White Lake Provincial Park
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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.
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Pile burning in progress as part of an ongoing ecosystem restoration project. Please use caution when travelling in the area and be aware that crews are working to the west of Mahoney Lake and may ask you to leave the area to ensure public safety.
Park Info
White Lake Provincial Park is situated on the north shore of White Lake. It has a reputation for excellent recreational rainbow trout fishing - it is one of the top three angling lakes in the province in terms of angler days. White Lake is popular for fly fishing and trolling in the summer, and also for ice fishing during the winter. Facilities for camping and boat launching are limited - there are two pit toilets, a gravel boat launch, and an old picnic shelter.
Park Size: 266 hectares
Special Notes:
- Please help to prevent the spread of Eurasian Water Milfoil by removing all weeds from your boat and motor before launching and after removing it from the lake.
- The lakeshore is suffering from extensive damage. Please launch your boat in the main launching area only. Remove this sentence, In 1998-99 a lakeshore track was closed to reduce siltation of the lake and permit restoration of riparian vegetation.
- The camping area is undeveloped and suited mostly to self-contained truck-and-camper visitors.
- The nearest public telephone is at Balmoral, 10 km away.
- Camping is only permitted in the designated campground. Please obey all signs within the park.
- ATVs are prohibited in White Lake Provincial Park and are not to be operated in the park boundary.
White Lake is home to the intermountain-Rocky Mountain population of the Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii). The Western Painted Turtle is the only native pond turtle left in British Columbia and therefore makes up an important component of our biodiversity. Painted Turtles typically occupy the shallow water zones of ponds, lakes, sloughs and slow moving streams.
You can easily find Painted Turtles basking on partially submerged logs during warm sunny days. During the breeding season pregnant female turtles leave their aquatic environment in search of loose, warm, well-drained soils, typically south facing. These movements typically occur in late afternoon periods and during the onset of dusk. In spite of being our only native turtle, the Province of British Columbia classifies the Western Painted Turtle as vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and degradation and through collision with automobiles during the nesting season.
In consideration for the well being of the Western Painted Turtle we ask for your cooperation and that you adhere to the following rules:
- When driving on roads during the breeding period (May/June) we ask you to be extra vigilant and slow down to avoid accidently hitting turtles
- Please keep pets on a leash
- Please use the designated boat launch for lake access
- Please camp within designated spots
- Do not touch or move Painted Turtles
- Do not disturb shoreline habitat
Location
The park is located approximately 10 km northeast of the Trans Canada Highway from Balmoral (west of Salmon Arm); the last 2 km is on a logging road. Balmoral, White lake, Tappen, Sorrento and Salmon Arm are the communities that are close to the park.
Management Planning
Management Planning Information
Due to a significant addition to White Lake Park in 2001 the Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan below is outdated. A new management plan is currently under development that will incorporate the full extent of the park as shown in the White Lake Provincial Park map.
- The Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan is now available online (99kb pdf).
Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Activities Available At This Park
Canoeing | ||
Fishing | ||
Pets on Leash | ||
Swimming | ||
Facilities Available At This Park
Boat Launch | ||
Campfires | ||
Pit or Flush Toilets | ||
Vehicle Accessible Camping | ||
Winter Camping | ||






