Elk Lakes Park
18,006 ha
Area
1973
Established
Class A
Park class
Park
Type
About this Park
Located within the western ranges of the southern Rocky Mountains, Elk Lakes Park is an easily accessible wilderness park. It boasts outstanding sub-alpine landscapes, remnant glaciers, rugged peaks, and productive lakes.
Elk Lakes offers a variety of hiking experiences, including some maintained trails that are appropriate for all family members with some experience in backcountry hiking.
Safety information
- The park is a wilderness area without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made in advance.
- Weather conditions can change suddenly, and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer.
- Wear strong, water-proofed, lug-soled boots. Carry a day-pack with rain gear, extra clothing, and food. For overnight trips, a sleeping bag, ground pad, water-proof tent or bivouac bag, and light-weight stove are essential.
- Bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available in the park. To ensure that water from streams is safe to drink, it must be boiled for at least five minutes or treated or filtered.
- Use provided caches for food and garbage storage and keep a clean camp.
- Only experienced climbers, practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped, should venture onto snowfields.
- Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered while accessing this park from British Columbia. Drive with extreme caution, and for your safety, always yield to industrial traffic.
- Public communications are not available at this park.
Learn more about backcountry safety in our backcountry guide.
Special notes
- Snowmobiles are not allowed in any area of Elk Lakes Park. The previous special exemption to use snowmobiles to access Abruzzi Lake along the seismic corridor is no longer in effect. The entire park is closed to all motorized activities. Non-compliance of the motorized closure will result in enforcement actions.
Location notes
Elk Lakes Park is located in southeastern BC, about 104 kilometres north of Sparwood. Turn off Highway 3 at Sparwood and go north on Highway 43 until you reach the community of Elkford, a distance of 35 kilometres.
From here, travel the gravel road on the west side of the Elk River. Approximately 47 kilometres north of Elkford the road crosses the Elk River and joins the Kananaskis Power Line Road. It is 5.8 kilometres from the crossing to the Cadorna Creek trailhead. The Elk Lakes trailhead is a further 16.1 kilometres.
Driving time from Sparwood to the park is approximately two hours. Access to the park is also possible from Alberta’s adjoining Peter Lougheed Park.
Activities
- 253:Pets on leash Dogs in backcountry parks must be kept on a leash or under control at all times because of potential problems with wildlife such as bears. Care should be taken to avoid disturbance of wildlife, particularly nesting birds. Dogs are not permitted inside the Elk Lakes cabin. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
- 253:Cycling Biking is permitted between the Elk Lakes trailhead parking lot and the Lower Elk Lake campground. Biking is not permitted beyond the campground or on any other trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.For details on e-biking within Elk Lakes Park, see the e-biking section.
- 253:Canoeing Both canoeing and kayaking can be done in the lakes. The streams and rivers are not navigable. The closest lake to the main access parking lot is a 1 km walk with a 30 m elevation change.
- 253:Hunting 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.
- 253:Hiking Developed trails exist in the core area from the trailhead to Upper Elk Lakes, and connect to Peter Lougheed Park in Alberta.For the adventurous, a less developed trail system leads into Cadorna, Wolverine, and Abruzzi Lakes. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.For trail descriptions, visit the Elk Lakes Park hiking trails page.For trail maps, see maps and location.Check the trail conditions report before visiting.
- 253:Swimming There are limited cold swimming opportunities at this park.
- 253:Fishing A favourite activity of many park visitors is angling in the Elk River, Cadorna Creek and lakes throughout Elk Lakes Park. Species include bull trout, Rocky Mountain whitefish and cutthroat trout. Consult the B.C. Fishing Regulations for special restrictions.Tips for fishing in Elk Lakes Park:The best time period for fishing is right after break-up and from September to freeze-up. Fishing in the river and main lakes is poor during run-off (July-August). If cleaning fish along the shore please ensure the entrails are thrown into deep water or dispose of fish remains in a hot fire. Do not disturb spawning fish.
- 253:Winter recreation There is limited winter use for ski touring and snowshoeing from British Columbia due to unploughed roads. It is possible to reach the park from Alberta via Peter Lougheed Park ski trails. Please note dogs are not allowed on these ski trails or in the cabin at Elk Lakes. Travel is relatively easy through the lower areas. Do not follow the summer hiking trail to Upper Elk Lake via Fox Lake since there are numerous avalanche paths along the way. Instead, follow meadows in a southerly direction until the power line is reached. Ice fishing opportunities exist in the park however both Lower and Upper Elk Lakes are closed to ice fishing.
- 253:E-Biking Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Elk Lakes Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
- 253:Climbing Both mountaineering and ice climbing opportunities exist within the park.
- 253:Horseback riding Horse use is only allowed in the Cadorna Watershed.
Facilities
- 253:Pit or flush toilets This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
- 253:Picnic areas The Lower Elk Lakes campsite can be used for walk-in picnics.
- 253:Campfires Campfires are permitted in designated areas. Communal fire rings are located at the Lower Elk Lakes campground. Have fires only when necessary and keep them small to conserve trees. Bring a portable stove for cooking. Firewood is stored at the Alpine Club of Canada Cabin and a wheelbarrow is provided to transport firewood to the campground from the cabin.
Location
50.48066, -115.08901 · East Kootenay South
