Field's Lease Ecological Reserve is south of the Okanagan Valley, west of the north end of Osoyoos Lake. BC Parks says it was established to protect a small sample of the most arid shrub-steppe ecosystem in Canada.
Ecological reserves support research and education rather than outdoor recreation.
Field's Lease is open to the public for non-destructive activities such as hiking, nature observation, and photography. The official limits are equally important: hunting, fishing, camping, foraging, and other consumptive activities are prohibited, and motorized vehicles are not allowed.
The reserve's value comes from its arid shrub-steppe setting. BC Parks lists the biogeoclimatic zone as Bunchgrass and the terrestrial ecosection as Southern Okanogan Basin, placing the reserve in a dry Okanagan landscape where sensitive plant communities can be easily disturbed.
BC Parks provides a detailed reserve description for education and research. Research or educational activities require a permit, so organized study should follow the official process rather than informal use. The reserve's location near Osoyoos Lake also makes careful map review part of responsible planning.
Plan around non-destructive hiking, careful nature observation, shrub-steppe learning, photography, Bunchgrass ecosystem study, Osoyoos Lake context, ecological reserve policy review, detailed reserve description reading, and permit-based research or education where authorized.
Do not camp, hunt, fish, forage, or use motorized vehicles in the reserve. Any listed maps are for information only and should not be used for navigation or legal boundaries, and fragile shrub-steppe should be treated carefully.
