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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- As
of March 30, 2005:
- Full service will resume June 1, 2005.
- Overnight
visitors can pay at the lagoon with a self-registration
system. Cash is the preferred method
of payment.
Deposit cash in the envelope, fill out
the information and place in vault located at
the lagoon. Please
detach receipt and retain for presentation
to Park
Operator or Ranger to confirm payment.
- Firewood
is available at the firewood cache locations, along
the portage trail or cut up for use at the campsites.
Bundled firewood will be available for purchase from
the Park Operator.
Park
Info:
Murtle Lake is world-famous as the largest canoe-only lake in North America.
Set in a pristine mountain valley, the north and west arms are approximately 20
km long, and the lake averages three kilometres wide. Note: a pre-registration
form must be read and signed by all users prior to a camping pass being issued. Return
to Wells Gray Provincial Park.
Park
Size: 6,900
hectare mid-section of Wells Gray Park’s 540,000 ha total
Special
Notes:
- The
Park Operator has emergency communication and a satellite
phone link located in the Ranger Cabin on the south
shore of Murtle Lake. The nearest public telephone is
located at Blue River Campground and RV Park, 27 km
from the Murtle Lake parking area.
- No
internal combustion engines or electric motors, no pets,
and no firearms are allowed.
- No
overnight use and no campfires are allowed on Fairyslipper
Island.
- No
dogs or pets are allowed at Murtle Lake.
- The
use of bear proof food caches is mandatory.
Management
Planning:
Management
Planning Information
Location:
Murtle Lake is accessed
off highway #5 at Blue River. Drive 27 km west on a winding,
narrow, gravel road
to the
parking
lot.
From there,
a 2.5 km level trail (canoe-cart accessible) leads to the canoe launch.
Map/Brochure:
Any maps listed are for
information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be
used for navigation.
Nature & Culture:
History
Visitor
Safety:
- Boil or otherwise
purify lake or creek water to reduce risk of Giardia lamblia (beaver fever).
- The
outlet of Murtle Lake is the swift-flowing and dangerous Murtle River, noted for
its many waterfalls. Visitors wishing to hike to McDougall Falls must use caution
in Diamond Lagoon.
- Murtle
Lake is a large lake and subject to gusts of strong wind. The lake often becomes
choppy in the afternoon. If moving camp it is best to do so in the forenoon. Never
try to out-run a storm; beach at the first available opportunity and wait out
bad weather.
Visitor
Safety Information (park
safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)
Reservations:If
reservable campsites are available at this park, all vehicle
accessible campsites (with the exception of group sites)
must be reserved through Discover
Camping. There
are no reservations for the walk-in/wilderness in this area of the park.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
Contact
Information:
Blackwell
Park Operations Ltd
E-mail address: info@explorewellsgray.com
Phone: (250) 674-2194
Click
here to view a non-government website for additional
information.
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No vehicle accessible camping
facilities at this park. |
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There
are 69 wilderness/canoe-in tenting sites at 20 locations
along the lakeshore. (No vehicle access to lakeshore.)
Camping is in designated sites only. No overnight
camping on Fairyslipper Island. New permit system
for Murtle Lake:
Overnight
visitors can now pay at the lagoon with a self-registration
system. Cash is the preferred method of payment.
Deposit cash in the envelope, fill out the information
and place in vault located at the lagoon. Please
detach receipt and retain for presentation to Park
Operator or Ranger to confirm payment.
Backcountry Camping
Fee: $5.00 per person / night
Hours
of Operation for backcountry/walk-in sites in Wells
Gray
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No group camping. |
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No day-use or picnic facilities;
although some day-use visitors walk the additional 1.5 km past the canoe launch
to a sandy beach on the lakeshore. |
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Some facilities in the park
are wheelchair accessible. |
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Bring your own drinking
water, boil or otherwise purify lake or creek water as potable water is not available
in the park. |
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This
park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets. |
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No showers. |
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No sani-station/dump facilities. |
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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 campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.Fees for firewood are set locally
and may vary from park to park. Limited burning
hours or 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.
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BC
Parks do not have electrical hook-ups. |
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There are no regularly scheduled
interpretive programs at this park. |
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Trailheads
are water-accessible only, and are marked by signs.
Trails lead to small lakes, alpine wilderness, and
McDougall Falls on the Murtle River. 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. Click
here for more trail
information and trail conditions and
updates will be posted on the main page
under the Attention
Visitor Notice.
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This park does not have
a playground. |
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There are no lifeguards
on duty at provincial parks. Murtle Lake is glacier-fed, and the water is icy
cold. |
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Only canoes and kayaks are
allowed at Murtle Lake. A canoe launch is provided at the lagoon, 2.5 km from
the parking lot. |
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This park does not have
a boat launch. |
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Murtle is noted for rainbow
and kokanee trout. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an
appropriate licence. |
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Cycling is not permitted. |
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No horseback riding. |
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No
dogs or pets are allowed at Murtle Lake.
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No
wildlife viewing opportunities.
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.
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