People will soon have access to more camping opportunities and campsites with new electrical hookups at Lakelse Lake Park's Furlong Bay Campground.
"From my years living in Terrace, I know Lakelse Lake Park as a special place for people to connect with nature and enjoy healthy outdoor activities," said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. "The upgrades at Furlong Bay Campground, along with several other improvements, are making the BC Parks experience even better for so many people and will support tourism in the area."
The Government of British Columbia is investing approximately $1.8 million to upgrade Furlong Bay Campground with eight new campsites and new electrical hookups at 41 campsites. In addition, aging water lines and outdoor taps that provide campers with potable water are also being replaced.
"As the largest warm-water lake in the region, Lakelse Lake is a very popular destination for camping, swimming, fishing and boating for families and visitors to our area, and local residents consider it to be one of the crowning jewels of the northwest," said Cyra Yunkws, board chair of the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine (RDKS). "The RDKS appreciates and commends BC Parks for investing in improvements at Furlong Bay Campground, which will enable even more people to enjoy the park for years to come."
In 2023, the Province renewed and expanded its commitment to make BC Parks more inclusive and accessible with the release of the BC Parks Commitment to Inclusion, which ensures frontcountry campgrounds and day-use areas have accessible, inclusive features.
The eight new campsites at Furlong Bay Campground will also have accessible furniture, such as picnic tables, so more people can enjoy the park.
"An accessible B.C. means public parks that every person can access and campsites that anyone can enjoy," said Susie Chant, Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility. "We want everyone to have the opportunity to live, work and play in our beautiful province. That is why we are working hard to remove barriers for people with disabilities."
Reservations at Furlong Bay Campground open Thursday, March 28, 2024, and can be booked online for stays between May 15 to Sept. 2. First come, first-served sites are also available.
Quick Facts:
* Located in the Skeena River watershed near Terrace, Lakelse Lake Park is surrounded by the mountains of the Kitimat Range and stands of old growth forests, and is a popular destination for camping, fishing, swimming and boating.
* The name Lakelse is an anglicized version of the Tsimishian word "LaxGyels" for the freshwater mussel, which is found on the bottom of the lake and river.
* In 2023, upgrades were made to the park's Twin Spruce Trail, including: upgrades to two kilometres of trail surface to be more accessible and resilient to extreme weather; upgrades to three bridges along the trail; and one bridge has been replaced.
* Since 2017, more than 1,800 campsites have been added to BC Parks and recreation sites primarily located in regions with the highest demand: the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies.
Learn More:
For more information about Lakelse Lake Park, visit: https://bcparks.ca/lakelse-lake-park/
To reserve campsites at Furlong Bay Campground and for more information about the BC Parks reservation service, visit: https://camping.bcparks.ca
For more information about BC Parks, visit: bcparks.ca (https://bcparks.ca/)
Contact:
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Media Relations
250 953-3834
envmedia@gov.bc.ca
