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Birkenhead
Lake
Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park is situated approximately 24 km
(15 miles) south-west of the small community of D'Arcy
and Anderson Lake.
Travelling
to D'Arcy
To get here from Vancouver,
take Hwy 99 north to Pemberton.
From here, continue on Hwy 99 to Mount Currie and at St. Christopher's
Church, follow the direction signs to D'Arcy. If you happen to be
coming south from Lillooet,
watch for the First Nations Lil'wat Gas and Snacks sign on Hwy 99
for the sign for D'Arcy. From Mount
Currie, travel alongside the power lines for about 50 km (31
miles) and the turn-off for Blackwater Road is situated just past
Gates Lake and Birken. Once on Blackwater Road, the route up to
the park is all up-hill climbing on a gravel surface through ranch
land for approximately 18 km (11 miles) eventually to the park gates.
Park
Highlights
The highlights and activities of Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park
include taking in the beautiful mountain scenery, enjoying the alpine
meadows near Sockeye Creek, wilderness hiking, mountain biking,
fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on a very pristine lake. Birkenhead
Lake Provincial Park is situated deep in the wilderness on the edge
of the Coast Mountain Range where it meets the South Interior, creating
a unique climatic zone for British Columbia. The area makes for
a great outdoor experience for all ages with lots of wildlife present,
including owls, osprey, herons, grouse, deer, moose, mountain goats,
and bears.
Campground
The campground found at Birkenhead Lake Park has a total of 90 vehicle-accessible
campsites with up to 46 of these reservable through Discover Camping,
with the rest being on a first-come, first-served basis. The campsites
are quite large, well-treed, and really private, especially a few
that back onto Phelix Creek. There are a number of short trails
that take you from the campground and head to the sandy beach next
to the lake where you can find some canoe rentals.
Park
Facilities
The facilities found in the park include a number of tap water stations,
pit-toilets, lots of metal-ringed fire-pits, a sani-station for
RVs and a very well-built concrete boat launch with a wharf. There
is a day-use area near the beach where you can find a number of
picnic tables with lots of room near a large parking lot. For hikers,
the park offers some wilderness campsites but these are only open
during the operating season.
Fishing
If you have the appropriate license, fishing in Birkenhead Lake
is very productive for both Rainbow and Kokanee trout. There are
no Dolly Varden present in the lake, but Bull trout are; unfortunately,
they are catch-and-release only as they are categorized in this
area as an endangered species.
Bears
and Wildlife Precaution
Grizzly and Black bears are extremely evident and active in this
Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park and caution and best practises regarding
exposure to them must be adhered to at all times. Keep all food
and food containers, especially coolers, locked up inside your vehicle
at all times. Maintain your distance when approaching the animals
and remember safe wildlife precautions while in the campground,
on various trails, in and the surrounding area.
Local
Trails
For exploring, there is the Birkenhead Lake Trail, which goes for
about 8 km (5 miles) along the west side of the lake. The trail
leads you to Sockeye Creek, eventually making its way to Birkenhead
Lake Forest Service Road. This scenic gravel trail is well-suited
for hiking and mountain biking. You can find some horseback riding
on the west side. Other trails in the park include the Bear, the
Wilderness Trail, and the hike up to Goat Lookout. There is also
a short wheelchair-accessible trail alongside the gravel beach near
the day-use area.
The
Wandering Wolf Farm
If you require supplies, located near the park is a small section
of vacation homes on Blackwater Road and it's where you'll find
a sign for the Wandering Wolf Farm. Operating out of the Camper's
Store, there is a small selection of convenience items, including
dry firewood, cold drinks, ice, cigarettes, souvenirs, artwork,
and crafts. The owners are very nice, helpful, and well-known the
area, with lots of local knowledge.
D'Arcy
If the store happens to be closed, the next nearest place is in
D'Arcy where you can shop at the N'Quatqua Central Service Station
which features fuel and a local convenience store. At D'Arcy, you
can have access to a very large body of water called Anderson Lake
which stretches north from D'Arcy to the small community of Seton
Portage.
BC
Parks
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Birkenhead Lake
Birkenhead Lake
Beach
Boat Launch
Typical Campsite
Day-use area
at Birkenhead Lake
Bear Warning
Sign
Lake Trail to
Campground
Phelix Creek
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