West Lake is a day-use park where visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. In the winter, popular activities include cross-country skiing and tobogganing. A boaters beach complete with picnic tables, pit toilets and fire pits has been developed for boaters and waterskiers. A swimming area is sectioned off. There is a volleyball net and horseshoe pit in the main day-use area. A group picnic site (capacity 100) with pit toilets and a picnic shelter with wood stove, horseshoe pits, fire circle and play field is available.
The consumption of alcohol in a public place (all areas of the park) is prohibited.
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is a double concrete boat launch, complete with parking lots. The boat launch area is closed daily from dusk to 8am during the summer months. The boat launch opens May 1 and closes October 30.
West Lake’s day-use area has all the ingredients for an ideal family outing. Sunbathers will find a perfect spot to spread a blanket on the expansive sandy beach or under the shady cottonwood trees. Nearby change houses and picnic tables make it easy to spend an entire day enjoying this beautiful setting near the water. For energetic visitors looking for a little light-hearted competition, a play field, volleyball net and horseshoe pitches are provided.
For groups, two picnic areas are available. A wood stove, horseshoe pitches, and a playfield make year-round fun available for groups of up to 100. One of the shelters is enclosed for optimum use during cooler weather and is available on a first come, first served basis. The other shelter can be reserved for group use.
Group picnicking fee: $50 per group
There are 15km of trails that are accessible in both summer and winter months. Trails are on the park map [PDF] .
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Safe swimming practices are a must! Visitors are encouraged to remain within the designated area. An abrupt drop-off is marked with floats. Swimmers itch may be present at West Lake. To prevent swimmers itch, check out the BC Healthfiles page. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
Fishing is popular on West Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. There are opportunities for ice fishing.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. They are not allowed in park buildings or beach areas except for the area set aside for pets between the log picnic shelter and the boat launch as indicated by signs.
You are responsible for their control, 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 winter recreation opportunities. Snowshoeing opportunities exist on the regular (summer) trails in the park. There are also opportunities for cross-country skiing on these trails. However, there are no tracks set.
West Lake Park is located 22km southwest of Prince George on the Blackwater Road on the north shore of West Lake.
This park proudly operated by:
Quartz Contracting
northquartz@aol.com
250 964-3489
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.