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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- No park
alerts at this time
Park
Info:
Lac La Hache is one of the most popular recreation lakes
along Highway 97. There are many stories to explain how the
lake was named; according to one, it gained its name when
a trapper lost his only hatchet axe when chopping a hole in
the frozen lake.This area is rich in tales of fur traders,
gold seekers and cattle ranchers. By the 1860's, gold fever
was running high, as miners searched for the motherlode first
near Likely, and later at Barkerville. With teams of horses,
mules and oxen, the fortune-seekers plodded north along the
Cariboo Wagon Road skirting the eastern shores of the lake.
Nowadays, Lac La Hache Park is a stopping point for weary
travellers. Set amongst a stately Douglas-fir forest, the
cool, green conifers shade campers from the hot Cariboo sun.
Lac La Hache Park is located on Highway 97, 13 km north of
the community of Lac La Hache. Established in 1956, with 83
campsites, flush toilets, tap water, a sani-station and a
self-guided nature trail, Lac La Hache Park is a very pleasant
campground. The day use area is located across Highway 97
on the shore of Lac La Hache and has an adventure playground,
picnic tables, picnic shelter, boat launch, developed beach,
changehouse and flush toilets.
This is an excellent fishing lake for Kokanee and lake trout,
as well as rainbow trout and burbot during the summer months.
However, fishing need not be your only recreational pursuit,
as the lake is also a popular place for power boating and
water-skiing.
The Heritage House at 108 Mile is a half-hour's drive from
the campground, and is open from May to September. The campground
host or Park Facility Operator can inform you of other things
to do in the area, as well as boat rental locations. The community
of Lac La Hache offers a grocery store, gas station, bakery,
ice cream parlour and a few restaurants.
Park
Size: 24
hectares
Special
Notes:
- Prevent
the spread of Eurasian water milfoil, an aquatic weed. This
invasive foreign species can be introduced by pieces of the
weed adhering to your boat's hull or propeller after you have
visited lakes where it is present. Please ensure your boat
is clean of all vegetation before you launch it in Lac La
Hache.
Management
Planning:
Management Planning Information
Location:
The park
is 13 km north of Lac La Hache community on Highway 97.
The closest communities, towns and cities are Lac la Hache
and 100 Mile House.
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 - The historic Cariboo Wagon road runs through the park. This was originally just a trail used by fur traders from 1803 to 1810. During the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860’s it was rebuilt, and it linked the gold fields of the Cariboo to the gold markets of the world, via the shipyards of Vancouver. One of the stops on the park’s Interpretive Trail is on the actual Wagon Road. The overgrown track seems a far cry from our modern Highway 97.
One of the stopping points on the Wagon Road for weary miners was the Blue Tent Ranch. It was built by the Wright family in 1862, after they discovered that cattle and the roadhouse provided a much steadier income than gold mining. The present day park is located on part of the original ranch land. Throughout the park, you can see the stumps from the lumber used to build the original ranch house. This heritage house still stands today, and can be seen next to the highway, roughly three kilometers north of the park.
Lac La Hache was established as a Class A Provincial Park in 1956.
- Cultural
Heritage - Both the Shuswap
and Chilcotin First Nations used the area. Long before the lure
of wealth brought the fur traders west, the Shuswap Indians established
pit houses near the present day village of Lac La Hache. The Chilcotins
named the lake Kumatakwa, meaning Chief or Queen of the waters.
- Conservation - The
park is in the Interior Douglas Fir Zone, which is found in BC’s dry interior. There is a superb old-growth stand of Douglas-fir trees surrounding the campground. A fire in the 1960’s burned several hectares, and you can still see the scars on the bases of some fir trees, their thick bark allowed these trees to survive. Fire is part of natural succession here - sunlight reaching the forest floor allows the growth of trembling aspen and lodgepole pine, as well as pinegrass, bunchberry and beautiful pink wild roses.
- Wildlife - Birds that thrive in this lakeside habitat include bald eagle, osprey and red-tailed hawk, as well as forest birds such as pileated woodpeckers, saw-whet owls, red crossbills, chickadees and nuthatches.
Because of the diversity in plant species, a wide variety of mammals lives in this area, from moose and black bears to humble shrews and chipmunks. There are also mule deer, pine martin, lynx, and flying squirrels.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Visitor
Safety:
- Swimmer's
Itch can sometimes be a problem in mid-summer. Ensure you
and your kids shower off and towel down thoroughly after swimming
in Lac La Hache. Calamine lotion is an effective treatment.
- Highway
97 runs between the campground and the day-use area. Ensure
young children are accompanied at all times.
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:
G & P Kleenery Ltd
E-mail address: gpkleenery@telus.net
Phone: (250) 397-2523
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This
park offers vehicle accessible campsites. These
range in size with many larger sites including a
few pull through sites. There are also around 10
sites that have tent pads. However, there are no
double sites. The sites are nestled amongst the
trees and most are large enough to accommodate for
extra vehicles. Campsite
reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served
sites are also available. See
the above map for more information.
If
staff are not around 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. There is a pay phone located at the campground
entrance and the closest store is across the highway
at the Crystal Springs Resort.
Vehicle
Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC
Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only):
$7.50 per senior's couple/night
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.)
|
May
15 - September 30
(gate is closed during off-season but access
to boat launch until October 11) |
| Campground
Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
May
15 - September 30 |
| Campground
Reservable Dates: |
May
18 - September 4 |
| Total
Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: |
83 |
| Number
of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
20 |
| 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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No
wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.
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No
group campsites.
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This
park has a day-use/picnic area. There is a covered shelter
with picnic tables and a wood stove, change houses,
pit and flush toilets, cold water taps, and fire pits.
There is also an adventure playground in the day-use
area and horseshoe pits located in the campground. The
gate to the day-use area is locked between 11pm and
8am.
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Some
facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible. The
flush toilet buildings have wheelchair accessible stalls.
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Cold
water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are
shut off during the off-season. There are no hose hookups
for campers/trailers
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Pit
and flush toilets are located throughout the park. |
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No
showers.
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A
sani-station/dump is available during the collecting
season.
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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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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The
Wagon Road Self-Guided Nature Trail is 2 km in length.
It leads visitors on a voyage of discovery -- from the
ingenious eating habits of red crossbills to the Gold
Rush history of the area. 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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There
is an adventure playground in the day-use area near
the beach.
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There
are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. A wide,
sandy beach welcomes summer visitors and an area is
roped off for swimming. Changing rooms, an open air
shower and washrooms are provided.
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Canoeing
and kayaking are enjoyable activities on Lac La Hache.
However, the lake is also used for power-boating and
water-skiing.
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A
double-wide, cement ramp boat launch is provided at
the day-use area. Waterskiing is very popular at Lac
La Hache.
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This
is an excellent fishing lake for Kokanee and lake trout,
as well as rainbow trout and burbot during the summer
months. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia
must have an appropriate
licence.
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Bicycles
must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory
in British Columbia.
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No
horseback riding.
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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. 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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No
wildlife viewing opportunities.
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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Lac
la Hache is a popular lake for waterskiing.
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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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