Cathedral Provincial Park

Fast facts

• Established: 1968; Cathedral Protected Area added in 2001
• Setting: the transition between the Cascade Mountains and the dry Okanagan
• Core area: a cluster of alpine lakes, reachable on foot only
• Gateway: Keremeos, on Highway 3
• Managed by: BC Parks

The landscape

Cathedral Park rises from the dry Douglas fir forests of the Ashnola River to an alpine basin of lakes beneath granite ridges. The Rim Trail passes wind-carved formations with names like the Giant Cleft, Smokey the Bear and Stone City. Because it sits between the wet coast ranges and the arid interior, the park holds an unusual mix of plants and animals, including protected species such as California bighorn sheep and mountain goats.

Best time to go

The alpine lakes are usually snow-free from July into September, with wildflowers in midsummer and larches turning gold in late September. Thunderstorms build over the ridges on summer afternoons. Snow can fall at any time in the high country, and winter access is a serious ski or snowshoe undertaking.

Getting there and around

From Keremeos, the Ashnola Road follows the river into the park. Three trails climb from the valley to the core area: Lakeview, Ewart Creek and Wall Creek. Vehicles are not allowed in the core area, so most visitors walk in, a long day with a big climb.

Things to do

Backpackers base at the lakes, most often Quiniscoe, Lake of the Woods and Pyramid Lake campgrounds, and spend days walking the Rim Trail and the ridges above. Anglers fish the stocked lakes for trout, and photographers come for the granite and the reflections. Horse riders use the lower Snowy Protected Area, where horses are allowed outside the core.

Staying safe

The approach is long and steep, so carry plenty of water and allow a full day. Weather in the alpine changes fast; start early and get off the ridges when storms build. Burned areas along the approach bring the risk of falling trees. There is no cell service anywhere in the park, so carry paper maps and a satellite messenger, and leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

Campgrounds need a reservation or permit registration. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm current closures and reservations with BC Parks before you go.

Coordinates

49.0764, -120.1730

Magnetic declination

14.8° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

Best seasons

Summer (July to September), Early fall

Difficulty

Strenuous

Access / trailheads

From Highway 3 about 2 miles (3 km) west of Keremeos, the Ashnola Road crosses a red covered bridge and becomes the Ashnola Forest Service Road, running up the valley to the trailheads for the Lakeview, Ewart Creek and Wall Creek routes.

Water

Lakes and streams, under a permanent boil-water advisory: boil, filter or treat all water.

Cell / satellite coverage

None anywhere in the park. Bring paper maps and a satellite messenger.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Emergencies: 911 by satellite device (RCMP coordinate search and rescue).

Permits & regulations

Backcountry camping needs a reservation or permit registration. The core area is hike-in only: no vehicles on the Lakeview access road.

Leave No Trace

Camp in designated campgrounds, use the outhouses, keep urine off campground ground, stay on trails in the fragile alpine, and pack out all waste.