A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
September 2009
A section of the trail to the Petain Campground, Petain Falls and the Petain Basin has been flooded out due to the creek changing directions. Be advised that travel into the Petain area is not recommended at this time. The trail is expected to re-open in the summer of 2010. For more information please contact the regional office at 250 489 8540.
Park Info
Located within the western ranges of the southern Rocky Mountains, Elk Lakes Provincial Park is an easily accessible wilderness park characterized by outstanding sub-alpine landscapes, remnant glaciers, rugged peaks and productive lakes.
Elk Lakes offers a variety of hiking experiences including some maintained trails that are appropriate for all family members with some experience in back-country hiking.
Park Size: 17,245 hectares
Special Notes:
National Topographic Series Map 82J/11 (Kananaskis Lakes) at a scale of 1:50,000 covers the Elk Lakes vicinity. Map 82J/6 (Mount Abruzzi) at a scale of 1:50,000 depicts most of the Cadorna Creek watershed. Map 82J/7 (Mount Head) depicts the southern park entrance and access points in the Elk Valley. These maps are available from Government Agents and most map retailers in British Columbia, and are very useful if traveling off trail. Topographic maps do not show park trails, so visitors will need a park brochure to use as a trail guide.
General Visitor Information
Persons visiting Elk Lake Provincial Park are reminded
that the park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of
any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be
made beforehand.
Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available
in the park.
All park visitors should wear strong waterproofed, lug-soled
boots and carry a daypack with raingear, extra warm clothing and food.
Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms
with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping
bag, groundpad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag and lightweight stove
are essential. Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue
and properly roped, should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered
while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and for your
safety, always yield to industrial traffic.
Public communications are not available at this park.
Public communications are not available at this park. Visitors
are reminded to use provided caches for food and garbage storage and
to keep a clean camp.
Elk Lakes Provincial Park is located in southeastern BC, about 104 kilometres north of Sparwood. Turn off Highway 3 at Sparwood and go north on Highway 43 till you reach the community of Elkford, a distance of 35 kilometres. From here, travel the gravel road on the west side of the Elk River. Approximately 47 kilometres north of Elkford the road crosses the Elk River and joins the Kananaskis Power Line Road. It is 5.8 kilometres from the crossing to the Cadorna Creek trailhead; the Elk Lakes trailhead is a further 16.1 kilometres.
Driving time from Sparwood to the park is approximately two hours. Access to the park is also possible from Alberta’s adjoining Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Please click onto the "hiking/trail information" page for a description of the route.
Nature & Culture
Conservation - Much of the park is above treeline. At lower elevations alpine fir, Englemann spruce and lodgepole pine predominate, interspersed with juniper, twinberry, false azalea, white rhododendron and buffalo berry. Yellow violets, foam flowers and bunchberries add a touch of colour. The meadows are alive with scrub birch, cinque-foil, Saskatoon berry and gooseberry, while alpine flowers such as fireweed, Indian paintbrush, blue violet, elephant’s head and giant ragwort splash the area with vivid displays of colour. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please do not damage or remove them. The area surrounding the Elk Lakes is a mature old growth forest and includes dead snags that provide excellent habitat for cavity dwelling birds and small mammals.
Wildlife - The wildlife at lower elevations includes scores of red squirrels and snowshoe hares. Beavers are resident near the Elk Lakes and upper reaches of Cadorna Creek. Elk, white-tailed deer and moose frequent the meadows throughout the park. Occasionally a mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, grizzly bear or black bear may be seen by the observant visitor. Birdlife is fairly common. While hiking or sitting quietly, one might see spruce grouse, wrens, junkos, snipe, flickers or the Clark's nutcracker. A variety of waterfowl is transient in the lake areas, as are osprey and blue herons.
Both canoeing and kayaking can be done in the lakes. The streams and rivers are not navigable. The closest lake to the main access parking lot is a 1km walk with a 30m elevation change.
Climbing
There are climbing opportunities in the park. both mountaineering and ice climbing opportunities exist within the park.
Fishing
Fishing in Elk Lakes Provincial Park is often rewarding; species found are Dolly Varden, Rocky Mountain whitefish and Cutthroat trout. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate
licence. Consult the BC Sport Fishing Regulations for special restrictions.
Hiking
Visitors to Elk Lakes Provincial Park have a number of hiking trails to choose from. 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.
Horseback Riding
Horseback riding is allowed only in the Cadorna Watershed.
Hunting
Elk Lakes Provincial Park is open to hunting. Check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more details. Horses are permitted only in the Cordona watershed.
Pets on Leash
Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Dogs in backcountry parks must be on a leash or under control at all times because of potential problems with wildlife such as bears. Care should be taken to avoid disturbance of wildlife, particularly nesting birds.
Please note dogs are not allowed on the parks's ski trails or in the cabin at Elk Lakes.
Swimming
There are limited cold swimming opportunities at this park. There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at provincial parks.
Winter Recreation
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing - There is limited winter use for ski touring and snowshoeing due to unploughed roads. It is possible to reach the park from Alberta via Peter Lougheed Park ski trails. Please note dogs are not allowed on these ski trails or in the cabin at Elk Lakes. Travel is fairly easy through the lower areas. Do not follow the summer hiking trail to Upper Elk Lake via Fox Lake since there are numerous avalanche paths along the way. Instead, follow meadows in a southerly direction until the power line is reached.
There are also ice fishing opportunities in the park.
Facilities Available At This Park
Cabins / Huts / Yurts
There is a lodge in the park for public use. The Alpine Club of Canada operates a small lodge at the trailhead and the entrance of the park. For more information, questions regarding cabin use, rates and booking policies may be directed to the Alpine Club of Canada website. User fees are payable to the Alpine Club of Canada.
Campfires
Campfires are permitted. Firewood and group fire pits are located at Upper and Lower Elk Lakes campsites. Have fires only when necessary and keep them small to conserve trees. Bring a portable stove for cooking. Campfire bans may be implemented during extremely hot weather conditions.
Picnic Areas
The Lower Elk Lakes campsite can be used for walk-in picnics.
Pit or Flush Toilets
This park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets.
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed. Facility descriptions are provided in the camping information. Camping is permitted in five separate areas, and interesting hiking trails connect Elk Lakes with the adjoining Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta.
Winter Camping
Petain campground (formerly Upper Elk Lakes campground) has six designated tent pads, communal fire pit and a bear cache.
When toilets are not available bury human waste at least six inches in soil and 30 metres from water. To ensure drinking water is safe it must be boiled for at least 5 minutes. Register a trip itinerary with friends, check in and check out. When practical, use impacted campsites, otherwise practice “Leave No Trace” camping ethics. If you have a fire,build it on rocks, or remove sod, have fire, then replace sod.
Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night,
for all persons 13 years of age or older
The fees at Elk Lakes are collected by the Alpine Club of Canada who are operating the Hut and campgrounds. There is an Alpine Club volunteer at Elk Lakes who collects the fees.
