Watersport Adventures in BC

Thanks to our province’s rugged coastline, British Columbia is truly outfitted for any outdoor water adventure, whether it’s with a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board. We’ve got it all from crystal-clear lakes, vast ocean inlets, connected waterways, to more challenging rivers with whitewater rapids—all ready for you to get out and explore! 

It’s the perfect way to get in tune with nature without harming the local ecosystem, especially when done respectfully. The old age adage still stands: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. It’s important we protect these natural wonders, so make sure you use designated launch points and respect local updates. 

With a backyard as beautiful as ours, it’s only fitting we take advantage of all our water access and get to paddling this summer. And if you’re looking for your next big water adventure, we’ve got you covered with a variety of parks that offer spectacular natural wonders all across our province.

 

The North: Stuart Lake Park

Part of the Stuart-Trembleur-Takla Lake boating system, the park has nearly 300km of waterways thanks to a chain of long, narrow lakes. Stuart Lake itself is 90km long with 270km of shoreline, making it one of the largest natural lakes in British Columbia and the  perfect spot for watersport excursions. 

Located close to Fort St. James, this park is definitely a premier destination for a remote wilderness experience out on the water. There are numerous bays, points, and islands that provide excellent wildlife viewing. However, the lake is prone to sudden heavy winds that can turn into dangerous whitecaps—so staying close to the shore is a good idea for less experienced paddlers.

 

Cariboo: Bowron Lakes Park

A wilderness area known across the world for its legendary Canoe Circuit, Bowron Lakes Park is just over an hour east of Quesnel and includes a 116km chain of connected waterways that can take up to ten whole days to fully complete. Thankfully, you can paddle the west side of the circuit in just a two-to-four day trip.

Open mid-May until the end of September, the park takes minimizing the environmental impact very seriously and doesn’t allow motorized boats on the Canoe Circuit. In order to lower traffic, reservations are required. 

This is a more challenging attraction, and visitors should have plenty of canoe experience before embarking on the circuit. Guided tours are available, as well as rental equipment.

 

Thompson: Wells Gray Park

Located close to 100 Mile House, Wells Gray Park is an ideal destination for watersports. Paddlers should check out Clearwater-Azure Marine, Mahood Lake, and the Corridor for excellent spots—but the park is perhaps most known for Murtle Lake: the largest canoe-only lake in North America. 

Set in the pristine mountain valley, Murtle Lake averages 3km wide, with the north and west arms around 20km long. A canoe launch is available at the lagoon, a short trek from the parking lot.

 

Okanagan: E. C. Manning Park

Situated halfway between Kelowna and Vancouver, E. C. Manning Park is the perfect meeting place between these two urban centres. In the heart of the Cascade Mountains, the park is full of diverse landscapes and flora—think wide fields of colourful wildflowers—but visitors are asked not to step off the well-planned trails. 

Lightning Lake day-use area is the most well-known spot for water-access and rentable canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. Motorized crafts are not allowed on the lake, giving you those moments of smooth, serene paddling to connect with your natural surroundings.

 

Lower Mainland: Golden Ears Provincial Park

One of the largest provincial parks in BC, Golden Ears is located in the Coast Mountains just 11km north of Maple Ridge. Thanks to its proximity to our largest metropolitan area, the park is serviced by Parkbus, an affordable transportation service from downtown Vancouver. 

On the southern end of the park, Alouette Lake is a premier spot for canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.Visitors looking for rental options will be happy to find outfitters at the day-use area, while the more adventurous may paddle on over to a marine-accessible overnight campsite.

 

Vancouver Island: Strathcona Park

The oldest provincial park in British Columbia, Stathcona sits in the centre of Vancouver Island with more than 250,000 hectares of rugged mountain wilderness. Full of lakes, creeks, and streams, this park is the perfect place for anyone looking to dip their paddle into the water this summer. 

Strathcona includes two widely known well developed water-accessible areas: Buttle Lake and Forbidden Plateau. For those seeking more undisturbed natural wonders, the rest of the park is fairly undeveloped with plenty of marine-accessible spots.

 

Kootenay: Valhalla Park

Set in the majestic and breathtaking Selkirk Mountains, Valhalla Park has a diverse topography with everything from mountain climbing on the castellated peaks to several beaches for the average canoeist. Slocan Lake is famous for its clear mountain water, the perfect spot to set out on your paddle board or kayak, with plenty of launch spots and day-use areas for renting.

The Slocan River is a known spot for more challenging rapids, if you’re looking for a tougher adventure—but the lake can also sport sudden winds, so be sure to stick close to shore if you’re a novice paddler.