Paul Lake Provincial Park

 

Description:

  • A scenic provincial park 25km from Kamloops.
  • From the entrance road, the campground sits up on the hill, a short ways from the gate.   Trails go down to the beach or over to the bluff from the campground.
  • The paved road winds down to the beach area where there is lots of parking.
  • The beach is used by families, swimmers, fishermen, paddlers, and anyone wanting to cool off in the summer heat.
  • Trails extend all the way to the west end of Paul Lake.

 

Driving Directions:

  • Drive north on Highway 5 and turn right at the Paul Lake Road (at the traffic light).
  • Follow this paved road for 19 km to the entrance to the park which is on the Pinantan Road.
  • At an earlier signed fork in the road, the right fork goes into the Paul Creek Valley to the end of Paul Lake and beyond to Harper Mountain (there is a hiking trailhead at the end of the lake too).
  • Most people drive down to the beach and park there to hike the trails.
  • The park gate is closed in winter.

 

Trailheads:

  • There are 3 trailheads onto the Paul Lake trails.
  • The main signed trailhead is at the west end of the beach area.
  • The trailhead to the Bluff Trail is found at the upper (west) end of the campground.
  • The trail system can also be accessed from the west end of Paul Lake.

Trails

  • The trails are all connected.   The most popular trail is the one to the top of Gibraltar Rock.
  • 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
  • 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.

 

Some Paul Lake Images:

More Information: