Plan Sowchea Bay Park near Fort St. James with waterfront camping, Stuart Lake swimming, paddling, fishing, boat launch limits, cycling, waterskiing, and no hunting.
Sowchea Bay Park is on Stuart Lake, about 20 kilometres west of Fort St. James by Sowchea Bay Road. BC Parks describes a picturesque former forestry campsite where most campsites sit right next to the water.
The park is a busy destination for boaters and anglers.
Why Visit Sowchea Bay Park
Sowchea Bay is a lake campground for people who want direct Stuart Lake access. BC Parks lists hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing for char and rainbow trout, cycling, waterskiing, and windsurfing.
The campground layout is not BC Parks standard because the site was once a Forest Service recreation site, and larger RVs may be hard to manoeuvre. There is no day-use area in the park; BC Parks points day users to Paarens Beach Park, five kilometres east on Sowchea Bay Road.
Things To Do
Camp beside Stuart Lake, swim in the designated area, paddle, fish with the correct licence, cycle, waterski, windsurf, launch a boat from the single-lane gravel launch, and use nearby day-use options when not camping.
Planning Notes
There are no lifeguards, and an abrupt swimming drop-off is marked with floats. Firearms are not permitted, and Sowchea Bay is closed to hunting. The single-lane gravel boat launch has limited parking. From Prince George, travel through Vanderhoof and Fort St. James, then 20 kilometres west on Sowchea Bay Road. Pets must be leashed and kept out of beach areas and buildings. Reserve camping in busy periods and plan alternative day-use stops if launch parking fills. Keep boat traffic slow near swimmers and the launch.