| Murtle Lake- Canoe Only Park |
| Canoe and Cart Rentals Due to overwhelming requests for this info, I'm directly posting it here- We do not endorse nor have any connection to any of these businesses. Note! Matt Nicol-Blue River Wilderness Outfitters is no longer offering canoe rentals. Blue River Campground-Ralph Budgell 250-673-8203 www.bluerivercampground.ca |
| Welcome to Murtle Lake, North Americas Largest Canoe Only Lake. Here's what you need to know: Murtle Lake is accessed by travelling highway 5 to Blue River and then following a twisting, rough gravel road 27 Km's to the portage Parking lot. This is where you leave your vehicle, and transfer your gear down a "wheelchair accessible" 2.5 KM trail to the lagoon launch, WHERE YOU PAY YOUR CAMPING FEES at the self registration station. Camping fee is currently: 5 DOLLARS PER PERSON PER NIGHT(Kids under 13 free), in Cash, in Advance- No credit cards! The lake is still a further 1.5 Km's away, But you can paddle through the lagoon to it. If you're hiking into campsite 1 for an overnight stay or just a look at part of the lake, you've got a another short walk to make. |
1. Take an Envelope out of the box
| These are some of the rules to know: |
NO DOGS OR PETS
ALLOWED on Murtle Lake
ALLOWED on Murtle Lake
2. Fill it out with the provided pen or pencil
3. Enclose money remove receipt portion of
envelope and deposit envelope in the vault- keep the
receipt handy for us to check- you will be asked to
show it to us
envelope and deposit envelope in the vault- keep the
receipt handy for us to check- you will be asked to
show it to us
No Commercial Guided Groups
No glass containers on Murtle Lake
Cutting down your own Firewood (trees) is
grounds for fines and eviction- so is
possession of a firearm or a chainsaw.
Some firewood may be supplied by staff.
grounds for fines and eviction- so is
possession of a firearm or a chainsaw.
Some firewood may be supplied by staff.
This is not a complete list of rules, so
consult with BC Parks Official Website
before going to the lake.
consult with BC Parks Official Website
before going to the lake.
| What do you do in an emergency? Get in touch with the PFO Staff, either on the lake or at their cabin near site 4. The PFO staff have radio communication with emergency services, and have a detailed plan for dealing with Medivacs, forest fires, and other problems. |
| The Stats: Camping locations: 19(shows 20 on map, But #19 does not exist and Fairyslipper Island is closed) Capacity:70 or so canoes(2-4 people) What's there: fire rings, outhouses Hot spots:Leo Island, Tropicana, Strait Creek Average number of parties per night: 10 June/Sept, 20 July,45 August Things not to miss:The West Arm, the Far North Arm, Fishing, Loon's, one hike |
The useful info:
CELLPHONES DON'T WORK
.. And you'll need a really good radio, if you want one.
Canoes and related gear can be rented in Blue River(see Links).
Murtle Lake offers a very rustic camping experience, however
there are Outhouses at every campsite, as well as ground
mounted Bear Caches, and fire rings. No picnic tables as of yet,
But this may change.
Campsites are Patrolled and Maintained daily. There will be toilet
paper in the outhouses.
The portage trail is good, But its not short. This is where you'll do
most of the work on your trip. Get a canoe cart, it's well worth it.
The trail is about 2 metres wide and is of good fine gravel or sand,
all creeks are bridged and all slopes are not too long or steep.
A new Canoe cart lock up and launch has just been completed at
the Lagoon. Locking up of carts is Mandatory, so bring a lock and
chain.
There is one cabin for public use on the lake, and that is in the
west arm at Diamond Lagoon, But watch it , this is actually in the
Murtle River, so unless you're confident with your canoe skills,
don't go there. The cabin has bunks for about 6 people.
The fishing is pretty good! Its all rainbow trout, and several
locations yield 1-4 lb fish. Locations? Ask the PFO staff when you
meet them on the lake, they'll tell what gear is hot and where the
bite is on.
The West Arm of the lake gets the most use by a ratio of about 3
to 1. This is due to the warmer water, sandy shallows and yellow
sand beaches.
The North Arm is usually very quite, has a few beaches itself and
by far the most spectacular mountain scenery. The very tip of the
North Arm is absolutely stunning, with towering mountains and a
huge moose meadow that has frequent wildlife visitors, eagles and
moose being among them.
More questions? See FAQ's Below or contact us
at:info@explorewellsgray.com
CELLPHONES DON'T WORK
.. And you'll need a really good radio, if you want one.
Canoes and related gear can be rented in Blue River(see Links).
Murtle Lake offers a very rustic camping experience, however
there are Outhouses at every campsite, as well as ground
mounted Bear Caches, and fire rings. No picnic tables as of yet,
But this may change.
Campsites are Patrolled and Maintained daily. There will be toilet
paper in the outhouses.
The portage trail is good, But its not short. This is where you'll do
most of the work on your trip. Get a canoe cart, it's well worth it.
The trail is about 2 metres wide and is of good fine gravel or sand,
all creeks are bridged and all slopes are not too long or steep.
A new Canoe cart lock up and launch has just been completed at
the Lagoon. Locking up of carts is Mandatory, so bring a lock and
chain.
There is one cabin for public use on the lake, and that is in the
west arm at Diamond Lagoon, But watch it , this is actually in the
Murtle River, so unless you're confident with your canoe skills,
don't go there. The cabin has bunks for about 6 people.
The fishing is pretty good! Its all rainbow trout, and several
locations yield 1-4 lb fish. Locations? Ask the PFO staff when you
meet them on the lake, they'll tell what gear is hot and where the
bite is on.
The West Arm of the lake gets the most use by a ratio of about 3
to 1. This is due to the warmer water, sandy shallows and yellow
sand beaches.
The North Arm is usually very quite, has a few beaches itself and
by far the most spectacular mountain scenery. The very tip of the
North Arm is absolutely stunning, with towering mountains and a
huge moose meadow that has frequent wildlife visitors, eagles and
moose being among them.
More questions? See FAQ's Below or contact us
at:info@explorewellsgray.com
What does it mean by "canoe cart lock up is
mandatory"?
At the canoe launch there are a series of posts that
you can lock your canoe cart to. If you rent a cart,
a lock will be supplied by the rental company.
If you bring your own, bring along a lock suitable for
locking up a Bike.
IF you have your own collapsible cart, you can just
take it with you on the lake if you wish.
mandatory"?
At the canoe launch there are a series of posts that
you can lock your canoe cart to. If you rent a cart,
a lock will be supplied by the rental company.
If you bring your own, bring along a lock suitable for
locking up a Bike.
IF you have your own collapsible cart, you can just
take it with you on the lake if you wish.
Bear caches like this one are located at every site
Murtle Lake FAQ’s
1 how do I get there?
Take highway 5 to Blue River, turn in at the Esso, or one intersection north, follow the frontage road north then follow the signs
in 27Km's to the parking lot, then portage 2.5 K on the wheel chair rated trail. The road is passable, But if you’re coming in a
car, expect to have to pick your way slowly through some rough spots. A vehicle with a bit of clearance is recommended.(I’ve
seen everything from Ford Festiva’s and Chevy Cavaliers to 18 passenger vans in the parking lot, But the former probably had
quite a slow fingernail biting ride in)
2. How do I pay?
You pay with cash or travelers check at a self registration station located at the waters edge at the canoe launch right at the
lake shore- exact change required. You must pay in advance- non payment could result in eviction.
3> how much is it?
5 dollars per person (13 and older) per night. No discount for disabilities or seniors.
3a What if I want to stay longer?
When you first register, pay for as many nights as you know you're going to stay...
If you decide to stay longer, pay any additional fee directly the marine patrol on the lake.
YOU CANNOT PAY ON THE WAY OUT- this is the same as non payment of fees and could result in fines or eviction.
4 canoe carts?
A canoe cart is basically a must on this trip. You can bring your own or you can rent one from one of several places in Blue
River: Blue River Wilderness Outfitting, Blazing Paddles and Blue River campground being the best. They always have lots, so
reserving one is not a necessity (except in August).
You must also lock your canoe cart up when you arrive at the launch, the rental companies will supply you with a lock and
chain, But bring a bike lock with you if you wish to leave your own cart there. A new cart lock up and launch has just been built.
6 Best places to camp?
All the sites in the West Arm get more use because of there long sandy beaches and warm swimming waters. The North Arm
has some spectacular views and is well worth the trip, and is generally less used, it does have a few beaches, and if privacy is
what you're looking for, the North Arm is the best choice.
7 Best places to fish?
Diamond lagoon is well worth it, as are any of the creek mouths, Murtle is generally good fishing almost anywhere, with 1-4 LB
rainbow trout the major catch.
8> Hiking trails?
All hiking trails have been cleared of blowdown and are in good if sometimes slightly grown in condition. All creeks are bridged.
Good ones? MacDougall Falls is a nice level walk along the river, Henrietta Lake has fishing, But Wavy range has really
spectacular scenery and seems the most rewarding of all the hikes.
9 What is there in the way of facilities?
Murtle is wilderness camping with the right perks. All campsites have Bear caches and outhouses with toilet paper. There are no
Picnic tables. Diamond Lagoon features a cabin you can stay in if you get there early.
10. Animal problems?
Bears have been an occasional problem, But park staff will advise you if it’s an issue.
