Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
Lake weather can change rapidly, be prepared. Visitors should be aware that high winds and spring squalls could come up quickly.
Special notes
Wi-Fi: This park offers wireless internet for $4 per 24 hour period. This service can be arranged with the on-site park operators.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge sites are located in south central BC, on Highway 31 adjacent to Kootenay Lake. Both sites are north of Kaslo, Lost Ledge 25 km and Davis Creek 30 km. The driving time to Kaslo is 30 minutes.
Midge Creek site is located 38 km south of Balfour, on the southwest shore of Kootenay Lake across from Sanca Creek.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
Vehicle-accessible camping is available at the Davis Creek and Lost Ledge campgrounds. There are no pull through campsites. The campgrounds offer services during the peak season of May to September.
Campsite reservations are accepted at Davis Creek campgrounds, first come, first served campsites are also available. All campsites at the Lost Ledge campgrounds are on a first come, first served basis. Visitors can select any unreserved campsite and staff will come to collect fees. The closest pay phone and stores are in nearby Cooper or Meadow Creek.
Davis Creek
Davis Creek campground with gravel roads has 32 small, medium to large vehicle-accessible sites, two are double sites. The park offers both lake view sites with beach access or shaded sites in a fir, birch forest. The reservable campsites are sites 1-10 in Cove Loop. A park gate is located at the park entrance. There is limited parking in the larger sites for extra vehicles.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $21 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10.50 per senior party per night |
Lost Ledge
Lost Ledge campground has paved roads in a circular campground with 14 large to medium vehicle accessible sites, four are doubles. There is a choice of open, lakefront with magnificent lake views or shaded, forested sites in a mixed forest of fir, birch, larch, and cedar. There is no park gate. Parking for extra vehicles is available at the nearby day-use parking lot.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $23 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $11.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
There are reservable group campsites at this park.
| Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
| Regular group camping fee | $120 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the Youth group policy see the group camping page.
Groupsites
Wilderness camping
Midge Creek: Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Wilderness areas
Things to do
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge
For the very brave, some swimming does take place. The water is considered cool to refreshing. The beaches are pebbly with coarse rocks.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing and kayaking on the lake.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge
Access is from the lake front campsites or the boat launch at Lost Ledge. Shoreline canoeing is recommended, due to unpredictable winds and sudden squalls.
Kootenay Lake Paddle Sports on site offering Canoe, Kayak, and Paddle Board Rentals off the beach at Davis Creek.
There are opportunities for kayaking on the lake.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge
Access is from the lake front campsites or the boat launch at Lost Ledge. Shoreline canoeing is recommended, due to unpredictable winds and sudden squalls.
Kootenay Lake Paddle Sports on site offering Canoe, Kayak, and Paddle Board Rentals off the beach at Davis Creek.
Visitors can enjoy angling for kokanee, bull and rainbow trout. Check the BC fishing regulations synopsis for restrictions and quotas.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and 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.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Kootenay Lake Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge
There are windsurfing opportunities on Kootenay Lake.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge: There is a single wide, concrete boat launch at Lost Ledge located at the north end of the park, past the last campsite. It is designed to accommodate full size boats. A 40 vehicle parking lot is nearby for vehicles and boat trailers. Boats can be left in the water or beached at either park but this is not commonly observed because of the changing weather.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge campgrounds
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge Campgrounds: Cold water for cooking and drinking is available at both sites. At Davis Creek, you'll find three pressurized water taps. Lost Ledge campground has one hand pump for water.
Midge Creek: Bring your own drinking water, potable water is not available in the park.
Midge Creek: This park has a day-use and picnic area.
Davis Creek and Lost Ledge: Each site contains centrally located pit toilets.
Midge Creek: This site only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
About this park
These small designation sites were formerly log dumps for Kootenay Forest Products. With the closing of KFP, the land was reverted to the crown and the Parks were established in 1987. Lost Ledge and Davis Creek lie in the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket and Shuswap First Nation traditional territories.
With 38 hectares, Lost Ledge protects a small creek fan and frontage on the north-west shore of Kootenay lake. The five hectares of Davis Creek, also protects a natural creek fan with limited ungulate winter range. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the parks natural heritage, please do not damage or remove them.
Loons, mallards, and Canada geese are often observed on the lake or along the shoreline with small mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks seen amongst the campsites and forest. Kokanee spawn in Davis Creek. Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by RAP Park Contracting Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
