When entering Kamloops, you’d be hard pressed to believe a place like Paul Lake Provincial Park exists nearby. This is true in all directions, and in many BC interior towns, for that matter. The valleys, despite the water bodies often within, are quite brown. As in dry, rocky, and relatively treeless.
Yet, smack dab in the heart of the city is a giant pulp mill. One’s gotta believe there’s trees around somewhere. Lots of them. And there are. Everywhere. You just have to elevate yourself.
A quick peak at satellite imagery makes this readily apparent. The hilltops and mountainsides all around Kamloops are green with forest. The ~500m elevation gain from city centre to the shores of Paul Lake is all it takes. A tad dull for blog readers, but great for locals and visitors alike.
Where to Find Paul Lake Provincial Park
Paul Lake Provincial Park is located 20km northeast from Highway 5 in north Kamloops. The park straddles Paul Lake and that 20 km drive is on … you guessed it … Paul Lake Road. I guess the government got a bulk discount on signage this way.
Twice now we’ve chosen this campground as homebase for our gold panning adventures on the Tranquille River. There aren’t really any good camping options in the city, unless you’re willing to camp alongside the TransCanada. So, while Paul Lake Provincial Park adds a fair bit of driving to our itinerary, it provides a lovely, peaceful place to relax when our gold hunting is done.
Paul Lake itself is naturally occurring but does have a small dam at its west end to help control water levels. The bulk of the park covers the western two-thirds of land north of the lake. The remainder is a thinner strip covering the eastern two thirds of land south of the lake.
Nearly the entire park is forested with primarily Douglas Fir. Not rainforest density (though it can be muggy), but tree covered, nonetheless. The exceptions are the purposely deforested day use area, a swampy, dry lake bed immediately north of the campground, and the rocky south-facing slopes towards the western end of the lake.
The Campground at Paul Lake Provincial Park
Paul Lake Provincial Park has what I consider to be an odd layout. The large campground is found at the far eastern end while the small group campsite is found at the far western end.
That’s great for keeping group campers, who could be louder and rowdier, away from the regular campers. However, it does place those same group campers right in the midst of private cottages. I don’t understand this thinking.
The main campground is configured like a lasso. A short, paved access road leads to a registration/information kiosk and sani-station before ballooning into a large, paved outer loop. Seven gravel crossroads cut north to south across the outer loop.
All About the Campsites
In total, there are ninety campsites at Paul Lake Provincial Park, one of which is permanently occupied by the campground host. Of those ninety campsites, six are designated as double sites while the remainder are back-in sites. There are no pull-through or walk-in tent sites, which is a bit of a disappointment, especially the latter. I think a few walk-in campsites would be a perfect fit for a park such as this.
Fifteen of the sites, including the host site, rim the outer portion of the loop road. These sites are arguably the most desirable since they have no backyard neighbours. All the rest are found on either side of the seven crossroads.
Individual sites come in a variety of sizes and orientations. Some are smaller while others are quite long. Some are angled, others straight back. There are even some with sloped driveways, though the gravel camping area is level. As it is on all the sites.
Privacy also varies. There are no fully isolated campsites, but the space between them ranges from too close for my tastes to this is delightfully private. The understory includes moss, weeds, shrubs, and saplings and in some cases is dense enough to block sightlines.
As is so often the case with BC Parks, none of the campsites at Paul Lake Provincial Park have utilities. They simply come with a firepit and “picnic table”.
I put table in quotes because while there are a table and two benches, they are not attached to each other. Instead, they are individually affixed to a concrete platform thereby rendering them immovable.
Firepits are circular and steel with a small, coarse permanent grill towards the back and a cutout in front.
Toilets and Water in the Campground
An interesting thing happened with the pit toilets at Paul Lake Provincial Park. No, there are no flush toilets in the campground or showers, for that matter. I know, ugh. But this is still kind of neat, I think.
For our 2023 visit, the pit toilets were old, wooden outhouse looking things. Like outdoor shower stalls. One year later, we were surprised (and happy) to discover that these had all been replaced by fancy, modern, plastic outhouses. Sure, flush toilets would have been better, but a brand-new outhouse is always preferable to an aged one.
These new pit toilets are found in pairs at amenity stations throughout the campground (eight in total). They are accompanied by garbage and recycling as well as a potable water source. All of this is guarded by wooden corral fencing.
