Park overview
Prior to 1997, this park was a Forest Service Recreation area. Inland Lake Park was established as a provincial park in 1997. Many years ago, the Model Community Society constructed a 13 km wheelchair-accessible trail around Inland Lake.
There are drive-in and walk-in campsites available at this park, as well as opportunities for swimming, cycling, fishing, canoeing and boating (less than 10 hp).
The Model Community Project for People with Disabilities have led a two year effort to drastically improve the trail and facilities at Inland Lake Park. The Model Community work in partnership with BC Parks under a Shared Stewardship Agreement. They have successfully raised over 250K of funds to support the park improvement. BC Parks wishes to publically thank the Model Community for their great effort and dedication.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open year-round
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 13
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 22
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 15
- Winter season
- 2024: September 16 to December 31
- 2025: January 1 to May 14
- Booking required
- 2024: May 15 to September 14
- Winter season note
- Off-season; no fees, no services.
- Facility type
- Backcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Walk-in sites: 3
- Wilderness sites: 3
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 3 to September 15
- Winter season
- 2024: September 16 to December 31
- 2025: January 1 to May 14
- Booking required
- 2024: May 3 to September 14
- Winter season note
- Off-season; no fees, no services.
Special notes
Fishing is not allowed from November 1 to March 31.
Camping
- Total number of campsites
- Total reservable frontcountry sites: 15
- Total vehicle-accessible sites: 26
- Total walk-in sites: 3
- Total boat-accessible sites: 3
Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
There are three hike-in campsites on Anthony Island. The hike in is approximately 3 km. Camping is on the bare ground. Please camp in designated sites. There are pit toilets available. There is a designated fire ring for campfires. You will need to pack in your own firewood.
The BC Parks backcountry permit registration service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although the system does not reserve a campsite, the system provides visitors the convenience of prepaying for their trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field.
This park offers 22 vehicle-accessible campsites. There are no double or pull-through sites available. Camping is under canopy of trees. There is room for one vehicle at each site and extra parking is available for a fee. Reservations are accepted at this park and first come, first served sites are also available.
If there are no staff available to help find a site, find an unoccupied site that has no camping receipt posted at the site and the host will come and collect your fee in the evening.
There is no pay phone in the park. The closest store is in Powell River, approximately 10 kilometres away. There is no gatehouse or locked gate.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $18 per party per night |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $9 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Wilderness camping is allowed, but there are no facilities provided.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Water is available at the campground via a well.
This park has a gravel car top boat launch only. There is a horsepower restriction of 10 hp or 750 kW.
Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t 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.
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.
This park has a day-use area with eight picnic spots. No other facilities are provided in the day-use areas.
This park has only pit toilets. There are no flush toilets. The pit toilets are located in the campground and around the lake on the hiking trail.
Activities
There is an easy 13 km circuit. While the majority of the trail is wheelchair-accessible, some sections may be difficult or impassable with a wheelchair. There is a fishing dock at the main campground and a cement wheelchair ramp at the head of the trail. The trail is also very popular for day hiking and leisurely bicycle trips.
There are many access points to the lake as well as pit toilets that are well spaced along the route. The trail surface consist of crushed limestone and some elevated board walks and bridges. The grade is mostly flat with minimal grades.
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.
There is swimming available in the lake but there is very little beach area available. Be aware that there is no designated or roped-off swimming area. Water temperature is relatively warm during the summer months.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this park. There are no rentals available in the park. The nearest available rentals are located in Powell River approximately 10 km away.
There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking in this park. There are no rentals available in the park. The nearest available rentals are located in Powell River approximately 10 km away.
Trout fishing is available and spring is said to be best after April 1. Use single barbless hook from April 1 to October 31, with no retention of cutthroat trout over 40 cm.
Please note that fishing is not allowed from November 1 to March 31. Please refer to the Fresh Water Fishing Regulations Synopsis.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Elevated board walks around the Inland Lake Trail provide excellent scenic viewing opportunities.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach and picnic areas, the park buildings and the boat launch area. 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.
Cycling is permitted on the 13 km Inland Lake trail. Please use extreme caution as the trail is shared with hikers and disabled users in wheelchairs.
For details on e-biking within Inland Lake Park, see the e-biking section below.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Inland Lake Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Hunting is allowed in this park. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting and Trapping regulations for season openings and more detailed information.
The park is located north of Powell River. Turn up a short but steep hill on Haslam Street north of Cranberry Lake. Turn left onto the gravel road, continue on for about 5 km, then turn right on the Haywire Bay and Inland Lake intersection. In another 2 km, turn left into the park.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: June 29, 2000
- Size: 2,757 hectares
Park contact
R.L.C. Enterprize Ltd.
250-474-1336
office@rlcparks.ca
www.rlcparks.ca
Nature and culture
History
In 1977, this area, formerly known as the Confederation/Haslam Lake Protected Area, which included a Forest Service Recreation Site at Inland Lake, was signed over to BC Parks and renamed Inland Lake Park.
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.