Cathedral Park
About this Park
Cathedral Park is an expanse of jagged mountain peaks, azure lakes, and flower-dappled alpine meadows. It sits between the dense, wet forests of the Cascade Mountains and the desert-like Okanagan Valley.
This mountainous park contains a rich variety of terrain, flora, and fauna. For visitors, it offers camping (including wilderness camping), hiking, mountain climbing, and fishing.
Cathedral Park offers incredible scenery made up of fascinating rock formations. These include a jumble of columnar-jointed basalt forms and massive, wind-eroded quartz monzonite towers.
The lakes in this park look like turquoise jewels in a granite setting. Each of the lakes in the park’s core area has its own unique charm. And the equally beautiful Haystack Lakes are within a day’s hike.
Much of the park was burnt in the 2023 Crater Creek wildfire. As a result, the forest canopy has opened and there is a fascinating opportunity to observe how the local ecology responds.
Location notes
Cathedral Park is southwest of Keremeos, between the Cascade Mountains and the Okanagan Valley. To the park’s south end is the British Columbia-Washington State border. Ewart Creek is on the park’s eastern border. The Ashnola River runs along its western and northern borders.
Access is via Highway 3. About 3 km west of Keremeos, the Ashnola Road leaves Highway 3 and crosses a red covered bridge. Another 10 km further, the pavement ends, and the Ashnola Forest Service Road begins. This follows the Ashnola River into the park. It extends 48 km upstream to the south end of the Ashnola Valley.
No vehicles are allowed to enter the core area on the Lakeview access road. The core area is hike-in only. Three hiking routes provide access to the park’s core from the Ashnola River corridor: Ewart Creek, Lakeview, and Wall Creek. These routes are described on the Cathedral Park hiking page.
We are working to repair Lakeview Road due to damage caused by the 2023 Crater Creek wildfire. The road is closed and shuttle service offered by Cathedral Lakes Lodge is unavailable until further notice.
Activities
- 199:Hiking Three well-defined trails provide access to the core area of Cathedral Park. Once within the core area, you can explore many shorter trails. For details see the Cathedral Park hiking page. For a trail map, see maps and location.
- 199:Canoeing There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
- 199:Kayaking There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
- 199:Climbing Grimface, the Matriarch, and Macabre Tower offer mountaineering opportunities for experienced climbers.
- 199:Fishing The lakes in Cathedral Park are not stocked by the provincial hatcheries but they still support healthy populations of rainbow and cutthroat trout. This is because the park contains a great deal of spawning habitat.In the fall, spawning trout can often be seen. Most commonly, these are seen from small footbridges as the trail crosses the outlets of Ladyslipper Lake, Pyramid Lake, and Lake of the Woods.Ladyslipper Lake is widely considered to have the best fishing in the park. Though the fish are generally small (six to ten inches), they are plentiful. No special restrictions apply.
- 199:Horseback riding Horses are not allowed in the park’s core area. Horseback riders can access Snowy Protected Area from Ewart Creek to the Juniper Creek Junction. Riding into the Twin Buttes and Haystack Lakes is allowed with a letter of permission.Camping is available at Twin Buttes for groups of up to four people and six horses. You can stay for up to three nights. Please bring pelletized feed and move your horses regularly to prevent overgrazing and trampling.Apply for a letter of permission or contact parkinfo@gov.bc.ca.
- 199:Hunting Hunting is not allowed in the core area of Cathedral Park. Outside the core area, the use of firearms for hunting is allowed from August 25 to April 15. Hunters are allowed to carry unloaded firearms or bows only when in transit to an open area outside the core area during hunting season.The discharge and carrying of firearms is permitted in this park for the purposes of hunting during open season. Please consult the BC Government Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information. Contact BC Parks at parkinfo@gov.bc.ca with any specific questions.
- 199:Swimming Although you can swim here, the lakes are glacier-fed and the water is very cold.
Facilities
- 199:Pit or flush toilets Cathedral Park has pit toilets only. No flush toilets are available.
- 199:Campfires Campfires may be allowed in Cathedral Park, but only in the fire rings provided at campgrounds. Freezing weather can occur any month, so do not rely on campfires for cooking or as a source of heat. Bring a camping stove for cooking.Campfires are prohibited at Lake of the Woods and Pyramid Lake. This rule is strictly enforced.Do not gather firewood in the park. Gathering wood is an offence under the Park Act. Dead wood is important habitat for plants and animals, and it adds valuable organic material to soil.If you bring your own firewood, buy it locally. Wood from other areas can spread invasive species. To learn more, visit Buy Local, Burn Local. Firewood may be available from the park operator. Contact them for process and other details.
Location
49.08180, -120.15629 · West Okanagan