The interior is spacious and can accommodate those with mobility constraints. They have handrails, toilet paper dispenser, and hand sanitizer. Sadly, as is always the case with pit toilets, there is no sink.
I would caution you, however, to avoid taking a campsite immediately next to one of these sanitation stations. Not because of the stench, but because of the noise. The pit toilet doors are spring loaded to ensure they remain closed. This works too well, resulting in a loud slamming of the door as people leave the toilets. Nothing is ever perfect.
Dump Station at Paul Lake Provincial Park
Of course, some folks might still prefer to use onboard facilities. Can’t blame them, really. They will need the dump station located at the entrance to the campground. It has a single outlet with plenty of space for bigger RVs and potential lineups. Water is available for cleanup, but there does not appear to be a dedicated potable water tap for filling RV tanks.
There is also a pay station to use this dump station. However, the cap to the outlet was broken when we were there in 2025. Whether that gets fixed, remains to be seen, but as far as I’m aware there is no need to actually pay to use this dump station.
Site Registration, Firewood, and Playground
Paul Lake Provincial Park offers both first come, first serve and reservable campsites at roughly a 50/50 ratio. There are 47 sites available through reservation which leaves 42 for the more spontaneous campers among us.
I’ve tried both ways and obtained a decent site each time. In 2024, we arrived on a Wednesday afternoon and snagged a FCFS site with relative ease. In 2025, our scheduled stay bled into a weekend, so we chose to reserve a site to be sure we got one.
Claiming a FCFS site is fairly routine. Find an open one to your liking and stake your claim to it. At the entrance, there is a large information board about the park as well as a registration kiosk with detailed directions. You can fill out an envelope and submit cash payment that way, or if signage instructs you otherwise, you will be visited by the park operator at your site and can submit payment then.
Firewood is also purchased in this manner from the campground host. Assuming there is no fire ban, of course. In the summer of 2025, it cost $12 per bag but with our focus lasered on gold panning until nightfall, we never bothered to have a campfire.
As you no doubt guessed from the previous couple of paragraphs, there is no office or store at Paul Lake Provincial Park. I’m perhaps a little bit surprised at this as it’s not a tiny campground. I suppose the proximity to both the city of Kamloops and Pinantan General Store makes a campground store less important.
On the other hand, I’m happy to say that a playground does exist, something I haven’t been able to say in recent reviews. Centrally located between two interior crossroads, it’s a relatively modern metal climbing apparatus within a bed of pea gravel. There’s some extended green space around the playground that offers enough room to toss a ball around. Some picnic tables and a leftover pit toilet are nearby for convenience.
Hiking at Paul Lake Provincial Park
If you prefer something more grown-up or need to burn some campfire calories, I recommend going for a hike. Paul Lake Provincial Park does not have a lot of trails, but the couple it does have are quite good and well worth doing.
There’s a short, ~200m dirt trail down the slope from the campground to the day use area. This is more a convenience than a hike, but notable. It’s steep, though, so prepare for a workout climbing back up. Or be a wimp like me and drive down.
The actual hiking trails focus on getting you to and from Gibraltar Rock, also described as Bluff Lookout on some of the park signage. There are three such trails, one from the campground, one from the day use area, and one from the group site.
Information on distance is a bit conflicting. BC Parks mapping says the trail from the day use area to the bluff is 2.3km while AllTrails shows the same trail being 3.4km. The route from the campground is nearly identical in length, while the group site trail coming from the opposite direction is twice as long.
All three trails converge at the base of Gibraltar rock, a large volcanic prominence jutting out into the north shore of Paul Lake roughly at the park’s midpoint. From the top, you are able to see all of the surroundings to the west, south, and east. It’s certainly nice, though I wouldn’t describe it as spectacular. Regardless, it is well worth the effort.
Gibraltar Rock
And it will require effort. We hiked the bluff lookout trail from the campground one evening after our meal had settled. Most of this trail is wide enough for hikers to walk side by side as it makes its way through the forest. The base is primarily red shale, though there is a segment where the shale is missing. Overall, it’s a good, groomed trail that didn’t cause us much grief.
It’s also relatively flat until you reach the convergence. The trail from the group site is also presumably quite flat as it follows the shoreline most of the way. The day use trail climbs up the hill from the beach. At its start, this trail is gravel.
