--- title: "Summer in Prince George: lakes, fishing, paddling, camping" description: "Lakes near Prince George for swimming, fishing, paddling and camping: West Lake, Ness Lake, Purden Lake, Eskers and Bednesti, plus safety tips." url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/ markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes.md site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia generated: 2026-10-16T15:50:43.663Z --- # Summer in Prince George: lakes, fishing, paddling, camping Lakes near Prince George for swimming, fishing, paddling and camping: West Lake, Ness Lake, Purden Lake, Eskers and Bednesti, plus safety tips. Updated September 30, 2026 ![A still marsh lined with pine trees at Eskers Provincial Park northwest of Prince George](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/still-marsh-lined-pine-trees-eskers-provincial-park-a18e8a-1280.webp) Photo: The Interior, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## At a glance - Summer days are long, with about 17 hours of daylight in late June and average July highs near 23°C. - West Lake (22 km) and Ness Lake (35 km) have day-use beaches close to town. - Purden Lake Provincial Park, 64 km east, has a campground and is stocked with kokanee and rainbow trout. - Eskers Provincial Park, 40 km northwest, offers quiet canoe lakes and 15 km of trails. - A BC freshwater fishing licence is required for anglers 16 and older. Prince George summers are short but generous. Days are long, afternoons are warm and the surrounding plateau is scattered with lakes. Within an hour’s drive you can swim off a sandy beach, cast for trout from a canoe or fall asleep in a lakeside campground. Here is where to go. ## What summer is like The July average high at the airport is about **22.6°C**, with warm spells above 30°C most summers, and nights that cool to around 9°C. June and July bring the most rain, often as short afternoon thunderstorms. At the end of June the sun is up for about **17 hours**. See the [climate guide](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/explore/climate/) and check the [weather dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/weather/) before you head out. ## Lakes within an hour | Lake | Distance | Best for | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | West Lake | 22 km southwest | Swimming, picnics, paddling | Provincial day-use park with beach and boat launch; motorboats kept outside marked zone | | Tabor Lake | Just east of the city | Paddling, fishing | Close to Tabor Mountain off Highway 16 | | Ness Lake | 35 km northwest | Family beach day | Regional park with beach, swimming area, picnic tables, boat launch | | Eskers lakes | 40 km northwest | Canoeing, quiet fishing, hiking | Provincial day-use park, no motorized access | | Bednesti Lake | About 45 min west | Fishing | Natural rainbow trout, whitefish, burbot and lake trout; launch at south end | | Purden Lake | 64 km east | Camping, beach, fishing | Provincial campground; stocked kokanee and rainbow trout | | Summit Lake | North on Highway 97 | Scenery, history | Sits on the Pacific–Arctic drainage divide | ### West Lake Provincial Park The closest provincial park to the city, on the Blackwater Road. It is **day-use only**, with a beach, picnic tables, fire pits, a group picnic area and a swimming area marked by floats (the bottom drops off abruptly). There is a boat launch, but motorboats must stay beyond the orange shore markers. Trails loop through the forest and are used for snowshoeing in winter. ### Ness Lake Regional Park A regional park about 35 km northwest via Highway 97 and Chief Lake Road, with a beach and designated swimming area, change houses, picnic tables, fire pits and a boat launch. It is a favourite family day trip. ### Purden Lake Provincial Park About **64 km east** on Highway 16, Purden is the go-to campground for Prince George families. It has a beach and day-use area, a separate boaters’ beach and a dog beach, lakeside walking trails and a boat launch. The lake is stocked each year with **kokanee and rainbow trout**, and also holds wild burbot. Be aware that Purden can whip up sudden, strong winds and whitecaps. Book sites through BC Parks reservations. ### Eskers Provincial Park For quiet water, head to **Eskers**, 40 km northwest. Its small lakes are ideal for canoes and kayaks, and **Camp and Kathie lakes** hold rainbow and brook trout, with kokanee in Camp Lake. Trails wind along gravel ridges left by the ice age. It is day-use only, with no fires or motors. ![A pink sunrise reflected in calm water at Crooked River Provincial Park](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/pink-sunrise-reflected-calm-water-crooked-river-provincial-fa7788-1280.webp) Sunrise at Crooked River Provincial Park, north of the city on Highway 97. Photo: Robert Bellefleur, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## Fishing The Omineca region around Prince George offers some of the most accessible lake fishing in BC. - **Licence:** Anglers 16 and older need a BC freshwater fishing licence, available online. - **Species:** Rainbow trout and kokanee are the most common targets; brook trout, lake trout, whitefish and burbot are found in some lakes. - **Stocking:** The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC stocks many local lakes; its website lists what was stocked where. - **Rivers:** River fishing has specific rules and closures, especially for salmon, sturgeon and bull trout. Always check current regulations. - **Ice fishing:** Many of the same lakes are popular in winter. ## Paddling - **Lakes** such as West Lake, Tabor Lake and the Eskers lakes are perfect for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. - **Rivers.** The Nechako and Fraser offer scenic paddles, but they are cold, fast and full of debris during freshet. Paddle them only with experience, a plan for take-out, and ideally with a local club or outfitter. Check the [rivers dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/rivers/) for current levels. - **Bigger trips.** The famous **Bowron Lake canoe circuit** is about three hours away. See [day trips](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/). ![Calm water on the Nechako River at Paddlewheel Park](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/calm-water-nechako-river-paddlewheel-park-prince-george-7d9111-1280.webp) The Nechako River at Paddlewheel Park: beautiful, but cold and fast. Photo: Trinisands, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## Camping - **Purden Lake Provincial Park** is the nearest large provincial campground. - Many **recreation sites** on Crown land offer rustic camping on smaller lakes; check Recreation Sites and Trails BC. - Farther afield, provincial parks near **Fort St. James**, **Vanderhoof** and the **Robson Valley** make great weekend destinations. ## Other summer highlights - **Huble Homestead**, 40 km north, a historic farm and trading post open in summer, and the **Giscome Portage** trail. - **BC Northern Exhibition** in August, the city’s big summer fair since 1912. - **Berry picking**: wild blueberries, raspberries and saskatoons ripen in mid to late summer. - **Evening walks** on the [Heritage River Trail](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/parks-and-trails/), when the light lasts past 10 p.m. in June. ## Summer safety - **Wildfire and smoke.