Gibraltar Rock Trails (Paul Lake)

Driving Directions::

  • from Highway 5A North, turn east onto the Paul Lake Road
  • Follow the road for km and then turn at the BC Parks sign to Paul Lake Provincial Park
  • Drive down to the lakeshore parking lot
  • the main trailhead is just past the boat launch

 

Trailheads:

  • Paul Lake beach area – west end –  recommended
  • Upper Campground – Bluff Trail
  • West end of Paul Lake

 

Distance(s):

  • Paul Lake to the top of Gibraltar Rock – 2.3 km – recommended
  • Bluff Trail (alternate trail)  to the top of Gibraltar Rock – about 2.3 km
  • Campground to the beach parking lot – 0.4 km
  • West end of Paul Lake to the top of Gibraltar Rock – about 3.0 km
  • A loop route (beach – Gibraltar Rock – Bluff trail – campground – beach) is about 5.km
  • Adding the lake trail to the west end and back and the loop is about 10 km
  • BC Parks Website – link

 

Trails:

  • The Gibraltar Rock trail from the beach climbs steadily to the base of the bluff and then winds to the top of the bluff for wonderful views.   The elevation gain is 284m (921 feet).
  • The Bluff trail from the campground is fairly level to the base of the bluff.   There are no views along the way, but it is a nice forested trail.
  • The trail from the west end of the lake follows the lakeshore to the bluff, then winds up the hill to a junction with the other trails.

 

Trail coordinates:

  • Beach trailhead – (N50 44.662 W120 06.819)
  • Campground – (N50 44.901 W120 07.010)
  • West End of Paul Lake – (N50 44.164 W120 09.576)

 

Some Paul Lake Images: