This is essentially a back country park, offering opportunities for back country camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, rock climbing, boating, canoeing and swimming.
Coordinates are for the signage in the gallery. From there drive/walk/ride across the bridge, turn left (except for the
) and head up the hill and you're in the park, headed for backcountry adventure.
Nature and Culture
• History - The park was designated March 3, 1983. The park was created to protect the diverse topography, majestic peaks and unique vegetation typical of the Selkirk Mountains.
• Cultural Heritage - Pictographs in the park are evidence of early native habitation in the region. It was not until the 1850’s that prospectors and surveyors came into the area. Slocan Lake became a highway of commerce for early towns in the Kootenays and remnants of the logging flumes and other transportation routes may still be seen in the park.
• Conservation - This area protects the diverse topography, majestic peaks and unique vegetation typical of the Selkirk Mountains. The park is unique in its varying topography. Both Evans Lake and Beatrice Lake are uncommonly large for high elevation lakes in BC. Surrounding the lakes are numerous mountains with castellated peaks. As well as forests of western red cedar and western hemlock, the higher elevations contain sub-alpine and alpine vegetation.
• Wildlife - A variety of wildlife exists, including the grizzly and black bear, mountain goat, mule and whitetail deer, cougar, Golden Eagle and Alpine Ptarmigan.
Facilities Available
Campfires
Campfire pits are provided at established Slocan Lakeshore sites. Drinnon, Wicca and Gwillim lakes campgrounds have cooking areas but campfires are not allowed there. Where campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using camp stoves instead. Campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t 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.
Picnic Areas
Boat accessible beach areas provide day-use or picnic facilities.
Pit or Flush Toilets
This park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets.
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed; however, no services are provided at the marine sites. The campsites are open year round when accessible and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are facilities at Gwillim, Wicca, Drinnon, Emerald and Cahill Lakes.
From Valhalla Park