Bowron Lake Provincial Park
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As of August 29, 2008:
BC Parks Cariboo Region is currently seeking interest in a Request for Proposal for Commercial Tourist Guiding by Canoe/Kayak in Bowron Lake Provincial Park. Additional information on this opportunity can be found on the BC Bid website at http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/welcome Closing date for submission of proposals is October 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Please read the Pre-trip Information Booklet (1 mb pdf) before reserving/visiting the park.
The number of daily departures onto the Canoe Circuit is limited, in order to protect the visitor's experience and reduce impacts on the park. Because of this, reservations for Canoe Circuit or West Side trips are highly recommended. Reservations may be booked up to 4 days prior to the visitor's departure date. Callers will receive a guaranteed departure date and confirmation number. Drop-in spaces for 4 people per day are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure one of these spots, show up in person at the Registration Centre and be prepared to wait up to three days for a departure time.
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Park Info
Bowron Lake Park is a large wilderness area situated on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountain Range. The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit encompasses a 116 km chain of lakes, waterways and connecting portages. This wilderness canoe trip takes from 6 to 10 days to complete, depending on your time frame and skill level. For those looking for a shorter trip, the west side of the circuit can be paddled in 2 to 4 days. It is recommended that those who attempt the circuit have some wilderness canoeing experience.
The park has tremendous diversity in topography and vegetation. The rounded hilltops of the Quesnel Highlands on the west side of the circuit have a unique character quite different from the imposing Cariboo Mountains on the eastern and southern sections of the circuit. The park is a place of many moods, from bright sunshine and placid blue lakes to angry gray waters and torrential rains.
Bowron Lake Park also has a very pleasant 25 unit drive-in campground. The campground is located near the Registration Centre a short distance from Bowron Lake itself. There are also a few short walking trails nearby.
Increased park visitation during recent years has placed a great deal of pressure on the park's resources. If we are to preserve the wilderness experience, it is up to each visitor to treat this special area with the respect it deserves.
For information on the nearby community of Wells and services in the area, click here for information.
Park Size: 149,207 hectares.
Special Notes:
- Any person acting as a guide or offering guiding services in Bowron Lake Park must hold a valid Park Use Permit (Park and Recreation Area Regulation, Section 4). For information on companies that are authorized to conduct guided tours in the park, click here.
- Bowron Lake Park's rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure the comfort and safety of park visitors and to reduce impacts on the park's facilities and natural values from visitor use. The regulations are not optional and will be enforced. Repeated violations or serious infractions may result in charges under the Park Act and/or eviction from the Park. With up to 5,000 people travelling the canoe circuit each season, impacts on the park are considerable. Although you may not immediately see the effects of your actions, please keep in mind the cumulative effect of the other 4,999 or so people who will visit the park this year.
| Campground Hours of Operation
All dates are subject to change without notice |
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| Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.) |
Unknown at this time due to snow/ice int he area May 15? – September 30 |
| Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: | Unknown at this time due to snow/ice int he area May 15? – September 30 |
| Campground Reservable Dates: | Not applicable |
| Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: | 25 (and 54 wilderness sites on the canoe circuit) |
| Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
Not applicable |
| Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts. | |
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General Visitor Information
Safety:
- The Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit is a wilderness area. Anyone planning to paddle the circuit should come to the park well prepared and with some canoeing experience. Click here for information about the skills you will need.
- Bowron Lake is a multi-use recreational lake used by both motorized and non-motorized watercraft. BC Parks has developed a Boating Code of Ethics for Bowron Lake (295 kb pdf).
- Six public two-way radios have been placed strategically around the circuit for use in the event of an emergency only (see map). These radios are not for personal calls or requests for forgotten or broken equipment. Abuse of this equipment will result in prosecution. There are no cellular phone capabilities on the circuit. Visitors may bring their own registered communication system, but are not permitted to access the radio frequencies used by BC Parks. Telus radio phone transmissions can be received on the north and west sides of the park.
- Firearms, crossbows and bear bangers are prohibited in Bowron Lake Provincial Park. Pepper spray is permitted only if it is clearly labelled by the manufacturer "for bear use only". Here is detailed information on bear safety.
- To protect the quality of wilderness experience for all park users, music boxes with external speakers (ghetto blasters) are prohibited on the Bowron Lake canoe circuit.
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Location
Bowron Lake Park is located about 120 kilometers east of Quesnel. To get there, drive north on Highway 97 through Quesnel, then follow signs onto Highway 26, which leads through Wells to the Barkerville Historic Town, where the three Barkerville Provincial Park campgrounds are located. From there it's another 27 km to the park entrance on a wide, well-graded dirt road. The nearest communities, towns and cities are Quesnel (120 km east of Bowron Lake) and Wells and Barkerville Historic Town (approximately 30 km).
National Topographic Series 1:50,000 maps of the park are available at most BC map retailers. While they may be of interest, they are not necessary for people attempting the Canoe Circuit, as the park map and brochure are sufficient for navigation. Relevant maps are 93H2, 93H3, and 93H6.
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Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Brochure (PDF)
- Park Brochure Map with hillshading (PDF - updated June 2008)
- Pre-trip Information Booklet (PDF)
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Reservations
Reservations are accepted for the Canoe Circuit and wilderness campsites along the circuit.
Reservations for the vehicle-access campground near the registration centre are not available. All drive-in campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For a list of provincial park vehicle-access campgrounds that accept reservations, or information on the campground reservation service, click here.
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Activities Available At This Park
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Canoeing | |
Canoeing and kayaking are by far the most popular activities in Bowron Lake Park. The Canoe Circuit is renowned world-wide, attracting many visitors from Europe, the United States and across Canada.
Reserving a departure time for the Canoe Circuit is highly recommended since the number of canoes per day is restricted. Click here for more information on Canoe Circuit reservations. To help plan your trip around the Circuit, here are more useful web pages:
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Cycling | |
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Fishing | |
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Hiking | |
Other than portages, there are only two developed trails in the park, which are all accessed from the Canoe Circuit. These are short trails to viewpoints of Cariboo River Falls and Hunter Lake.
Refer to the map in the brochure for exact distance and location of trails.
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.
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Pets on Leash | |
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears. In the vehicle accessible campground pets are permitted, but must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
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Swimming | |
Please do not use soap (even biodegradable) for washing in the lakes. If you must wash with soap, do it at least 50 m (150 ft) inland from the lakeshore, and then deposit soapy water in the outhouse.
There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
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Winter Recreation | |
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Facilities Available At This Park
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Boat Launch | |
There is a canoe landing dock at the main campground.
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Cabins / Huts / Yurts | |
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Campfires | |
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Drinking Water | |
Out on the Canoe Circuit, you must use a reliable method of water purifaction, as no potable water is provided. Either boil drinking water for at least two minutes or use a commercial water filter effective against Giardia (beaver fever).
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Group Camping | |
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Pit or Flush Toilets | |
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Vehicle Accessible Camping | |
If staff are not available when you arrive at the campground, choose your site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season.
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Walk-In/Wilderness Camping | |
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