Paarens Beach Park sits on the southwest shore of Stuart Lake, about 11 kilometres from Fort St. James and less than a two-hour drive northwest of Prince George. BC Parks describes it as a small local park with a large day-use beach and uncrowded campground.
The beach includes change houses, picnic tables, a playground, and a log picnic shelter.
Paarens Beach is a practical base for Stuart Lake recreation and Fort St. James history. Stuart Lake is about 70 kilometres long, and the park has a large beach and boat launch for summer days on the water.
Visitors can swim in 800 metres of natural sandy beach with a roped-off area for children, paddle or boat on Stuart Lake, fish the Stuart-Takla waterways with a licence, waterski, windsurf, and use the park as a base for regional hikes. Nearby Mount Pope offers a six-kilometre trail with a 791-metre elevation gain and broad views over Fort St. James, Stuart Lake, and the Omineca Mountains.
Camp, picnic, swim without lifeguards, canoe, kayak, boat, waterski, windsurf, fish for rainbow trout, lake char, Dolly Varden, burbot, or kokanee, hike nearby Mount Pope, and explore Fort St. James history.
Stuart Lake can develop sudden heavy winds and dangerous whitecaps. Hunting is closed and firearms are not permitted in the park. Alcohol is not allowed on the beach or day-use area. Pets must be leashed and kept out of beach areas and park buildings. Plan beach time with changing weather in summer.