11. Can I bring my dog?
NO. Dogs are banned on Murtle.
12. Cooking?
You can’t rely on fires to cook; you must bring a camp stove.
13. Where are the nearest amenities?
Blue River has some groceries, gas, and accommodations. Don’t expect much more than that.
14. Cell Phones?
They don’t work in the park or Blue River.
1 how do I get there?
Take highway 5 to Blue River, turn in at the Esso, or one intersection north, follow the frontage road north then follow the signs
in 27Km's to the parking lot, then portage 2.5 K on the wheel chair rated trail. The road is passable, But if you’re coming in a
car, expect to have to pick your way slowly through some rough spots. A vehicle with a bit of clearance is recommended.(I’ve
seen everything from Ford Festiva’s and Chevy Cavaliers to 18 passenger vans in the parking lot, But the former probably had
quite a slow fingernail biting ride in)
2. How do I pay?
You pay with cash or travelers check at a self registration station located at the waters edge at the canoe launch right at the
lake shore- exact change required. You must pay in advance- non payment could result in eviction.
3> how much is it?
5 dollars per person (13 and older) per night. No discount for disabilities or seniors.
3a What if I want to stay longer?
When you first register, pay for as many nights as you know you're going to stay...
If you decide to stay longer, pay any additional fee directly the marine patrol on the lake.
YOU CANNOT PAY ON THE WAY OUT- this is the same as non payment of fees and could result in fines or eviction.
4 canoe carts?
A canoe cart is basically a must on this trip. You can bring your own or you can rent one from one of several places in Blue
River: Blue River Wilderness Outfitting, Blazing Paddles and Blue River campground being the best. They always have lots, so
reserving one is not a necessity (except in August).
You must also lock your canoe cart up when you arrive at the launch, the rental companies will supply you with a lock and
chain, But bring a bike lock with you if you wish to leave your own cart there. A new cart lock up and launch has just been built.
6 Best places to camp?
All the sites in the West Arm get more use because of there long sandy beaches and warm swimming waters. The North Arm
has some spectacular views and is well worth the trip, and is generally less used, it does have a few beaches, and if privacy is
what you're looking for, the North Arm is the best choice.
7 Best places to fish?
Diamond lagoon is well worth it, as are any of the creek mouths, Murtle is generally good fishing almost anywhere, with 1-4 LB
rainbow trout the major catch.
8> Hiking trails?
All hiking trails have been cleared of blowdown and are in good if sometimes slightly grown in condition. All creeks are bridged.
Good ones? MacDougall Falls is a nice level walk along the river, Henrietta Lake has fishing, But Wavy range has really
spectacular scenery and seems the most rewarding of all the hikes.
9 What is there in the way of facilities?
Murtle is wilderness camping with the right perks. All campsites have Bear caches and outhouses with toilet paper. There are no
Picnic tables. Diamond Lagoon features a cabin you can stay in if you get there early.
10. Animal problems?
Bears have been an occasional problem, But park staff will advise you if it’s an issue.
11. Can I bring my dog?
NO. Dogs are banned on Murtle.
12. Cooking?
You can’t rely on fires to cook; you must bring a camp stove.
13. Where are the nearest amenities?
Blue River has some groceries, gas, and accommodations. Don’t expect much more than that.
14. Cell Phones?
They don’t work in the park or Blue River.
The canoe launch
| Useful tip 1 Get a Canoe cart, But get a good one. It'll take a lot of the work out of the portage job. You can rent a welded one from a couple of places in Blue River (see links), and they're well worth the small fee. No offense to MEC, But generally the carts they sell have wheels too small for the task at hand... A 12 inch diameter minimum wheeled cart is best for this trail. Bigger wheels are better. |
| Useful tip 2 June, July and September are the quiet months. August is the busiest month by far, because the weather is traditionally better. If the forecast is good, come in June or September to avoid the bugs and people. |
| Useful tip 3 How to flag down the PFO Boat Patrol. Put your paddle straight up in the air, they move it quickly left to right. That usually gets our attention. Waving a life jacket from shore works well too. |
| Useful tip 4 Use the Park Patrol to your advantage. The PFO staff are on the lake every day in the only powerboat you will encounter on Murtle Lake. They can travel much faster than you, and have current knowledge of what campsites are busy and which ones are free. They also usually know the weather forecast, fishing conditions, about firewood, where that big group of kids is camped and other info that may affect your plans (Not to mention the fact they're very friendly). |
| Useful tip 5 Bring an Axe Hatchets are a waste of time. Any cut firewood you may come across will require at least an axe to split. Be careful, Medical Attention could be DAYS away. |
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How To Pay: find this fee station at the
Lagoon
Lagoon
Diamond cabin
Tropicana