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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
A family vacation destination since the 1950’s, Wasa
Lake village advertises the warmest swimming lake in the
Kootenays. Wasa Lake Park offers camping, swimming, hiking,
cycling, boating and nature viewing opportunities. There
is an 8 km wheelchair and bike accessible trail around the
lakeshore and a 2.7 km self-guided interpretation trail.
World class attractions such as Fort Steele Heritage town,
guest ranches, ski hills and golf courses are nearby. In
addition to being a popular recreation spot, the park protects
a representative grassland ecosystem. It includes a portion
of North America’s most northern ponderosa pine forest
set amid blue bunch wheatgrass meadows that provide habitat
for a wide diversity of animals and plants.

Park
Size: 144
hectares
Special
Notes:
Management
Planning:
Management Planning Information
Location:
Located
in south eastern British Columbia, 40 km north of Cranbrook
or 102 km south of Radium Hot Springs and 1 km east of
Highway 93/95. The closest communities are Kimberley
located 35 north west and Cranbrook located 40 south of
Wasa Lake.
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 -
Wasa Lake Provincial Park was established in 1955 to
provide recreational access to the warmest swimming lake
in the Kootenays. The Wasa area was logged by the railway
in the early 1900’s and irrigated for years through
a ditch and flume system begun in 1915. Later cattle
ranching became the agricultural mainstay. Wasa village
provides tourist facilities and services.
- Conservation - Wasa
Lake Park is situated in the gentle terrain of the widening
Rocky Mountain Trench. This 144 hectare park protects
a representative area of the most threatened ecosystem
type in the world; fire maintained temperate grasslands.
Of the seemingly endless ocean of native grasslands that
greeted the early settlers to our country, less than
5% remains and only a fraction is protected. These bunchgrass
meadows host unique species such as curlews and sharp
tailed grouse. During June and July, enjoy a spectacular
diversity of wildflowers and birds. Intensive
grassland restoration is occurring on two land blocks
within this park.
Visitor
Safety:
- Mountain
and lake weather can change rapidly, be prepared. Visitors
should be aware that high winds can come up quickly.
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:
Kootenay Park Services Ltd.
E-mail address: ekparks@telus.net
Phone: 1-250-422-3003

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Wasa
Lake campground is located on the east side of the
lake 1 km from Highway 93/95. The campsites accommodate
both long recreation vehicles and tents. There are
no drive-through sites. Information/interpretive
shelters and telephone are located at the entrance
to the campground. Campsite
reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served
sites are also available.
Vehicle
Accessible Camping Fee: $19.00 per party / night BC
Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only):
$9.50 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
1 - September 15
Gate is closed during the off-season. |
| Campground
Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
May
1 - September 15 |
| Campground
Reservable Dates: |
May
19 - September 4 |
| Total
Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: |
104 |
| Number
of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
55 |
| 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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There
are no
wilderness, backcountry or walk-in campsites in this
park.
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There
are no
group campsites.
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This
park has four day-use/picnic areas including 45 picnic
sites; Camper’s Beach located across from the
campground has a pit toilet, change house, picnic
tables, sandy beach and a grassed area; Horseshoe
Beach, located 2 km north of the campground also
has picnic tables, sandy beach, grassed area and
a flush toilet building. Adjacent is Pete’s
Beach day use area that has picnic tables, grassed
area, a pebbly beach and one pit toilet. At the very
north end of the lake is another day use area, Main
Beach which has a large sandy beach, grassed area,
picnic tables, paved parking, two pit toilets and
a swimming dock. Three of the day use areas are
open all year.
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Wheelchair
accessible facilities include the flush toilet building
in the campground, amphitheatre, day-use areas and
lower of part of the nature trail.
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Ten
cold water taps are located randomly throughout the
campground. Each day-use area of the park also has
a cold water tap. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
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Pit
and flush toilets are located throughout the park. Change
houses are located at each day-use area. |
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No
showers.
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A
sani-station is located at the north end of the
lake on Wasa Lake Park Drive and is available during
the operating season.
Sani-station
Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge
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Firewood can be purchased
from the Park Facility Operator in some parks or
you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are
set locally and may vary.To preserve vegetation and
ground cover, please do not 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
use communal fire rings. Bring a portable stove for
cooking.
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There are no electrical hook-ups in this park |
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There
are scheduled interpretive programs during the summer
season at this park. Program details are available
at information boards in the park.
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Forest
of the Rainshadow Self-guided Interpretive Trail
is a 2.7 km loop, 1 hour, nature walk for the whole
family starting at the amphitheatre located in the
campground.
There is an 8 km "Wasa Lions Way" paved path
and secondary road trail around the lake that accommodates
hikers and cyclists.
For your personal safety and the preservation of the
Wasa Park grasslands, please obey posted signs and
keep to designated trails as shortcutting trails destroys
plant life and soil structure.
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There
is an adventure playground located at Campers Beach
day use area.
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There
are four buoyed swimming access areas in the day
use areas of the park. Warm waters and 2000 metres
of developed gently sloping beaches provide excellent
sunbathing and swimming areas, change rooms, picnic
tables and washrooms are provided. There are NO LIFEGUARDS
in provincial parks.
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Canoeing
occurs, however caution must be used due to power boats
on the lake.
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A
boat launch is located on the east shore across from
the campground at Campers Beach. It consists of
a concrete pad capable of launching a large boat.
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Perch
and bass fishing are available in this freshwater
lake. 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. There is an 8 km "Wasa
Lions Way" paved path and secondary road trail
around the lake that accommodates cyclists and pedestrians.
A self guided mountain bike loop takes you from Wasa
Lake to Lazy Lake. The Lazy Lake Bike Loop is a 33
kilometre ride which takes you up Wolf Creek Road
to Lazy Lake and
back to Wasa Lake on Lazy Lake Road. Mountain bikes
are recommended for this ride and it is not a ride
for children unless they are experienced riders with
proven stamina. Unless otherwise noted, keep to
the main road. The elevation gain is roughly 300
metres. While
experienced bikers in top shape can hammer the loop
in under 2 hours it is suggested that most people
plan on a day to really enjoy the scenery along the
way with a break and maybe a swim at Lazy Lake. If
you are considering jumping or diving off the rocks
at Lazy Lake - remember the rules for swimming in
unfamiliar waters and investigate first! Riders should
pack
water, high energy food and a repair kit including
a hand pump. It is a challenging ride and can be
a long walk back to Wasa Lake.
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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.
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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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There are
windsurfing opportunities on Wasa Lake.
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Wasa
Lake provides waterskiing opportunities. Waterskiiers are not allowed
in the buoyed swimming areas of the lake but a skier’s beach
is accessed via the Horseshoe day-use areas.
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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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There are no cabins, yurts or huts available in
this park.
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