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photo of Cultus Lake ' Cultus Lake Provincial Park
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important info, warnings, alerts for park visitors
general overview of park, size, special features safety, park hazards, wildlife information, health risks
park location, parks nearby, how to get to the park history, cultural heritage, conservation, wildlife
maps of park and/or campground, trails, etc. Management Planning
campsite reservations, group and picnic site reservations images of the park
 

vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites wilderness, backcountry, walk-in camping group camping - 15 or more campers picnic, day-use facilities, no camping wheelchair accessiblity drinking water toilets showers sani-stations, sani-dumps firewood, campfires There are no electrical hook-ups in this park interpretive, educational programs
walking, hiking trails playgrounds swimming canoeing, kayaking power boats, boat launch fishing cycling, mountain biking, bicycling horses, horseback riding pets, domestic animals in parks Icon Legend- Green =Available Grey = Unavailable

wildlife viewing
winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating scuba, snorkelling windsurfing waterskiing hunting climbing, rock climbing spelunking, caving cabins, yurts, lodges click on green symbols for more information

 

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

Summer Group Site bookings for the Honeymoon Bay A and B Group Sites will begin at 8:00am on Monday, January 14th, 2008.

Please note that, due to damage by the 2006/2007 winter storms, the Entrance Bay Campground Playground had to be completely removed as it was a safety hazard. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Park Info:

As one of the most popular destination areas in the Lower Mainland, Cultus Lake Provincial Park is characterized by a large, warm freshwater lake and scenic forest-clad mountains. The park is almost evenly divided between the northwest and southeast sides of Cultus Lake. The northwest portion is mostly undeveloped with the visitor-oriented facilities confined to the southeast portion. Just an hour and a half drive away from Vancouver, visitors will find four campgrounds, a large day-use area for picnicking and boating, and ample opportunity for fishing, water skiing, wind surfing and hiking.

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Park Size: 2,561 hectares

Special Notes:

  • Cultus Lake Provincial Park is located near the small community of Cultus Lake, This community offers waterslides, two golf courses, bumper boats, go-carts, canoe, boat and jet ski rentals, marina, miniature golf, restaurants, stables, laundry mat, stores and gas stations. Larger department stores are located in Chilliwack.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

  • Online Management planning information for this park is available here.

Location:

Cultus Lake Provincial Park is located 11 km southwest of Chilliwack. Access to the park is off Highway 1 at the Yarrow or Sardis exits. It is 16 km to the park entrance from Yarrow and 10 km from Sardis via the Columbia Valley Highway, which bisects the southeast section of the park.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

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Nature & Culture:
  • History - The park was designated to Provincial Park status in 1948.
  • Cultural Heritage - Cultus Lake was known as Swee-ehl-chah or Tsowallie by local First Nations. Cultus is a Chinook word derived from the Salish word Kul, meaning "bad" or "worthless". The lake was considered "bad" in an ancient First Nations legend.
  • Conservation - The park lies in the transition zone between the Coastal Western Hemlock and Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zones. Douglas-fir and broadleaf maple are the dominant species. Hemlock is evident in the understory, largely on the wetter east side of the lake.
  • Wildlife - The park provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including coyote, blacktail deer, beaver, shrew mole, and 100 species of birds. Cultus Lake contains rainbow, Dolly Varden, steelhead and cutthroat trout and all five varieties of salmon.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

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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

Group Camp/Picnic Reservations:
Group campsite and/or group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd
Email address: info@seatoskyparks.com
Phone: (604) 986-9371

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vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

There are four campgrounds within this park: Clear Creek has 82 sites; Delta Grove has 57 sites; Entrance Bay has 52 sites; and Maple Bay has 104 sites. There are 19 double sites and no pull through sites. There is no parking available for extra vehicles. There is a gate house open 24 hours during peak season. If no staff is available to help find a site, reserved sites are posted on the gate house board and remaining sites are on a first come first serve basis. Camping is not available if the gate is locked. There is a pay phone located at the gate house. The nearest store is in the municipality of Cultus Lake approximately 2km away.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party /night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $12.00 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.)

Campground gates are closed during off-season.

- Clear Creek campground

May 18 - September 3

- Delta Grove campground

March 14 - October 13

- Entrance Bay campground

March 30 - October 8 (opening date may change subject to completion of storm cleanup)

- Maple Bay campground

June 15 - September 3
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:  

- Clear Creek campground

May 18 - September 3

- Delta Grove campground

March 14 - October 13

- Entrance Bay campground

March 30 - October 8 (opening date may change subject to completion of storm cleanup)

- Maple Bay campground

June 15 - September 3
Campground Reservable Dates:  

- Clear Creek campground

June 15 - September 2

- Delta Grove campground

May 11 - September 2

- Entrance Bay campground

May 11 - September 2

- Maple Bay campground

June 15 - September 2
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: Clear Creek = 85
Delta Grove = 52
Entrance Bay = 47
Maple Bay = 97
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) Clear Creek = 34
Delta Grove = 38
Entrance Bay = 45
Maple Bay = 73
Note: The above information is for the campgrounds only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.
wilderness, backcountry,  walk-in camping

No wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.

group camping - 15 or more campers

There are two group campsites at Honeymoon Bay group, each with several tent pads. Each group site can accommodate 15 to 50 people. Group sites are open from April 1 to October 8. For more information on how to reserve group campground and picnicking areas in BC Parks, click here.
Group Camping Fee: $24.00 per party / night
Youth Group Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

There are picnic grounds with tables and garbage containers at Entrance Bay, Maple Bay, and Spring Bay day-use areas. There are parking facilities for 700 vehicles. Changehouses are located at Entrance Bay and Maple Bay. The Spring Bay day-use area is open all year with no services. The available beaches are sandy. Entrance Bay and Maple Bay campgrounds have flush toilets. Spring Bay campground has only pit toilets. Campfires are prohibited. However, some picnic tables have BBQ stands for hibachis. There is a beach area for dogs, but they must remain on leash. There is a gate that is locked between dusk and 7am during which time the day-use area cannot be accessed.

