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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- No
park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Known as an ideal destination for family fun, Champion
Lakes Provincial Park with its 3 lakes offers an all-inclusive
recreational package to visitors including fishing, canoeing,
hiking, mountain biking and swimming. There are 6.5 km
of multi-use trails linking the lakes together. 3rd lake
with its two day-use areas is known for warm water and
is popular with the local communities. Champion Lakes
Golf and Country Club is a quick 20-min drive from the
Park.
Champion Lakes Provincial Park takes its name from the
lakes and creek by that name and is located in the Selkirk
Mountains, 18 km north west of Fruitvale. The special
features of this park include the chain of picturesque
small lakes, old growth forest and an example of forest
succession.

Park
Size: 1,426
hectares
Special
Notes:
- Unusual
diversity of vegetation from cedar/hemlock forest to Alpine
spruce.
- POWER
BOATS are prohibited.
Management
Planning:
Location:
Located
in south central BC, this park is 6 km north-east of
Fruitvale off Highway 3B or just 8 km west of the junction
of Highway
3 and 3B. From the turn off, it’s a 12 km, 20-min
drive to the park entrance.
Map/Brochure:
Any maps listed are for
information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be
used for navigation.

Nature
& Culture:
- History - In the early 1900s, the area belonged to The Columbia and Western Railway but reverted to the crown in 1919. During the 30’s and 40’s the local rod and gun club stocked the lakes and improved trails to allow access for recreational purposes. The park was established in 1955 and the lakes and creek are named for James W. Champion, an early settler and orchardist of the area. Champion Lakes Park lies in the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket, Okanagan and Sinixt first nation traditional territories.
- Conservation - Champion
Lakes Park is located adjacent to the Bonnington Range of the Selkirk
Mountains. This 1426 hectare park lies in the moist Interior cedar-hemlock
biogeoclimatic zone, which accounts for the separate plant species
that grow in some profusion in its well-developed lake-marsh-dry
land successional sites. Conifers such as alpine fir and yellow pine,
which do not normally grow in the same vicinity, may be seen in the
park close together. The park also protects old growth forest. Flowers,
trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please
do not damage or remove them.
- Wildlife - This park supports a diverse population of small mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks and porcupines. Moose, deer and bears are occasionally observed. Birds are quite prevalent with nighthawks, woodpeckers, Canada jays, belted kingfishers, western tanagers and oregon junkos being the most common. Loons, mallards, widgeons and the great blue heron are more likely to be seen early in the season. In spring and fall, migrating waterfowl specifically Canada geese rest on the lakes during their journeys north and south. The park does support sites suitable for painted turtles.
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.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Visitor
Safety:
Visitor
Safety Information (park
safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For
parks that accept reservations,
all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover
Camping.
Campsite
Reservations:
Campsite
reservations
are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
Contact
Information:
West
Kootenay Park Management Inc.
Phone: (250) 825-4212
Fax: (250) 825-4293
Email for general inquiries: information@westkootenayparks.com
Email for park specific inquiries: championlakes@westkootenayparks.com
Click here to view a non-government
web link, for additional information.

