Disclaimer

There are significant dangers associated with both Open Water and Moving Water canoe outings.  Units undertaking a Scouting Adventure on either a large body of water or moving water need more than just the basic skills and knowledge required by the BSA to conduct such a trip safely.

Our Troop has several adults with extensive experience and professional training in watercraft use, sailing and whitewater.  If you are planning a Canoe trip and do not have an experienced adult leader able to assess flow rates, wind and "read water", you should reconsider a water outing until you have the proper resources and people to make your trip safe. 

We are happy to talk to you if you have questions. 

Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit in Canada 

• 550 miles north of our unit

• 10 lakes

• 116 km (72 mile) of paddling

  • A shorter, 2-to-4-day West Side circuit is also available

• 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of portage trails

• 6-8 day trip

• Plan in September/October

• Buy in and commitment by end of year

  • Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit in Canada will open November 4, 2025, at 7 a.m. PT

• On day reservations open – book/secure your desired week

• July is a great time for this

Resources

• Canoe Circuits - Province of British Columbia

  • pre-trip information booklet [PDF] 

  • campground map [PDF]

Learning Resources

• Video & book - Path of the Paddle – by Bill Mason (Both book and video are canoeing classics) 

• Book - Paddle Your Own Canoe - by Joanie and Gary McGuffin - A New resource with great photos clearly showing canoeing techniques. 

• Bowron Lake reference material in print: The Bowron Lakes: BC Wilderness Canoe Circuit – by Chris Harris. A photographic journey through the park.

Restrictions

• All Participants will need a Passport or Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID) for U.S. citizens

  • Note: History of DUI or other criminal infraction can result in denied entry at the border

• A maximum of three people can travel in any single canoe (four people may be allowed if two of them are small children)

• Camping is allowed only on tent pads or established campsites at campgrounds along the circuit

• Tent pads are a maximum of four square-meters and can accommodate two tents and four people in total

• For parties of seven or more people, you need to make a group reservation 

• You must attend an orientation session before starting the circuit

  • Sessions are held in the visitor centre daily from 8 am to 12 pm

  • If you do not attend an orientation on your first reserved day, your reservation is cancelled without refund

• To paddle the circuit, you must bring or rent the essential equipment outlined in our pre-trip information booklet [PDF]

Required Equipment

Per pre-trip information booklet [PDF] 

The list below is the minimum needed to safely paddle the circuit. Please ensure you bring these items. Luxuries (i.e. folding chairs) are nice, but remember you will have to carry everything on portages. For your safety, please ensure you can load all equipment and people in your canoe & still have at least 15cm (6”) of freeboard when the canoe is in the water. (Freeboard is the vertical distance between the water and the lowest point on the rim of the canoe.) Try this at home before you leave. Less than 15 cm of freeboard means either too much gear or too small a canoe.

Paddling

• Canoe or sea kayak

• Paddles, plus 1 spare paddle/boat

• Life jacket/PFD - one per person 

• Two 15m (50ft) 5 mm (min.) diameter ropes for tying canoes

• Bailer & sponge 

• Sunscreen/sun hat/sunglasses 

• Waterproof pants, jacket and hat 

• Sneakers that can be wet/all terrain sandals

• High-Energy snack/lunch food

• Map of the lakes 

  • Park brochure

• Water bottles

• Waterproof containers for 1st 60llbs of equipment (if using cart) & rope to tie into the boat

• Survival kit - one for each paddler 

  • Fanny pack with emergency blanket, fire starter, matches and snack food

Portaging

• Large backpack/portage pack with hip belt

• Hiking boots and socks

Clothing

• Use polyester or wool clothing, and dress in layers

•  Jeans and other cotton items are not suitable for the circuit

• Weather can be cold & wet for days at a time, and cotton holds the damp against the skin.  This can cause hypothermia.  A fleece or wool hat can be a lifesaver, since a high proportion of body heat is lost through the head. 

Camping

• Matches/lighters in waterproof container

• fire starer, e.g. candles

• Flashlight/headlamp & spare batteries

• One-burner portable stove and fuel

• Food

  • Dehydrated food recommended

  • Canned food is heavy 

  • Fresh food may not keep.  

  • Plan each meal: measure out the food, then double-bag it to keep it dry. 

• Garbage bags

• Pocket knife/Swiss Army type recommended

• Spoon, fork, bowl, cup

• Pots - lightweight nesting style

• Scrubby for cleanup

• Wash kit-small towel, toothbrush, comb, contact lens solution, meications, etc.

• Toilet paper

• insect repellent

• First aid kit and blister kit

• Axe - one per party

• Water treatment system, e.g. filter and collapsible water jug

• Tent - good quality with waterproof fly an dmosquito netting

• Tarp/heavy duty plastic sheet - for keeping rain off your gear

• String/rope to hang tarp

• Sleeping bag (0°C or 32°F), or warmer in the shoulder seasons

• Sleeping bad - closed cell foam or "Therm-a-Rest" type

Not essential but recommended

• Bear pepper spray

  • Must say "Bear Use Only"

• Camera and film 

• Canoe/kayak cart for portages (see rules)

• Binoculars

• Field guides to birds, plants, etc.

• Swimsuit

Communications

Six public two-way radios have been placed strategically around the circuit for use in the event of an emergency only (see brochure/map); they are  not to be used for personal calls or other reasons. Abuse of radios will result in prosecution. There is no cell phone reception on the circuit. Visitors may bring their own registered communication system, but are not permitted to access radio frequencies used by BC Parks. Telus radio phone transmissions can be received on the north and west sides of the park.