We didn’t hike either of these two alternate trails so I can’t comment on them any further.
At the convergence, below Gibraltar Rock, things change dramatically. The trail turns fully to dirt, with tree roots and rocks, as it winds up the rock via switchbacks. Myriad shortcuts and scrambles cut their way more directly up the steep slope should you prefer an even harder circuit.
Viewing benches await at the top along with diminished tree cover allowing for decent sightlines. I found it very peaceful up there, probably because we were entirely alone at the time. It was an overcast evening, so not as bright as it could have been. But still, it was a rewarding hike.
Paul Lake Provincial Park Group Site
Now, if you really want to test your mettle, the Harper Mountain mountain bike trails await at the west end of the lake. The staging area shares the group site parking lot, and I know nothing more about them. This is simply a reach for a segue.
I find the location of the group campsite at Paul Lake Provincial Park baffling. It’s fully 9km from the main campground and across the street from a residential development. Was it an afterthought? If isolation was the point, which I can appreciate, there is no shortage of space nearer the main campground. Or the day use area, for that matter. Very odd.
Regardless, a group campsite exists which alone should be applauded. Aside from the shared, gravel parking lot, the group campsite is primarily a large, open grass field with a handful of isolated trees. Beyond the field is forest. There is a locked gate that presumably allows RVs to access this group area.
Facilities offered include a large, open walled picnic shelter, a handpump for water, garbage/recycling bins, and a single pit toilet hidden amongst the trees. What looks to be a communal firepit exists a few metres from the shelter, but the ring was not present.
Honestly, this isn’t much of a group campsite. It’s more like a rentable picnic area for larger groups. A second day use area, if you will, but one with no lake access or much else to do. It really is underwhelming. A far better camping experience could easily be provided at this park.
Day Use Area at Paul Lake Provincial Park
Where the group campsite disappoints, the day use area excels. This is surely the highlight of Paul Lake Provincial Park. Or at least that is how it was originally envisioned. Sadly, I’m not sure it gets used to its fullest anymore.
The day use area is huge. It’s got to be a third of the size of the whole campground and offers a nearly ideal lakeside picnic and recreation experience.
It’s located “below” the campground on the north shore of Paul Lake. The entry road to the park extends down the slope via a couple of modest switchbacks. Folks coming from Kamloops will drive down the road, obviously.
Those in the campground have the option of hiking down a short trail or walking/cycling down the road. Whichever you choose the return to your campsite will give you a workout. Yes, I’m a wimp.
The road brings you to two, yes two, lengthy parking lots. The larger of the two is paved and runs most of the length of the day use area. The secondary parking lot, overflow in my estimation, is gravel and is apparently used for some park programs judging by the picnic tables and communal firepit located in the midst of it.
The entire picnic area at Paul Lake Provincial Park is triangular in shape, with the wide end to the east. This wide end is also the only spot where dogs are allowed, according to signs posted.
It’s mowed lawn with bunches of trees here and there offering some shade. There is also evidence of irrigation which should keep the grounds green throughout the hot summer weather.
While there are many picnic tables, they are immovable, affixed to concrete platforms. Some are under shade, others in full sun, so there’s something for everyone. A few have metal tables for cooking stoves attached to them but there are no firepits or bbq stands.
The Beach and the Bathrooms
This day use area boasts a beach. Or should I more accurately write “beach?” If you’re expecting soft, warm sand you will be disappointed. We are in the mountains, after all, and the beach is mostly fine gravel. Perhaps not the best beach experience but the cobra chickens seem to like it.
The highlight of the day use area has got to be the bathrooms. They’re old, for sure, but they contain flush toilets, urinals, and sinks. Why can’t the campground have these as well is a question I’d ask rather pointedly to BC Parks if given the chance.
Now, if you’re like me and thought driving down to the flush toilets from the campground made sense, be forewarned that these structures do get locked up in the evening. I, uh, found that out the frustrating way.
There are two (three?) of these full-service bathrooms. Next to at least one of them is an outdoor shower for swimmers who wish to avoid swimmer’s itch. Needless to say, this shower is not for bathing. Showers being something else that would be nice in the campground.