Entrance Bay day use area is open from April 1 to October 8. Maple Bay day use and boat launch open from June 15 to September 3.  Watt Creek open from April 1 to October 8. Spring Bay  and Tea Pot Hill parking lot are open all year, weather permitting. 

Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees, click here.

wheelchair accessibility

Wheelchair access washrooms are located in Delta Grove, Clear Creek campgrounds and Entrance Bay and Maple Bay day use areas. There are wheelchair accessible pit toilets in Entrance Bay, Clear Creek and Delta Grove at both the campgrounds and the day-use areas. There is one wheelchair accessible campsite available in Entrance Bay.

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drinking water

Cold water taps for cooking and drinking are located throughout the campgrounds and day-use areas.

toilets

Pit and flush toilets are located in all campgrounds and day use areas within the park.

showers

There are hot showers available at all four campgrounds. Maple Bay day use area has a cold shower only facility. There are change houses located in Maple Bay and Entrance Bay campgrounds.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

A sani-station/dump is located on the roadway leading to the Maple Bay boat launch and is open only during the campsite operating season. The nearest sani-station/dump to the park is the Husky Truck stop in Sardis.
Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

firewood, campfires

Campfires are allowed in campground areas only. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
interpretive,  educational  programs

The Visitor programs for the summer of 2007 have now concluded.  Please join us again in 2008 for more scheduled summer visitor programs. 

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walking, hiking trails

There are five main trails for you to enjoy and admire the wonders of nature:

  • Teapot Hill Trail is located near the Honeymoon Bay group site. There are some steep sections making this trail moderately difficult. This trail is a 5 km round trip (2 hours) viewing Cultus Lake and Columbia Valley.
  • Seven Sisters Trail connects Entrance Bay and Clear Creek Campgrounds. Along the trail, stands a group of large Douglas-fir trees, once numbering seven (2 hours return).
  • Cultus Lake Horse Trail is 20 km round trip (5 hours), traveling from Edmeston Road to Watt Creek, which joins the north and south ends of the park
  • Giant Douglas-fir Trail begins 150 metres west of Delta Grove campground. The walk leads to this forest goliath and also connects with Clear Creek campground (45 minute return walk)
  • .
  • Maple Bay Trail starts near the day-use parking lot and provides a self-guiding interpretive stroll past some of the park's natural wonders (30 minutes).

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.

playgrounds

Please note that, due to damage by the 2006/2006 winter storms, the Entrance Bay Campground Playground had to be completely removed as it was a safety hazard. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
swimming

Swim only within the buoyed swimming areas. There are wharfs available in the Entrance Bay and Maple Bay day-use areas. Beaches are sandy. Please note that there are steep, dangerous drop-offs along the lakeshore and that there are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

Please note that no kayak/canoe rentals are available in the park. Canoeing and kayayking are available on Cultus Lake.

power boats, boat launch

There are double paved boat launching ramps located at Maple Bay and Jade Bay. Jade Bay boat launch is open year round. The Maple Bay boat launch is open during the peak season. There is parking available for boat trailers during the day only. Boats cannot be left in the water or beached overnight. There is no marina or moorage available in or within the park. Boaters are cautioned to remain well clear of buoy-marked swimming areas at all times. Water skiers and jet skiers can enjoy this lake. Cultus Lake is closed to open air exhaust motors. There are no vessels allowed on certain parts of the lake. There is a speed restriction of 5 km/h at the north end of the lake as buoyed and signed.

fishing

Cultus Lake provides good sports fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden. Nearby Chilliwack Lake is noted for steelhead as well as whitefish and coho salmon. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

horses, horseback riding

A maintained horse trail, also used by hikers and cyclists, connects Edmeston Road at the north end of the park with Watt Creek Trailhead. Please note that horses are not permitted on Road 918. The Cultus Lake horse trail is open all year but the parking lot is closed during the off-season. There are approximately 20 km of compact gravel and shale horse trails. Camping and stop-overs in day-use areas are not permitted with horses.

pets, domestic animals in parks Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings or beach areas except for areas set aside for pets at the Shale Beach area between the Jade Bay boat launch and the Entrance Bay day use and also in the Shale Beach area between the Maple Bay boat launch and the Maple Bay day use. 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.

wildlife viewing

There is a viewing area at the top of Teapot Hill.

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winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating

No winter recreation opportunities.

scuba, snorkelling

No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

windsurfing

Windsurfing is not recommended during peak season, due to the large amount of water traffic. However, windsurfing can be enjoyed during the off season.

waterskiing

Water skiing is available on Cultus Lake. Travel on the lake is restricted to counter clockwise.

hunting

No hunting in the park.

climbing, rock climbing

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

spelunking, caving

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

cabins, yurts, lodges

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.

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