Premier Lake Park
About this Park
Nestled against the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Premier Lake is one of the key recreational fishing lakes in the East Kootenay. The emerald green lakes of Premier and four smaller lakes, Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye and Quartz offer a unique and varied fishing experience in a secluded and pleasant park atmosphere.
Take a virtual tour of Premier Lake Park
The area is rich in wildlife. Premier Ridge, west of the lake, is an important wintering range for elk, whitetail and mule deer, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Forests of Douglas fir and western larch are common in the park. Osprey, eagle, heron, king fisher, numerous forest birds and water fowl can also be seen.
Premier Lake Park, situated 72 km north of Cranbrook, contains 57 vehicle and tent camp sites and is located at the south end of the lake. There are no drive-through sites. There is an information shelter located at the entrance to the park but no telephone.
Safety information
- Mountain and lake weather can change rapidly, therefor please be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds can come up quickly
Special notes
- No skiing or towing is permitted at the south end of Premier Lake. There is also a boat speed restriction of 16 km per hour at the south end of the lake.
- four-by-four and high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended for access the Rod and Gun Club boat launch.
Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited.
This park is becoming increasingly popular with boaters. Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited and on some busy days there may be no parking spaces available. To avoid this problem, all visitors are encouraged to use car-top boats that don’t require the use of a trailer, and overnight users with trailered boats are encouraged to store boat trailers at their campsites, rather than in the day-use parking lot, if the site size allows it.
Location notes
Access is from Highway 93/95. The well marked turnoff leads east to a 12 km paved and gravel road to the park. The smaller nearby communities of Skookumchuck (12 km south) and Wasa (16 km further south) are closest the park. The larger communities near the park are Cranbrook (72 km south) and Kimberley (60 km southwest).
Activities
- 25:Swimming Enjoy a refreshing dip in the cool water of Premier Lake. The wharves provide an ideal enclosed swimming area, with a small sandy beach. The water is warmest during July and August.
- 25:Canoeing Canoeing and kayaking are welcome on Premier Lake and Quartz Lake. Canoes, kayaks, and car-top boats may be launched into Premier Lake at either the Rod and Gun day-use area or at the main boat launch located adjacent to the campground. Small watercraft may be launched into Quartz lake via an undeveloped access point at the north end of the lake at the day-use area.
- 25:Fishing Fishing is good year-round in this park. Ice fishing is popular at Premier Lake. Please check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for current angling regulations. During the winter, access through to the boat launch is maintained by Ministry of Transportation and Highways.
- 25:Pets on leash Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in the playground, beach, day-use areas or park buildings.Exceptions: Pets are permitted at the Rod and Gun day-use area and the Quartz Lake day-use area. Dogs may be off leash at these sites but must be under control at all times so as to not disturb wildlife or other park users. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
- 25:Hiking The hiking trails in the park connect Yankee, Canuck and Turtle lakes. They are short loop trails offering easy access for families to these picturesque lakes. The duration of the hike can be between one and a half, to four hours. 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.
- 25: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
- 25:Cycling Cycling is permitted on all park roadways as well as on the Yankee-Canuck Lakes Loop Trail. Cyclists riding the Yankee-Canuck Lakes Loop Trail are asked to be courteous to other trail users and practice ‘low impact cycling’ by avoiding the trail in wet conditions, minimizing skidding, and by not shortcutting switchbacks. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Premier Lake Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
- 25:Wildlife viewing Signs along Staples Creek and a viewing platform at the fish ladder, interpret the life cycle of lake trout and the valued work of the Kootenay Trout Hatchery.
Facilities
- 25:Showers There is one solar shower enclosure for camper use. User must supply shower bag.
- 25:Boat launch The boat launch located at the far end of the day-use area, is concrete slab with limited moorage at the floats. The boat launch is most suitable for small boats and trailers. Users are advised to use caution on the ramp and to avoid backing off the end of the concrete slab.This park is becoming increasingly popular with boaters. Parking for trucks and trailers in the day-use parking lot is limited and on some busy days there may be no parking spaces available. To avoid this problem all visitors are encouraged to use car-top boats that don’t require the use of a trailer, and overnight users with trailered boats are encouraged to store boat trailers at their campsites rather than in the day-use parking lot if the site size allows it. Please note that boating restrictions are in place on the southern half of the lake. In this area towing (waterskiing) is restricted and boat speeds are limited to 15 km per hour or less. Please refer to the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
- 25:Pit or flush toilets This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There ten pit toilets in the campground, two pit toilets in the day use area and one pit toilet at Quartz Lake.
- 25:Campfires Firewood can be purchased from the park operator in some parks or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Bring a portable stove for cooking.To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
- 25:Playground A large playground facility is located near the entrance to the park.
- 25:Drinking water The park has three hand pumps, two in the campground and one in the day-use area. Although the water is tested regularly, it remains under a permanent boil water notice. To ensure safety, all water should be boiled for at least five minutes before drinking. Handles on the hand pumps are removed during the off-season, and water is not available.
- 25:Accessibility information Accessibility information is available for the park, as well as for Quartz Lake.
- 25:Picnic areas The day-use area at Premier Lake has six lakeside picnic tables. You can enjoy a picnic at any of the other four smaller lakes in the park but there are no picnic facilities.
Location
49.91061, -115.64425 · East Kootenay North
