Ministry of Environment - Whiteswan Lake

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Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

The shining waters of two mountain lakes, Whiteswan and Alces, and a natural hot springs are the focal points of Whiteswan Provincial Park. Four lakeside or riverside campgrounds, boat launches, a historic lakeside hiking trail and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities makes this a perfect setting for a camping holiday.

Visitors may watch a moose feeding in the fog-shrouded water of Alces Lake, admire spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and enjoy angling in the most productive lakes in the region for trophy rainbow trout. After a day in the backcountry or on the lake, relax in the soothing waters of Lussier Hotsprings located near the park entrance at km 17.5 on the Whiteswan Forestry Road.

Park Size: 1994 hectares

Special Notes:

No towing is allowed on the lakes and no power boats are allowed on Alces Lake. Alces Lake is a fly fishing only lake.
Snowmobiles are allowed on the lake only for access to the winter fishery.
Lussier Hot Springs, long a favourite of campers and wilderness pilgrims can be accessed from the Whiteswan Forestry Road by a short hike down to the Lussier River. A change room/ toilet is located at the parking lot. No liquor or dogs or garbage are permitted at the springs and bathers must wear bathing suits. Park Rangers make regular patrols to Lussier Hot Springs. Please help keep this wildland hot springs clean.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Approved Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan

Location:

Location Map

Whiteswan Provincial Park is located within the Kootenay Ranges of the Rocky Mountains east of Canal Flats which which is 22 km south of the park and is the nearest community. Access is from Highway 93/95, turn east 4.5 kilometres south of Canal Flats onto the gravel Whiteswan Forestry Road. Whiteswan Lake is about 25 km from the highway; the hot springs are located near the west boundary of the park at kilometre 17.5.

Map/Brochure:

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

Location Map
Park Map (570 kb pdf)

Nature & Culture:

Cultural Heritage - Whiteswan Lake was an important seasonal hunting camp of the K’tunaxa (Kootenai) native people and their use of the area dates back at least 5,000 years. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s trappers, prospectors and guides worked in the area and soothed their work worn bodies in the hot mineral waters of Lussier Hot Springs.

The area surrounding the park is part of the Kootenay Region working forest. Logging and mining currently provides jobs for many people living in the region, as well recreation and tourism have become important aspects of the economy.
Conservation - In May and June, spawning Rainbow trout can be seen in the inlet and outlet creeks, as well in the enhanced spawning channel between the Alces and Whiteswan lakes.

In the summer of 2001, wildfires swept through the forests north and west of the park. These fires, while seemingly “destructive,” are recognized as part of a natural cycle of renewal that ensures the long term viability of diverse ecosystems and their inhabitants.
Wildlife - Exploring the back roads of the Kootenay Ranges offers sightings of mountain goats and bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer, grizzly and black bears. Common loons, red-necked grebes, belted kingfishers, blue herons, bald and golden eagles and many other bird species can be seen on the lakes and in the surrounding woodlands.

Visitor Safety:

Use extreme caution on the Whiteswan Lake road at all times. Extreme care must be taken when driving the canyon portion (km 15 to km 18) of the access road to the park. For improved safety turn your headlights on. Be aware that mine ore trucks and oversized loaded logging trucks are on the route. Always give them the right of way!
Mountain and lake weather can change rapidly, be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds can come up quickly, use caution while boating.
There is no public phone or cell phone service at Whiteswan Park.

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.

Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

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

The park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis - campsite reservations are not accepted. There are 114 campsites located at five campgrounds: Alces Lake (28 campsites) at km 21 offers sunny lakefront campsites; Packrat Point (16 campsites) at km 24 and Inlet Creek (16 campsites) at km 28 are located on the east side of the road across from Whiteswan Lake; White River (17 campsites) located at the northeastern entrance of the park off White River Forest Road; and, Home Basin (37 campsites) located at the northwestern corner of Whiteswan Lake accessed by the Moscow Creek Forest Road and offers some lakefront campsites.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $7.50 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.)	Year round (Gate is open during the off-season for Home Basin and White River camping areas only)
- Home Basin and White River campgrounds	Year round (Gate is open during the off-season - no fee, no services)
- Alces, Packrat and Inlet Creek campgrounds	May 9 - September 30 (Gate is closed during the off-season)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	May 9 - September 30 For all campgrounds
Campground Reservable Dates:	Not applicable
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:	- 104 vehicle accessible - 3 walk-in sites
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served)	Not applicable
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.

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed at Cave Creek located on the north shore of Whiteswan Lake. Facilities include 2 pit toilets, 3 picnic tables and one fire ring. When practical, use impacted campsites - otherwise practice “NO TRACE” camping ethics. If you have a fire, build it on rocks or remove sod, have fire, then replace sod. Persons visiting Whiteswan 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.

There are no group campsites at this park.

This park has 4 day-use/picnic areas located at Alces (1 table), Packrat (4 tables), Home Basin (3 tables) and White River (1 table) campgrounds. A day-use area at Lussier Hot Springs has a parking lot and pit toilet.

Site 35 at Home Basin Campground is a wheelchair accessible campsite. Located adjacent to this site is a wheelchair accessible pit toilet.

Potable drinking water is provided via a filtered surface water tap, and a ground water hand pump in Home Basin Campground. Each of the other four campgrounds in the Park have dinking water provided by a ground water hand pump. Non-potable water is no longer provided.

Pit toilets are located centrally in each campground; Home Basin (6), Inlet Creek (2), Packrat Point (2), Alces (4), Cave Creek (2) and White River (2).

No showers.

A sani-station/dump is available during the operating season at the entrance to Alces Campground.
Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

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 may use communal fire rings. Bring a portable stove for cooking.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

The hiking family can undertake the 8 km lakeside trail (user maintained) between Alces and Home Basin campgrounds for a three hour outing. 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.

This park does not have a playground.

There is a swimming beach area at Home Basin day-use area but this swimming area is not marked swimming area. Use caution in the area. There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at provincial parks.

There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park.

There are 4 boat launches - Home Basin which is concrete; Alces, Packrat Point, Inlet Creek are gravel. To ensure a quiet and relaxing experience, no towing is allowed on Alces or Whiteswan Lakes. Electric motors only are allowed on Alces Lake.

The fishery at Alces and Whiteswan lakes are of one of the highest quality rainbow trout fisheries in the East Kootenays. The fishery has been managed for over 30 years through stocking and spawning channel improvements. Whiteswan Lake is annually stocked with 10,000 Gerrard rainbow trout. The catch is made up of 90% wild fish and 10% hatchery fish. Alces Lake is stocked annually with 2000 Pennask rainbow trout.
Fly fishing only on Alces Lake. Whiteswan Lake provides ice fishing opportunities, however there is no fishing from December 1st to January 2nd (check regulations for closures). Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

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

No horseback riding.

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.

No wildlife viewing opportunities.

No winter recreation opportunities.

No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

No windsurfing opportunities.

No waterskiing opportunities.

Whiteswan Lake Park is open to hunting Management Unit 4-24. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information.

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.