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. |
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.
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. |
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 |
Photo: Zowie
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adventure have a look at: http://www.smallboatforum.com/PDFfiles/MurtleLake.pdf Please remember that this info was published in 2005 and some things may have changed since then, but it is worth a look! |
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. |