Fear not, if you desperately want to sniff the waste of your fellow park enjoyers, a couple of pit toilets remain in the day use area for your fetish needs. The one I found was hidden in the shrubberies at the far east end of the day use area. Maybe the dogs use it?
Boat Launch and Dock
At the far west end, the boat launch and fishing dock offer up some additional activities for water lovers. The boat launch has been altered to prevent motorized boats from being launched. Rooftop watercraft such as canoes and kayaks can still be launched, but yellow pillars prevent trailered boats from entering the water.
I suspect this might explain both that large, gravel second parking lot, which was likely boat trailer parking, as well as the lack of people when we were here on a weekend. With motorized boats no longer allowed on the lake, a significant clientele no longer has a reason to come to Paul Lake Provincial Park.
This may appeal to the surrounding cottages and summer homes, maybe even campers and picnickers, but it will limit the use of the day use area. I’m sure a paddle around the lake remains a relaxing, enjoyable activity. Too bad they don’t offer rentals of such watercraft.
The large, floating dock provides a means for fishing and several folks were doing so when I explored the day use area. The lake is regularly stocked with trout.
Potable Water, Outdoor Shower, and Park Programs
You will also find potable water provided from a couple taps around the day use area. These are often paired with garbage and recycling stations.
Exterior bathroom walls have information boards advertising both rules and events. A farmers market occurs monthly through the summer, which is nice if you happen to be here on the appropriate day.
The park also offers weekend programs, like learning to fish or nature sessions for kids and families. Considering how obvious it is that peak popularity of this park occurred many years ago, it’s nice to see some programming still being offered. We were unable to participate in any of them, so I can’t offer any feedback on their value.
Wildlife
If critters are your fancy, odds are quite good you’ll see some during your stay at Paul Lake Provincial Park. Deer, especially, seem rather tame and will wander through the campground at ease, munching on the foliage. One even woke me up the second morning as it nibbled around our tent.
Birds are plentiful, though mostly heard rather than seen. I did catch glimpse of a woodpecker. And bats come out as the sun sets, flitting about overhead. I’m not sure what they were eating as the mosquitoes were thankfully low in number during our stay in late July. Don’t expect that to always be the case.
Noise
As for noise, I have few complaints aside from the boy bouncing a basketball on campsite gravel for hours. Please, moms and dads, nobody wants to hear that while camping.
Overall, the campground was remarkably quiet, even on the late July Saturday of our most recent stay. I honestly expected a busier campground and rowdier campers. Happy to be wrong.
You will notice some road traffic noise, however. Despite it being a seemingly remote location, there are residential communities further east along Paul Lake Road. You’ll hear several cars passing in the morning and again in the evening, presumably folks going to and from work in Kamloops. But it’s limited and miles better than camping next to the TransCanada Highway.
Cell Phone
One last thing before I conclude this review. My cell coverage dropped roughly halfway to Paul Lake Provincial Park from the city. I’m currently with Telus. I don’t know if other carriers are better, but I suspect not. So, if you want to escape the office or family when you’re camping, this is a great place to do it without having to travel to the literal middle of nowhere.
Conclusion and Rating
Alright, I think that’s about enough. You should have a good understanding of what this place is all about by now.
We’ve twice camped here, and it’s been ideal for our needs each time. Sure, something closer to town would be nice for our gold panning desires, but for peaceful camping in nature, it’s just about perfect. I’ll give Paul Lake Provincial Park 4.1 Baby Dill Pickles out of 5.
My biggest peeve, perhaps my only one, is the lack of flush toilets in the campground. That they exist in the day use area but not the campground is a disappointment, if not taunt. That the campground pit toilets have recently been upgraded and weren’t converted to flush is a total troll by BC Parks. It also tells me there is no plan to ever put flush toilets there. That’s unfortunate.
The location of the group campsite is odd and could easily be better located. The amenities at the group site could also be improved, but that’s perhaps getting picky.
I will always wonder about this park’s heyday. It must have been a bustling place, especially down in the day use area. Loud, too, I imagine. The kid in me misses the waterskiing and water-tubing but the old man in me appreciates the current peacefulness. It’s a pity more locals don’t appear to share this latter sentiment.
Regardless, we will continue to book at Paul Lake Provincial Park whenever we are camping in Kamloops. It’s a lovely spot and I recommend it fully if you’re doing likewise.