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Park Contact
This park proudly operated by:
Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd.
604 986-9371
info@seatoskyparks.com
seatoskyparks.com


Cultus Lake Provincial Park
Attention Visitors – Important Notice!
-
October 15, 2018: The campground is now closed for the season and reopens starting in April 2019
Campground gates are closed during the off-season, however, park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit.
The Jade Bay boat launch, Spring Bay day-use area and Teapot Hill parking lot are still open.
About This Park
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.
Established Date: February 10, 1948
Park Size: 2,729 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, laundromat, stores and gas stations. Larger department stores are located in Chilliwack.
Trailer Rental
Cultus Lake Provincial Park has two Outdoors RV trailers for rent on a daily* or weekly basis. The trailer can accommodate up to four people with a double bed and a double/single bunk bed. Linens (or sleeping bag) will be required.
Bookings are required prior to arrival: Phone 604 986-9371.
Know Before You Go
- South Fraser Trail Conditions Report [PDF] (September 17, 2018) (scroll down to the Cultus Lake Provincial Park entry)
- Please note: ATVs and other off-road vehicles (including those registered under the ORV Act) are not permitted within the park.
- Quiet Hours are 10 pm to 7 am: Music, generators, etc. must be shut off completely between these hours.
- Campers and swimmers should be aware that Swimmer's Itch may be present in Cultus Lake. For more information on the treatment and prevention of swimmers itch, check out the BC Healthfiles page.
Reservations
All campsite and group site reservations must be made through Discover Camping. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
Campsite Reservations
Campsite reservations are accepted.
Group Campsite Reservations
Group campsite reservations are accepted at this park through Discover Camping.
Location and Maps
Please note: Any maps listed are for information only – they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation. 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.Maps and Brochures
Any maps listed are for information only – they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.- Park Map [PDF] (updated June 2008)
- Park Map [PDF] (showing Westside group site location)
- Park Brochure [PDF]
- Delta Grove and Clear Creek campground map [PDF]
- Entrance Bay campground map [PDF]
- Maple Bay campground map [PDF]
- Horse trail map [PDF]
- Google Earth KMZ file of the hiking trails (For use in Google Earth and/or and Google Maps.)
Nature and 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. A recent park expansion added 202 hectares including important foreshore habitat for the endangered Cultus Lake Sockeye, and the threatened Cultus Pygmy Sculpin.
- 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.
Management Planning
- Management Planning Information
- There is currently no approved valid management plan for this area. Management plans are prepared as soon as practicable, subject to available resources and the ability of key planning partners to participate.
Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Cycling

Fishing

Hiking
- South Fraser Trail Conditions Report [PDF] (September 17, 2018) (scroll down to the Cultus Lake Provincial Park entry)
- 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.
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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. The trail was closed in August 2013 due to an active landslide in the area. BC Parks installed warning signage and reopened the trail to the public, however; we strongly recommend visitors do not cross the landslide area during periods of intense rainfall.
- 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).

Horseback Riding
Cautionary Note: The trail was closed in August 2013 due to an active landslide in the area. BC Parks installed warning signage and reopened the trail to the public, however; we strongly recommend visitors do not cross the landslide area during periods of intense rainfall.

Interpretive Programs

Pets on Leash

Swimming

Waterskiing

Wildlife Viewing
Facilities Available at this Park

Boat Launch

Campfires

Drinking Water

Group Camping
All group site users must check in at the Cultus Lake Gate House first to register and get camping information.
Group sites are open from March 31 to October 10. Click here to book a group site or for more information.
Regular group camping charges per night are the base rate for the site, which is $120.00/group site/night, plus $5/adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1/child (6-15). Children under 6 are free!

Picnic Areas
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 8:00 am during which time the day-use area cannot be accessed.
Entrance Bay day-use area is open from March 31 to October 9. Maple Bay day-use and boat launch is open from June 8 to the Labour Day long weekend. Watt Creek is open from March 31 to the Labour Day long weekend. Spring Bay and Tea Pot Hill parking lots are open all year, weather permitting.

Pit or Flush Toilets

Playground

Sani-Station/Dump

Showers

Vehicle Accessible Camping
This park offers vehicle accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites may be available.
There are four campgrounds within this park: Clear Creek has 82 sites; Delta Grove has 58 sites; Entrance Bay has 52 sites; and Maple Bay has 106 sites. There are 19 double sites and no pull through sites. There is no parking available for extra vehicles. 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 served 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.
Clear Creek, Entrance Bay, Delta Grove, Maple Bay campgrounds:
