Plan Premier Lake Park north of Cranbrook with camping, emerald lakes, trout fishing, paddling, trails, wildlife, boat-speed rules, trailer parking, and e-bikes.
Premier Lake Park is 72 kilometres north of Cranbrook, reached from Highway 93/95 by a well-marked turnoff and a 12-kilometre paved and gravel road. BC Parks describes Premier Lake as one of the key recreational fishing lakes in the East Kootenay.
The park has 57 vehicle and tent campsites at the south end of the lake.
Why Visit Premier Lake Park
Premier Lake Park is a camping, fishing, paddling, hiking, and wildlife-viewing destination set against the west slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Premier Lake and the four smaller lakes, Canuck, Yankee, Cats Eye, and Quartz, offer varied fishing in a secluded park setting.
Short loop trails connect Yankee, Canuck, and Turtle lakes and can take about one and a half to four hours. Canoes, kayaks, and car-top boats can launch into Premier Lake from the Rod and Gun day-use area or the main boat launch near the campground, while Quartz Lake has an undeveloped access point. Fishing is good year-round, and ice fishing is popular at Premier Lake.
Things To Do
Camp, hike family-friendly lake loops, swim without lifeguards, paddle Premier or Quartz Lake, fish or ice fish with a licence, view the Staples Creek fish ladder, watch osprey, eagles, herons, kingfishers, waterfowl, elk, deer, and bighorn sheep, cycle on roadways and the Yankee-Canuck Lakes Loop Trail, and hunt during open seasons.
Planning Notes
Mountain and lake weather can change quickly. No skiing or towing is permitted at the south end of Premier Lake, where boat speed is limited to 16 kilometres per hour. High-clearance four-wheel drive is strongly recommended for the Rod and Gun Club boat launch. E-bikes are not allowed on trails.