Bear Lake & northern lakes / Full trip pack
Carp Lake campground
A remote frontcountry base for lake recreation and short interpretive walks. Supplies are back at McLeod Lake, so arrive prepared rather than expecting a resort or village at the campground.
1. Getting there and parking
From Highway 97 at McLeod Lake, approximately 141 km north of Prince George, take the Carp Lake park access road. The main campground is about 32 km from the community. The gravel road is narrow in places, with tight corners, rough surfaces and industrial traffic. Spring breakup can make it unsuitable for some cars or trailers; check current conditions rather than relying only on the approximate two-hour drive quoted by BC Parks.
- From Highway 97 at McLeod Lake, take the Carp Lake access road.
- Allow for roughly 32 km of gravel to Kettle Bay at Carp Lake; War Lake is a separate campground near the eastern park entrance. Parts of the road are single lane, rough and shared with industrial traffic.
Road and vehicle: BC Parks warns that spring breakup can make the approach unsuitable for cars or trailers. The road has narrow sections and tight corners.
2. At the campsite
Use the campground’s designated access to the lakeshore, picnic shelter and trail system. A roughly 3 km interpretive loop connects the campground with Rainbow Lake and the McLeod River, while separate beach approaches take longer than simply stepping out of a campsite. The lake is exposed to strong wind and rough water; boat-launch access is not a guarantee of suitable paddling conditions. Before settling in, check the current campsite allocation and service notices, including water status. Keep the road and launch clear for other visitors. The park’s island camps are a different boat-access camping option, not additional drive-in sites.
Location map
Published locations only. A complete route line is still needed.
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carp Lake campground main campground reference at Kettle Bay; precise entry unverified | 54.823410 -123.349280 | OSMway543991419 maps KettleBayCampground on CarpLake; BC Parks identifies main campground and interpretive loop departing there.
Campground reference, not exact trail start or driveway. Replaces broad park map centre previously used. https://mapcarta.com/W543991419 |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
Kettle Bay accepts tent and RV campers, with reservations available for part of the campground. The official text says 90 sites while its current inventory says 60 vehicle sites; confirm the selected site in the booking system rather than relying on either total. The listed 2026 season was May 15–September 15.
Water
Seasonal taps and hand pumps are listed. Taps are turned off outside the operating season.
Toilets
The park provides pit toilets rather than flush toilets.
Winter route
BC Parks describes winter access with no regular services and camping at the picnic shelter. This is different from operating-season campsite facilities.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
Reservations and current availability
Check the operator’s current rules, opening dates and booking requirements for your chosen campsite or cabin.
Your trip notes
________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________