Syringa Provincial Park

The peak months for canoeing and kayaking are July and August when the water is high. Shoreline canoeing/kayaking is recommended as lake weather can change rapidly. Easy access is provided at both the boat launch and day-use/picnic area.

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Lower Arrow Lake can provide excellent fishing for rainbow or bull trout, and kokanee salmon. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Check the BC Fishing Regulations Synopsis for quotas and restrictions.

The Yellow Pine Nature Trail is a year-round trail, approximately 4 km long and takes 45 minutes to an hour to reach the top look out. It has 3 access points - From the south end of the park, on the topside of the main access road. On Deer Park road, directly above the gate house and from the edge of the day-use/picnic area parking lot, continuing across Deer Park road. The trail climbs the hillside behind the park, is fairly steep and considered a moderate hike. Yellow Pine Trail takes you through mature yellow pine, past several granite rock outcroppings and offers intermittent views of Arrow Lake from a terraced hillside. Rest and enjoy the view from the first lookout or go all the way to the summit. Both lookouts have benches. An additional 2 km of trail links the picnic area with the campground.

For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.

Hunting is allowed in this park. Please check the BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the Park Operator for more information.

This park has a designated “off-leash” area but in all other areas of the park, pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings or beach areas. 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.

As Syringa Park is on a reservoir, the water does fluctuate from spring through fall. The water level is low in May, rises in June and is at full pond for July, August and September.

There are three beaches:

• Camper’s Beach adjacent to the campground
• Boater’s Beach at the boat launch
• Main Beach at the primary day-use/picnic site

The upper portion of the beaches is sand with the lower portion rocky, which is mostly exposed at low water. For 6 weeks in the summer during high water, Main Beach has a roped off swimming area with a maximum depth of six feet. The water temperature is described as refreshing to cool, however, with three choices and a combined 450 metres of sandy beach, the park provides an abundance of sunbathing and swimming opportunities.

There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

Waterskiing opportunities are available on Lower Arrow Lake; access at the park.

Due to a north wind on Lower Arrow Lake, there are good windsurfing opportunities.

Wheelchair-accessible facilities in this park include flush toilets in the toilet building(s) at the main day-use/picnic area and campground. From the main day-use/picnic area a paved pathway is available to allow access to the picnic tables. The surface area between the tables is gravel and grass.

A doublewide, concrete boat launch at the southeast end of the park has a large, gravel vehicle/boat trailer parking area with a capacity for 85 cars. Boat trailers can be parked overnight and boats are sometimes left in the water or beached, but the shoreline offers no protection against weather changes. Visitors do enjoy waterskiing and windsurfing.

While 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 in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.

There is a boil water advisory in place at this park until further notice while the water system is updgraded.

Cold well water is available for cooking and drinking. Four water taps are located throughout the campground, with two each at both the day-use/picnic area and boat launch. Taps are shut off during the off-season.

The Big Horn RV sites #62 to #70 have been electrified. Sites #62 to #68 have 50 amp and #69 & #70 have 30 amp service. All are good sized and have fire pits. All sites may be reserved through Discover Camping. An additional service charge of $7.00, per night, applies to these sites regardless of whether electrical service is used.

Are you planning a family reunion, church outing, youth trip or a gathering of friends? The Sturgeon Point Group site is available to book up to 12 months in advance. The group campsite is open during the main camping season. Reservation information »

This park has three day-use/picnic areas. As Syringa Park is on a reservoir, the water does fluctuate from spring through fall. The water level is low in May, rises in June and is at full pond for July, August and September. The upper portion of the beach is sand with the lower portion rocky, which is mostly exposed at low water. Barbeque stands and fire rings are not available.

The main picnic area is located northwest of the campground along the lake. The beach is 250 metres long with 30 picnic tables located on a raised partially shaded grassy terrace in front of the beach. A toilet/change house, 2 pit toilets and water taps are available for day users. This day-use/picnic area is the largest in the park, with a paved parking lot that can accommodate 220 vehicles.

As indicated by its name Boat Launch day-use/picnic area with its 150-metre beach, 6 picnic tables and 4 pit toilets can be found at the boat launch in the south end of the park just past the park entrance.

Camping day-use/picnic area is located in front of the campground and is primarily used by campers. The beach is 50 metres long and has 7 tables. The campground washrooms and water taps are nearby. This day-use/picnic area hosts the only adventure playground, in the park. The playground is set in sand with a swing set, monkey bars, slide and spring horse.

Two sets of pit toilets and two toilet buildings are conveniently located throughout the campground. Main beach day-use/picnic area has two pit toilets and one toilet building. Boat Launch day-use/picnic area has four pit toilets.

An adventure playground with swing set, monkey bars, platforms, slide and spring horse is located in the campground area near Campers’ Beach. The equipment is set in sand.

A sani-station/dump is available during the collecting season and is located just past the gatehouse.

There are showers at this park.

The park has two campgrounds with vehicle accessible sites. All the sites are gravel and the road in the Main Campground is paved; the road in Big Horn is packed gravel. There are no pull through campsites, however, all the sites in Main Campground are considered large and will accommodate bigger rigs. The Big Horn RV sites are generous, back in, gravel pads with electrical service. The Big Horn Loop sites are on the smaller size, more suitable for tents, campers and smaller RVs. All sites provide limited parking for extra vehicles. The Main Campground is one large loop with one cross road at its center. The Big Horn is adjacent to the day-use area with most sites overlooking the lake. The majority of the sites are shaded in a mixed forest of fir and pine.

The park offers services during the peak season of May to September. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. Visitors can select any non-reserved site and staff will come to collect fees. A gatehouse with a pay phone is located about 2 km from the park entrance sign. The closest store is Scottie’s Marina 1.5 km from the park.

For Electified sites: