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Sowchea Bay Provincial Park Camping

1 reviews
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Sowchea Bay Provincial Park - Eric Karjaluoto
Photo: Eric Karjaluoto
Sowchea Bay Provincial Park - Eric Karjaluoto
Photo: Eric Karjaluoto
Sowchea Bay Provincial Park - IainCameron
Photo: IainCameron
Sowchea Bay Provincial Park - IainCameron
Photo: IainCameron
Sowchea Bay Provincial Park - Eric Karjaluoto
Photo: Eric Karjaluoto

Campgrounds

Campgrounds in Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Overview

A brief introduction to Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Park summary to come.

FACTSHEET

Information about Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

Location

Address

Sowchea Road, Fort St. James, British Columbia, V0J 1P0

Coordinates

54.41949051940114, -124.44514437434984

Directions

Sowchea Bay Provincial Park is located on Stuart Lake, near Fort St. James. Starting from Vanderhoof, head east on Highway 16. When you reach Highway 27 (a few minutes outside Vanderhoof), turn right onto Highway 27. Drive roughly 50 km north toward Fort St. James. When you find Sowchea Bay Road, turn left. The park entrance is ~20 km west of the highway.

Elevation

2,240 ft (683 m)

Area

32 acres (13 ha)

Terrain

  • Forest

  • Mountains

  • Valleys

  • Cliffs

  • Lakes

  • Rivers

  • Farms

Contact

Phone

(250) 964-3489

Website

Sowchea Bay Provincial Park on BC Parks

Email

Contact park operator

Operator

Park operator: Quartz Contracting

Links

Facebook

Northern BC Provincial Parks on Facebook

Twitter

Northern BC Parks on Twitter

Instagram

Photos of Sowchea Bay on Instagram

Resources

Maps

Videos

Reservations

Reservations available

Up to 4 months in advance of arrival date

Fees

  • Vehicle-accessible camping: $20 per party, per night

  • BC Seniors’ Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $10.00 per senior party, per night

Online booking

BC Parks Reservations

Phone reservations

(800) 689-9025

Sold-out?

Scan Sowchea Bay Provincial Park for cancellations

Campground

Season

Park open from mid-May through early September

Access

  • Drive in

  • Walk in

  • Boat in

Number of sites

30 campsites

Site types

  • Tent campsites

  • RV campsites

  • Trailer campsites

Check-in time

  • 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. for campers with reservations

  • 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. for first-come, first-served campsites

Check-out time

11:00 a.m.

Pets

Permitted but must be leashed

Campfires

Permitted (please check for fire bans and seasonal restrictions)

Group camping

No

Campsites

Max. site occupants

8

Vehicles per site

2

Maximum vehicle length

Some sites can accommodate RVs over 32 feet, but the park road is tight in spots, making it hard to maneuver. Paarens Beach Provincial Park is more suitable for larger RVs. 

Pad type

Gravel

Campsite features

  • Firepit/ring

  • Picnic table

Accessibility

Number of accessible sites

None specifically designated

Accessible campsites

None specifically designated

Accommodations

Sowchea has limited accessibility features. The hand pumped water requires strength to utilize and there are no hook-ups. The few accessibility accommodations at this park include:

  • Accessible pit toilets

  • Some level crushed gravel sites

  • Wide pathways with minimal slope

Amenities

Facilities

  • Boat launch

  • Pit toilets

Hookups

Unavailable

Conveniences

Nearby:

  • Gas stations

  • Groceries

  • Restaurants

  • Stores

On site

  • Picnic tables

  • Potable water (hand pump)

Support

  • Park hosts

Waste

  • Trash receptacles

  • Recycling

Activities

Sports

  • Canoeing

  • Hiking

  • Kayaking

  • Swimming

  • Waterskiing

  • Windsurfing

Nature

  • Bird watching

  • Fishing

  • Stargazing

Recreation

  • ATV trails

  • Historic site

  • Photography

  • Picnicking

Service

Wifi

Unavailable

Carriers

Bell, Rogers, Telus

Nearby

Attractions

Campgrounds

To come

Members say

Pros

  • Waterfront campsites (amazing sunsets)

  • Small, quiet, and serene campground

  • Clean beach with reasonably warm water

Cons

  • Tight spaces won’t accommodate larger RVs

  • Can get quite windy as Stuart Lake is so big

  • No RV hookups

Tips

  • The boat launch can get quite busy

  • There’s no day-use area at Sowchea, but there is one at Paarens (down the road)

Best campsites

All campsites are on the water and largely excellent

ARE Sowchea Bay Provincial Park campsites SOLD OUT?

We can help! Many campsite reservations are cancelled daily. Just tell us when you’d like to camp at Sowchea Bay Provincial Park, and how long you want to camp for. We’ll text you when a suitable spot opens up!

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Other nearby parks

Open to camping at other nearby parks? Here are a few other parks you'll find in the vicinity.

Reviews

Camper reviews for Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

My favourite place to camp!

A few years back, I spotted a photo of a gorgeous beach and thought to myself, “I need to find out where this is—so I can take my sauna there!” I later learned that the photo was of Sowchea Bay Provincial Park, which was just a couple of hours from where I grew up.

I’ve camped at Sowchea a few times now. I’d go more frequently if it weren’t so far from Vancouver. Every time, I’ve been wowed by this amazing place. Most of the campsites are right on the lakeshore, affording you a perfect beach-front campsite. The campground is reasonably small, so, it doesn’t feel crowded. There’s sufficient space between campsites, but you’re never too far from other campers.

Fort St. James is just a few minutes away from this park. When you visit, make sure to explore the Fort St. James National Historic Site. This indoor/outdoor museum is operated by friendly staff who’re happy to tell you about the displays, buildings, and cultures represented. There’s a restaurant where you can enjoy lunch and look out at the lake. Dogs are welcome on site and inside the museum.

Just a short drive from the town, you’ll find Mount Pope Trail. This hike up to a viewpoint allows for 360° views of the area and doesn’t seem to see a lot of traffic. (Bring ample water as it’s hard to find water sources along this trail.)

Eric Karjaluoto reviewed Sowchea Bay Provincial Park
on November 30th, 2022

Map

View a map of Sowchea Bay Provincial Park

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