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The
Park has one campground situated between 3rd and
2nd lake. None of the sites are on the lakeshore
but some have lake views with short access trails
to the 3rd or 2nd lake loop trails. Champion Rd
and Lake Rd form the outside loop with 2 inner Roads
know as Centre and Theatre Road. The campground
has 95 vehicle accessible sites, 13 of those are
doubles There are no pull through sites however
the campground has an even mix of small to large
sites and can accommodate large recreational vehicles.
Approximately 10 of the vehicle accessible sites
have tent pads with 8 sites designed for tenters
only. All the sites are evenly spaced considered
shaded and found amongst a predominantly mixed forest
of fir, larch and pine. There is limited parking
available for extra vehicles in the larger sites.
This park offers services during the peak season
of May to September. Campsite
reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served
sites are also available. Visitors can select
any non-reserved site and staff will come to collect
fees. Fees, hours of operations, and number of campsites.
A park gate is located at the Park Entrance and
is closed between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am.
There are no pay phones in the park. The closest
store is in Fruitvale 18 km west on highway 3B.
Vehicle
Accessible Camping Fee: $19.00 per party / night BC
Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only):
$9.50 per senior's couple/night
Campground Hours
of Operation
All dates are subject
to change without notice |
Opening
and Closing Campground Dates: (campground
is accessible but may not offer full services
such as water, security, etc.)
|
June 1 - September 15
(Gate is open year round - but use is subject to snow conditions, as the campground is not cleared of snow.) |
| Campground
Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
June 1 - September 15
Off-season: no fee, no services; user-maintained |
| Campground
Reservable Dates: |
June
15 - September 7 |
| Total
Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: |
95 |
| Number
of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
30 |
| Note:
The Park is open year round unless
inaccessible due to weather conditions, especially
during the off-season. If the park or campground
are closed for other reasons, information is
noted in the Attention Visitor Notice at the
top of this page. |
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No
wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.
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No
group campsites.
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This
park has two day-use/picnic areas on 3rd Lake called
Main beach and Camper’s Beach. Fire pits and
BBQ stands are not available.
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Main Beach located on the south-west side of the
lake near the park entrance is approximately 200
m long with compact sand, grassy areas and a small
buoyed wading area. There are 30 picnic tables
25 m back from the water’s edge. A toilet
/change house, enclosed shelter with heater, 2
pit toilets, water tap and group picnic area are
located nearby. Parking for 180 vehicles is available.
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Campers Beach is located on the south-east end
of the lake. The turn off for the access road
is located in the campground beside Campsite 91.
A small parking lot can accommodate 20 vehicles.
The beach is approximately 100 m long with compact
sand. A large unmaintained grassy area makes up
the majority of the day use area. An adventure
playground, set in sand with swing set, slide
and monkey bars is nearby. Other facilities on
site include 6 picnic tables, 2 pit toilets and
a water tap.
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Wheelchair
accessible facilities include flush toilets in the
toilet/change house building at Main Beach day-use
/picnic area. A paved viewing area of 3rd lake is
located on the main road on route to the campground.
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Cold
well water is available for cooking and drinking.
Six water taps are randomly located in the campground
with a single water tap at each day-use/picnic area.
Taps are shut off during the off-season.
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Four
sets of pit toilets and three toilet buildings are conveniently located
throughout the campground. Main Beach day-use/picnic area has a toilet/change
house and two pit toilets. Campers Beach day-use/picnic area has two
pit toilets. |
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No
showers.
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During
the collecting season a sani-station/dump is available
near the campground entrance and a fee is
charged for the service.
Sani-station
Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge
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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.
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There are no electrical hook-ups in this park. |
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An
amphitheatre is located in the campground, on Theatre
Road across from campsite #65. There are no regularly
scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
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A
total of 6.5 km of gentle trails
connects the lakes and encompass the second and third
lakes. Facility
development is concentrated around
3rd Lake. 2nd and 1st lakes remain in their natural
states. There
is also a trail that leads to a Lookout. For
your own safety and preservation
of the park, obey posted signs and
keep to designated
trails. Shortcutting
trails destroy plant life and soil
structure.
3rd Lake Loop trail follows the shoreline, is 1.5
km long, takes approximately 40 min to hike
and is popular
for travelling from Main beach to Campers beach.
2nd Lake Loop trail is the most popular trail
and can be accessed from three locations. The
parking lot of
Campers beach day-use/picnic area, beside campsite
# 82 and from 2nd lake boat launch. The trail
is approximately 2.5 km with a 45 min hiking
time. This trail has several
boardwalks, passes through old growth forest
and offers scenic views of march grasslands.
2nd lake itself has
shallow places covered in pond lilies with
reed flats found in the marshy areas. For your
relaxation a viewing
area with bench can be found at the north end
of the lake.
1st Lake Loop trail starts from the 2nd lake
boat launch parking lot. It starts on 2nd lake
trail then branches
off and follows the creek between 2nd and 1st
lake. It continues along the east shore of
1st lake and returns
through the forest to your original starting
point from the boat launch. Allow yourself
1 hour for the
2.5 km hike. This trail is the most serene
of the three loops and in the fall offers spectacular
fall colour
when the larch turn yellow and begin to loose
their needle’s.
Lookout Trail is approximately .75 of a km
with a moderate to steep grade. Depending how
long you spend at the
top it is a 40 – 60 minute round trip
and offers picturesque views of the lakes below.
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An
adventure playground with swing set, monkey bars
and slide is located adjacent to the Campers' beach
at the west end of 3rd lake. The equipment is set
in sand.
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There
are two beaches on 3rd Lake: Campers' beach on the
west end and the Main day-use beach on the east end.
Main beach has the only buoyed wading area and swim
float/wharf. Warm water and a combined 300 meters
of compacted sand beaches provide excellent sunbathing
and swimming opportunities. Caution: there is a sharp
drop-off at the Main beach. There are NO LIFEGUARDS
on duty at provincial parks.
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Canoes,
kayaks and rowboats are welcome. Both 3rd and 2nd
Lakes have easy access via the boat launches. An
approximate .25 of a km portage from the 2nd lake
boat launch is required to reach 1st Lake.
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Launching
sites for canoes, kayaks and cartop boats are located
across from the picnic areas on the 3rd lake and
near the westerly end of the 2nd lake. 3rd lake boat
launch is a single launch site with a concrete plank
ramp. It has a 15-vehicle boat/trailer parking area
and vehicles/trailers can be left over night. 2nd
Lake boat launch is a rustic, gravel single launch
site with parking available above the site. The site
can accommodate 15 vehicles/boat trailers. Due to
its remoteness it is not recommended to leave vehicles/trailers
overnight. POWERBOATS ARE PROHIBITED ON ALL
THREE LAKES. The shoreline along both boat launches is
in its natural state and is therefore not developed
for canoes, kayaks or boats to be beached overnight.
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Rainbow
trout have been stocked in the lakes. Anyone fishing
or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate
licence. Check
the BC Fishing Regulations
Synopsis for quotas and
restrictions. Ice-fishing is allowed during
the winter season. POWER BOATS ARE PROHIBITED.
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Bicycles
may use trails and roadways. Mountain bikers should
always yield the right-of-way to other trail users.
Should you encounter hikers on any trail, please
yield the right-of-way. Helmets must be worn. Just
outside of the park are good cross-country skiing
trails that would be suitable for mountain biking.
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No
horseback riding at this park. |
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Pets/domestic
animals must be on a leash at all times and are not
allowed in beach areas or park buildings. There is
no off leash area in this park. 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. |
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Viewpoints located at both Second & Third lakes as well as a lookout
at the top of the Lookout trail that overlooks the Park, all three locations
have a park bench. Loons and Mallards are common through the summer rearing
young in addition to a large variety of forest bird species.

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There are approximately 3km of trails in the
park. A local Ski Club maintains tracks in the Park throughout
the winter months. There are also 4 km of trails outside of the park.
There are also snowshoeing opportunities in the park.
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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Windsuring is possible
but the wind is not dependable.
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. |
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