Welcome to Murtle Lake, North
    America's Largest Paddle 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 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), paid in Cash, or Traveler's cheque at the lagoon or ahead of
    time at Discover Camping Backcountry Registration
    No credit cards accepted at the lake!

    The lake is still a further 1.5 km away, you paddle through the lagoon to it.  
    Or, you can hike the trail into Campsite 1 for an overnight stay or just a look
    at part of the lake.
1. Take an envelope out of the box
These are some of  the rules to know:
NO DOGS OR PETS ALLOWED
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
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.)
This is not a complete list of rules, so 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 and internet
    communication with emergency
    services, and have a detailed plan for
    dealing with Medivacs, forest fires, and
    other situations.    
    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 each)
    What's there: fire rings,  
    outhouses, bear-proof food caches
    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, loons, &
    at least one of the spectacular hikes
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 bicycle.

IF you have your own collapsible cart, you can just take it
with you on the lake if you wish.
--------------------------------------------------

NOTE: Courtesy gear carts supplied with canoe rentals
should NOT be locked up
Bear-proof food 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 27 km to the parking lot, then portage 2.5 km on the wheelchair 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 Festivas and Chevy Cavaliers to 18 passenger vans in the parking lot, but the former probably had
quite a slow fingernail biting ride in).

3. How much is it?

5 dollars ($5) per person (13 and older) per night. No discount for disabilities or seniors.

4. 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 to 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.  

5. Canoe carts?

A canoe cart is a must on this trip. You can bring your own or you can rent one in Blue River at the Blue River Campground.   
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 their 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 sandy 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 Lake is generally good fishing almost anywhere, with 1 -
4 pound 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, and 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 Lake is wilderness camping with the right perks. All campsites have bear-proof food 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 and all other pets are banned at Murtle Lake.

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?

Now work in Blue river, but not in the park.
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
Bluerivercampground.ca -
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 their
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 available.
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.
How To Pay:
via discovercampingbackcountryreservations
or

Find this fee station at the
Lagoon  
Diamond Lagoon cabin
Murtle Lake, a Paddle Only Park...
and a Fly Fisherman's Paradise

EAT FiSH!
100 resident Osprey and
Bald Eagles can't be
wrong!  

Whether you wander a
canoe up the File Creek
trail or just drag a spinner
as you paddle, you are
pretty much guaranteed to
catch a trout... or even a
Kokanee.
Trout range from pan fry
size to 12+ lbs. Kokanee
are usually small, but can hit
a pound or more.
    The useful info:

    CELLPHONES DON'T WORK

    ... And you'll need a really good radio, if you
    choose to bring one.
    If you have a GPS and wish to program in the
    coordinates for the Ranger cabin it is at  
    52.09956N 119.70514W

    Canoes and related gear can be rented at
    www.murtlecanoes.com or in Blue River (see
    Links).

    Murtle Lake offers a very rustic camping
    experience, however there are outhouses at
    every campsite, bear-proof food caches, and
    fire rings. There are no picnic tables.

    Campsites are patrolled and maintained
    daily. There will be toilet paper in the
    outhouses.

    The portage trail from the parking lot to the
    lagoon is good, but it is 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. (Gear carts provided for the use of folks
    that rent canoes from murtlecanoes.com do
    not need to be locked up.)

    There is one cabin for public use on the lake,
    and that is in the West Arm at Diamond
    Lagoon, BUT use caution, 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!  There are rainbow
    trout and Kokanee and several locations yield
    1-4 lb fish. Locations? Ask the PFO staff when
    you meet them on the lake, they'll tell you what
    fishing 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 quiet, has a few
    beaches 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, with eagles and
    moose being among them.

    More questions? See FAQ's Below
    or contact us at:
    info@explorewellsgray.com
Email for
canoe
availibility
Photo: Zowie

    WILDERNESS ETIQUETTE -  "Take only pictures,
    leave only footprints."

    If you pack it in, please pack it out. Help keep Murtle
    Lake the pristine wilderness that you, and all other visitors
    after you, expect it to be.