 93K/11
Tachie River – 93K/10 & 93K/15
Trembleur Lake – 93K14 & 93K/15
Middle River – 93K/14
Takla Lake – 93M/1, 93M/8, 93M/9, 93N/3, 93N/4, 93N/5

Camping

Marine-accessible camping

Marine-accessible or wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

Practice Leave No Trace camping:

If you pack it in, pack it out
Choose a camp spot that will not do damage to live vegetation
Dispose of personal waste or waste water at least 100 metres from the lake or from any creek

When visiting marine-accessible sites, be respectful of the sensitive wildlife habitats, and learn how to stay safe using our marine visitor guide.

Things to do

Swimming

You can swim in the lake but there are no designated swimming areas.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

Boaters are cautioned to keep a close eye on the weather as Trembleur Lake is subject to sudden heavy winds which can transform the lake into dangerous whitecaps. Those with small boats are advised to stay close to shore.

The settlement on the north side of Trembleur Lake at Middle River can be reached from the Leo Creek Forest Service Road. Access to the lake from Stuart Lake is via the Tachie River; this 26 kilometre river can be a challenge to navigate with fast water and small rapids.

Fishing

Popular sport fish include Dolly Varden, rainbow trout, lake trout (char), kokanee, freshwater ling cod (burbot), and mountain whitefish.

Refer to the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for specific catch quotas and regulations; the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla chain of waterways is in Region 7 (Omineca-Peace) – Zone A.

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

Cycling

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 Trembleur Lake 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

Trembleur Lake is open to hunting during the lawful game season. See the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for further details.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

About this park

Cultural heritage

Prior to Europeans settlement around 200 years ago, the Dakelh-ne people had inhabited the area for generations. To the fur traders, these people became known as the Carrier people, referring to the custom of widows who carried the ashes of cremated husbands with them until a traditional potlach could be held.

The Carrier traditionally led a semi-nomadic life, congregating along lakes and rivers in the warmer months to pick berries, hunt and tan hides, and catch and process the salmon that was an important staple of their diet. The winter was spent ice fishing and trapping in smaller family units.

Several Carrier groups reside in the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla lakes area including the Nak’azdli, Yekoochet’en, Takla, and Tl’azt’en. Traditional trails, culturally altered trees, and pictographs can be found throughout the area.

History

For many years prior to the arrival of European explorers, the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla lakes area was home to the Dakelh-ne people. In 1806 Simon Fraser brought the fur trade to the area with the establishment of the Stuart Lake Post for the North West Company. The company merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821, and in 1822 they named the settlement Fort St. James.

Fort St. James, once the economic capital of the colony of New Caledonia and said to be the oldest European-settled community in British Columbia, saw its importance as a fur trading centre diminish in 1869 when gold was discovered 100 miles north in the Omineca Valley.

With the miners came a new economic prosperity for the area which has largely been replaced by the forest industry today. Tourism is also growing and hunting and fishing lodges can be found on all three lakes.

Conservation

Trembleur Lake Park preserves for future generations a natural area and contributes to the role of the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla lakes system as a backcountry boating destination area.

Wildlife

Diversity of the terrain and types of vegetation support abundant wildlife populations in the area. Moose and black bear are plentiful. Other less visible species include mule and white-tail deer, wolf, and grizzly bear. Furbearers in the area include the lynx, fox, beaver, marten, fisher, otter, and wolverine.

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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