** Check campfire bans and fire status with BC Wildfire Service, and watch the [wildfire](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/wildfire/) and [air quality](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/air-quality/) dashboards. - **Water.** Wear a lifejacket when boating; lakes stay cold below the surface. - **Wildlife.** Store food properly when camping in bear country. - **Bugs.** Mosquitoes and blackflies peak in June; bring repellent. ## Related - [Parks and trails](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/parks-and-trails/) - [Day trips from Prince George](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/) - [Geography and rivers](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/explore/geography-and-rivers/) ## Common questions **Where can I swim near Prince George?** West Lake Provincial Park (22 km southwest) and Ness Lake Regional Park (35 km northwest) have beaches with designated swimming areas. Purden Lake, 64 km east, has a large beach and campground. **Where can I camp near Prince George?** Purden Lake Provincial Park is the closest large BC Parks campground. Reserve through the BC Parks reservation system in peak season. West Lake and Eskers are day-use only. **What fish are in lakes near Prince George?** Common catches include rainbow trout, kokanee, brook trout, lake trout, whitefish and burbot, depending on the lake. Many lakes are stocked by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. **Can I swim in the Fraser or Nechako rivers?** It is not recommended. Both rivers are cold, fast and have strong currents and debris, especially during the spring and early summer freshet. ## Sources - [West Lake Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/west-lake-park/) - [Purden Lake Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/) - [Eskers Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/eskers-park/) - [Omineca's fishing highways (Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC)](https://www.gofishbc.com/learn/fishing-tips/where-to-fish/ominecas-fishing-highways-prince-george/) - [Fishing holes to cast your line in solitude (Move Up Prince George)](https://www.moveupprincegeorge.ca/blog/fishing-holes-cast-your-line-solitude) - [Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, Prince George Airport (ECCC)](https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html) ## Official links - [BC Parks: West Lake Park](https://bcparks.ca/west-lake-park/) - [BC Parks: Purden Lake Park](https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/) - [BC Parks: Eskers Park](https://bcparks.ca/eskers-park/) - [Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (GoFishBC)](https://www.gofishbc.com/) - [BC Wildfire Service](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status) ## On this page - [What summer is like](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#what-summer-is-like) - [Lakes within an hour](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#lakes-within-an-hour) - [Fishing](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#fishing) - [Paddling](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#paddling) - [Camping](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#camping) - [Other summer highlights](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#other-summer-highlights) - [Summer safety](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#summer-safety) - [Related](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/#related) ## Data Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/). ### Guide facts, FAQ and sources Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z. JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/visit/summer-and-lakes?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated - **summary**: Summer days are long, with about 17 hours of daylight in late June and average July highs near 23°C., West Lake (22 km) and Ness Lake (35 km) have day-use beaches close to town., Purden Lake Provincial Park, 64 km east, has a campground and is stocked with kokanee and rainbow trout., Eskers Provincial Park, 40 km northwest, offers quiet canoe lakes and 15 km of trails., A BC freshwater fishing licence is required for anglers 16 and older. - **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z #### faq | q | a | | --- | --- | | Where can I swim near Prince George? | West Lake Provincial Park (22 km southwest) and Ness Lake Regional Park (35 km northwest) have beaches with designated swimming areas. Purden Lake, 64 km east,… | | Where can I camp near Prince George? | Purden Lake Provincial Park is the closest large BC Parks campground. Reserve through the BC Parks reservation system in peak season. West Lake and Eskers are … | | What fish are in lakes near Prince George? | Common catches include rainbow trout, kokanee, brook trout, lake trout, whitefish and burbot, depending on the lake. Many lakes are stocked by the Freshwater F… | | Can I swim in the Fraser or Nechako rivers? | It is not recommended. Both rivers are cold, fast and have strong currents and debris, especially during the spring and early summer freshet. | #### officialLinks | label | url | | --- | --- | | BC Parks: West Lake Park | https://bcparks.ca/west-lake-park/ | | BC Parks: Purden Lake Park | https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/ | | BC Parks: Eskers Park | https://bcparks.ca/eskers-park/ | | Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (GoFishBC) | https://www.gofishbc.com/ | | BC Wildfire Service | https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status | #### sources | title | url | | --- | --- | | West Lake Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/west-lake-park/ | | Purden Lake Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/ | | Eskers Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/eskers-park/ | | Omineca's fishing highways (Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC) | https://www.gofishbc.com/learn/fishing-tips/where-to-fish/ominecas-fishing-highways-prince-george/ | | Fishing holes to cast your line in solitude (Move Up Prince George) | https://www.moveupprincegeorge.ca/blog/fishing-holes-cast-your-line-solitude | | Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, Prince George Airport (ECCC) | https://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_normals/index_e.html | --- Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/. Guide for AI agents: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/llms.txt. Free API: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/