A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
Park Info
Callaghan Lake is a prime year round backcountry recreation area. The
Callaghan Lake area receives an average snow pack of 275 centimetres,
which may yield 150 days of skiing. In addition, the rolling subalpine
terrain is well suited to Nordic Skiing, and the steeper slopes surrounding
the gentle valley floor and meadow offer telemark and ski touring opportunities.
Other opportunities at this park include rustic lakeside camping, canoeing,
boating, fishing and hiking. There are numerous wetlands and small lakes,
especially in the southern and eastern areas of the park, and in the upper
headwaters of Callaghan Creek.
Park Size: 2,667 hectares
General Visitor Information
Bring your own water,
as potable water is not available in the park.
The park is easily accessed in summer from Highway 99, 70 km north of Vancouver or 20 km south of Whistler, left at sign following a gravel Forest Service road (Callaghan FSR 01) for 16 kilometres. The closest community, town or city is Whistler.
Nature & Culture
Conservation - The park is known to contain the blue-listed species Pleuropogon refractus (nodding semaphore grass) in boggy areas.
Wildlife - A variety of wildlife exists within the park and surrounding area, such as bobcat (Lynx rufus), cougar (Felis concolor), coyote (Canis latrans), mink (Mustela vison), Douglas' squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii), weasel (Mustela frenata), wolverine (Gulo gulo) and wolf (Canus lupus). Large mammal species present or probable include black bear (Ursus americanus), Columbian black-tailed deer (Odecoileus hemionus columbianus), and mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) (a wintering area exists on the northeast ridge above the lake. Transient species include moose (Alces alces) and grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilus).
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
Fishing
Callaghan Lake and Cirque Lake offer subalpine fishing for trout and char. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Although hiking trails have not been developed in the park, access to numerous circuit trails may be gained from rough marked and unmarked trails at Ring Lake. Mount Callaghan, Madely Lake, and Rainbow Lake to Whistler. Cirque Lake is an alpine lake at 1,4990 metres elevation and is within easy hiking distance.
Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures operates a commercial cross-country ski operation which includes 4 km of groomed trails within the park (of the total 38 km in its operating area), and a mountain cabin west of the park.
Hunting
Hunting is permitted in the park. Please confirm with the Hunting and Trapping regulations for specific details. All hunters require applicable hunting licences.
Pets on Leash
Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Winter Recreation
Whether you are on or off trail in the park during the winter, you are
in a wilderness area. Anyone venturing into the backcountry does so
at their own risk. Visitors should be well prepared, equipped and informed
before entering the backcountry. The winter climate can be severe and
unforgiving with weather conditions changing quickly. Heavy snow and
poor weather will significantly increase the difficulty of skiing and
snowshoeing. Cellular phone coverage is minimal in the park - do not
rely on a phone for emergency or communication purposes!
Winter backcountry travel hazards exist, including avalanches and potentially
unsafe ice and snow layers on Callaghan Lake. Visitors must be familiar
with recognition and avoidance of avalanche terrain and conditions
and with conditions on the lake. Backcountry visitors should be appropriately
equipped with avalanche transceivers, probes, snow shovels, first
aid kits and have adequate knowledge of avalanche assessment skills
and avalanche rescue procedures.
There are no garbage facilities, so always pack out what you pack
in!
The snowmobile corridor through the park was closed last
winter, to be consistent with the broader non-motorize management direction
in the Upper Callaghan Valley. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture
and the Arts issued a Recreation Order closing the upper Callaghan
Valley to motorized use. This recreation order will be in effect
from November 1 to May 15 of each year hereafter. Callaghan
Lake Park is open to non-motorized use only during
this period. For more information, please refer to the Ministry
of Tourism, Culture and the Arts website.
Facilities Available At This Park
Boat Launch
This park has a very rough, undeveloped car top gravel boat launch. Boats can be left in the water or beached overnight at the owner's risk. There is no dock or marina to moor boats. There is no water skiing on the lake. A 10 horsepower boat motor restriction is planned for Callaghan Lake.
Campfires
Campfires are permitted in established fire pits only.
Picnic Areas
This park has a rough, dirt day-use/camping/parking area with one pit toilet, an information sign and no picnic tables.
Pit or Flush Toilets
This park has one pit toilet only.
Vehicle Accessible Camping
This park offers informal vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come,
first-served basis - campsite reservations are not accepted. The current camping
area is an informal, confined area at the end of the road, close to the lake.
This camping area can accommodate 4 - 6 tents or high clearance camper trucks.
Camping is available only in snow free months (mid-June to end of October).
There is no fee. The closest store is located in Whistler (Function Junction)
approximately 20 kilometres away.
