Park overview
Alice Lake is a popular family park surrounded by towering mountains, dense forests, and grassy areas. Four freshwater lakes dominate the landscape, making this a great park for swimming and fishing. The trail around Alice Lake is a popular spot for evening strolls while more adventurous hikers, will enjoy the Four Lakes Trail. The DeBeck’s Hill Trail, meanwhile, offers excellent views of the Squamish River and the Tantalus Range.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open March 15, 2024 to November 3, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 55
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 55
- Main operating season
- 2024: March 15 to November 3
- Winter season
- 2024: November 1 to March 14
- Booking required
- 2024: March 15 to November 2
- Winter season note
- The gate is locked and there are no services or fees in the winter season.
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 41
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 41
- Main operating season
- 2024: March 15 to November 3
- Winter season
- 2024: November 1 to March 14
- Booking required
- 2024: March 15 to November 2
- Winter season note
- The gate is locked and there are no services or fees in the winter season.
- Facility type
- Group camping
- Number of campsites
- Groupsites: 1
- Main operating season
- 2024: March 15 to October 31
- Winter season
- 2024: January 1 to March 14, November 1 to December 31
- Booking required
- 2024: March 29 to October 30
- Winter season note
- The gate is locked and there are no services or fees in the winter season.
- Facility type
- Group camping
- Number of campsites
- Groupsites: 1
- Main operating season
- 2024: March 15 to October 31
- Winter season
- 2024: January 1 to March 14, November 1 to December 31
- Booking required
- 2024: March 29 to October 30
- Winter season note
- The gate is locked and there are no services or fees in the winter season.
- Facility type
- Walk-in camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 12
- Walk-in sites: 12
- Main operating season
- 2024: March 15 to November 3
- Winter season
- 2024: November 1 to March 14
- Booking required
- 2024: March 15 to November 2
- Winter season note
- The gate is locked and there are no services or fees in the winter season.
Special notes
- You are strongly advised to make a reservation well in advance of any stay at this park planned for July, August, or September. The park is usually full even on weekdays, with little turnover of campsites in the morning. On some particularly warm weekends, the parking lots may fill up and additional visitors will not be able to drive into the park.
- The park has access to many mountain bike trails outside of the park. Please obey all signs while riding.
- Dogs must be leashed at all times and they are not allowed on the Alice Lake Trail, beaches, the playground, or in picnic areas.
- Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. Music, generators, and other sources of noise must be shut off completely between these hours.
- Generator use is only allowed from 9am to 11am and from 6pm to 8pm. View the generator policy.
- There are 55 vehicle-accessible campsites and one group camping area with electrical hook-ups. There is an extra $8 per night fee for using a site with electrical hook-up.
- The closest store is located six kilometres away in Brackendale.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total reservable frontcountry sites: 110
- Total vehicle-accessible sites: 96
- Total groupsites: 2
- Total walk-in sites: 12
- Campsite reservations are accepted at this park, and first come, first served sites are available until March 20, at which time all sites become reservable.
- When reservations are not available, all campsites are available on a first come, first served basis.
- All reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservation service.
- Check-in for reservation holders is between 1pm and 10pm, Check-in for non-reservation holders is between 8am to 10pm. Check-out time for all sites is 11am.
- Group camping reservations are accepted at this park.
Campsites
This park offers 96 vehicle-accessible campsites. Most of these sites can accommodate a large camper with trailer. There are also a few medium-sized sites and a couple of small sites. There are 11 double sites. The campground is set in forest cover and the sites are somewhat shaded. Sites are not on the lakeshore but are set back in the forest.
Vehicles
Parking on road edges is prohibited. The second-vehicle fee applies at this park. For more details, download the camping fees and policies supplement.
Check-in
Check in at the gatehouse when you arrive. During posted operating hours, staff are available to check you in. If you have a reservation, you will be directed to your reserved site. If you do not have a reservation, any site that is not already reserved is available on a first come, first served basis, and you can register and pay for your site at the gatehouse. If there are no staff available to direct you to a site, reserved and available sites will be posted at the gatehouse. You may proceed to a non-reserved site and park operations staff will collect camping fees from you at your site each evening.
Fees
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $35 per party per night |
---|---|
BC Senior Camping Discount rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $17.50 per senior party per night |
Electrical hook-up | $8 extra per night |
There are two group campsites available at this park. The sites can hold groups of 15 to 40 people. Each groupsite has tarp posts and a central fire ring. Check-in is at 1pm and check-out is at 11am. This gives the park operator time to clean the site before the next group arrives.