Fishing 

Fishing is permitted on the circuit in compliance with BC Non-Tidal Sports Fishing Regulations. Carry a valid BC fishing license, and familiarize yourself with the specific regulations that apply in the park. Licenses are not sold in the park, but may be purchased at nearby resorts and sporting goods stores. Outfitters can also provide advice on lures to best attract bull trout, kokanee, rainbow trout and lake trout. June and September are the best months for fishing

Fees

Reservation fee - There is a non-refundable reservation fee of $18.00 (plus tax) for each vessel booked. 

Circuit fees are due in full at the time of making a reservation. 

• $60.00/person

Transaction fees

• $18 vessel transaction fee per canoe

• $6 for any change or cancellation

• $5 surcharge for transactions made via the call centre 

Changes to a reservation can be made for a fee of $6.00  (plus tax) per vessel, provided that space is available. No changes are permitted 28 days or less before the departure date. 

Cancellations are subject to a $6.00 (plus tax) per vessel cancellation fee. 

Refunds– If a trip is cancelled more than 28 days before the departure date, customers receive a full refund less cancellation and non-refundable reservation fees. If cancellations are made with 28 or less days notice, no refunds apply. 

Orientation time – Upon arrival at the Registration Centre, visitors must check in for their reservation and attend a mandatory orientation session between 8:00am-12:00pm.

Reservations 

Reservations may be booked up to 2 days prior to the departure date. Visitors receive a guaranteed departure date and confirmation number and must report to Registration Centre between 8:00AM-12:00PM on their departure day. At 3:00 p.m. visitors who have not claimed their reservation are considered no-shows. No-show reservations will be given to first-come, first served visitors. 

Visitors are classified as Individual parties or Groups, as described below: 

Individual Parties- Reservations for individual parties (1-6 people) are strongly recommended.  Individual parties can travel the full circuit or west side at their own pace and select a campsite as they go.  The stay is limited to 14 nights total. In addition to reservation spots, a minimum of 4 first-come, first-served drop-in spaces per day are available. To secure a first-come, first served drop-in spot, individual parties need to show up in person at the registration centre and be prepared to wait up to 3 days for a departure time. There is no other way to get on the wait list. 

Groups - Reservations for group  parties (7 to 14 people) are mandatory, and should be made well in advance. Two groups are permitted to depart daily, one group for the West Circuit and one group for the Full Circuit. Groups must have a designated leader, responsible for registration of the group and the conduct and actions of all persons in their group. Groups are required to camp at predetermined group campsites, which will be allocated when the group arrives at the park.  Groups paddling the entire circuit must follow an assigned seven-night itinerary. If visiting the west side only, groups may stay one, two or three nights. 

Note: If partial cancellation results in less than 7 people in group (no longer a “group”  by definition), you will still be required to adhere to group policy and  campsite allocations as per the reservation made and must pay for a minimum of 7 people.

Booking Information

• Online: Visit camping.bcparks.ca 

• By phone: Toll free from Canada or USA 1-800- 689-9025 

• International 1-519-826-6850 

• The call centre is open daily 7 am to 7 pm PT 

Canoe Carts 

Canoe Carts are permitted on the circuit, but to reduce damage to trails, the following restrictions apply: 

• Maximum axle width of canoe carts is 75 cm (30 inches). Wide track tires are recommended. 

• If using a cart, the weight of cargo in canoe must not exceed 28 kg (60 lbs.) Portages are rugged & may be muddy. You must backpack all gear in excess of the 28 kg limit. This prevents wear & tear on trails. Do not attempt to handcarry duffel bags, coolers or other cargo: use large, comfortable backpacks or portage packs with hip belts. Weigh your gear  & ensure enough space in your packs before leaving home. Some portages are over 2 km in length.

Examples (per AI):

• Western Canoe & Kayaking Expedition Cart:
  This cart is often cited as a highly durable and effective option for rough conditions. Its robust frame and large pneumatic wheels make it a preferred choice for tackling the Bowron Lakes' challenging portages. 

• C-Tug Cart:
  While a popular option, users recommend ensuring it's a model with solid wheels or taking extra care on particularly muddy sections. The C-Tug's solid wheels may not perform as well on soft, muddy terrain as a cart with larger pneumatic tires. 

• Paddleboy Heavy Lifter:
  This stainless steel model is also highly regarded for its strength and proper bearings, making it a strong contender for rugged trips. 

Pre Launch

Approaching from Wells, the first indication of the park is the commercial lodges. The BC Parks boat launch is at the northwest corner of Bowron Lake between two of the lodges. However, the registration centre is 2 km further on from the boat launch, at the northeast corner of the lake. 

There is a pleasant 25-site vehicle-accessible campground near the registration centre. Many park visitors stay here before setting out on the circuit. The first portage of the canoe circuit starts adjacent to the registration centre. West Side paddlers can start either at the boat launch or at the canoe dock at the provincial campground. 

All paddlers, reservation or not, must report to the Bowron Lake registration centre to register  and attend a mandatory canoe circuit orientation. Orientation sessions occur daily between 8 am and 12 pm. The registration centre is open from 8 am to 6 pm, 7 days per week from May 15 to September 30.