There are 12 walk-in (or cycle-in) campsites available at this park. Parking is very close to the walk-in sites. The walk-in campsite area has some sites that are close together, which is ideal for families or larger groups.
Fees
Walk-in camping fee | $23 per party per night |
---|---|
BC Senior Camping Discount rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11.50 per senior party per night |
Facilities
Campground trails are wheelchair-accessible. There are wheelchair-accessible picnic tables. Campsites 17 and 18 are also wheelchair-accessible.
See more accessibility information for this park.
There are water taps in the campground. Water taps and water fountains are available in the day-use area. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
Alice Lake Park includes a playground area with a slide and other equipment within view of the lake, less than five minutes walk from the day-use parking lot. There are horseshoe pitches at the campground.
A sani-station is available during the collecting season. The station is closed during the winter.
Alice Lake Park now offers 55 vehicle-accessible campsites and one group camping area with electrical hook-ups. Each site provides 30-amp service with one standard RV receptacle (NEMA TT-30) and one 15-amp standard household receptacle (NEMA 5). There is an additional electrical service charge of $8 per night for these sites (whether the power is used or not).
While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using camping stoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Alice Lake Park has a day-use and picnicking area with picnic tables and a parking lot. There are no covered shelters. There are two sandy beaches and a grassy area nearby. The main toilet building includes changing facilities. There are no fire rings or fires permitted in the day-use area. During the main camping season, the day-use area closes at 11pm. During the off-season, if the gate is locked, the day-use area can still be accessed by foot.
Flush toilets are available in the campground and the day-use area. Pit toilets are provided throughout the park.
Shower facilities are available for registered guests. There are two shower buildings in the campground, which provide hot water and electrical outlets for hairdryers and razors. There is no additional fee for using these facilities.
Activities
Trails in this park include The Four Lakes Trail, Mike’s Loop, Stump Lake Loop Trail, Alice Lake Loop Trail, Swamp Lantern Interpretive Loop Trail, Bob MacIntosh Memorial Trail, Jacks Trail, DeBeck’s Hill Trail, Tracks from Hell Trail, and trails to the Lower Alice Ridge. The last five trails head out of the park. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
For more information see Alice Lake Park: Hiking.
There are two sandy beach areas with change houses. The water is usually warm in the summer months. Swimming areas are marked by floats and a floating dock is available at South Beach, a short walk from the campground.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoes and kayaks are allowed on the lake. There are paddle sport services available during the summer months. Visit the park operator’s website for information and rates. Motorized boats are not permitted.
Fishing opportunities are available in all four lakes, for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and some cutthroat.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Find fun summer outdoor learning experiences with Discover Parks Ambassadors here all summer long. For specific dates, along with many more seasonal and year-round activities, visit discoverparks.ca.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society has a fun, hands-on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years of age. Ask the park operator for information.
Domestic animals are allowed in the campground but not at the day-use area, picnic areas, beaches, or park buildings.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times. Owners are responsible for their dogs' behaviour and must dispose of excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for pets due to the presence of bears and other wildlife.
Mountain biking is permitted on certain trails and park roadways. See the park map [PDF] for details. Refer to guidebooks for information about the extensive mountain bike trails in the Squamish area.
The section of Four Lakes Trail between Edith Lake and Alice Lake (South Beach) and the trail around Alice Lake are permanently closed to cycling. The remainder of Four Lakes Trail is closed to cycling between May 1 and September 15.
For details on e-biking within Alice Lake Park, see the e-biking section.
Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Alice Lake Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria outlined in our e-bike rules.
Alice Lake Park is situated off Highway 99, approximately 13km north of Squamish and 71km north of the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver.
Park and activity maps
- Brochure [PDF] (April 26, 2018)
- Park map [PDF] (April 26, 2018)
- Campground map [PDF]
The maps provided on this page are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: November 23, 1956
- Size: 411 hectares
Park contact
Sea to Sky Park Services Ltd.
604-986-9371
info@seatoskyparks.com
seatoskyparks.com
Trails are maintained through a volunteer partnership agreement between BC Parks and Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association.
Nature and culture
History
Alice Lake, was named for the wife of Charles Rose, who settled in the district in about 1888. It was a popular recreation spot for local residents even before the park was established in 1956.
Wildlife
Small mammals, such as squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons, and birds, such as stellar’s jays, crows, and osprey, can often be seen.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.