The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit encompasses a 116 km chain of lakes, waterways and connecting portages. This wilderness canoe trip takes from 6 to 10 days to complete, depending on your time frame and skill level. For those looking for a shorter trip, the west side of the circuit can be paddled in 2 to 4 days.
Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a beautiful untouched wilderness in the western Cariboo Mountain Range. Contained within is a 116km Canoe Circuit that is world renowned for its unique shape, chain of lakes, short portages, and the unique feature that the traveler arrives at the same location where he or she began! Expect to spend between 6 and 10 days (maximum of 14 days) to complete the entire circuit. There is also a shorter “West Side Trip” available that usually takes between 2 and 4 days and allows the visitor to experience the incredibly beautiful Unna and Rum lakes and the 24m Cariboo River Falls. It is highly recommended that those who attempt the circuit have some wilderness canoeing experience.
IMPORTANT: Please bring a credit card with you when you come to pick up your rental. To ensure the safe return of our gear, we preauthorize a credit card for its entire value. This charge is cancelled when you return the canoe and gear.
You need to sign a waiver and have it with you at the day of your arrival. Get the WAIVER
Having proper equipment is a must in a backcountry area like Bowron Lake Circuit.
Typically, carrying too much gear is the number one regret. You want to travel as light as possible to make sure you have enough freeboard in your canoe(s). Bowron Lake can become windy and rainy. Hence leave everything at home what is not essential. List of essentials:
There are limited walk on spots available each day. It is best to reserve online at Discover Camping to ensure you can access the circuit.
Bowron Lake Park is located about 120 kilometers east of Quesnel. Drive north on Highway 97 through Quesnel, then follow signs onto Highway 26, which leads through Wells. Approximately 1km before the historic townsite of Barkerville, turn left onto the Bowron Lake Road. From there it’s another 27 km to the park entrance on a wide, well-graded dirt road where a 25 unit front country campground and the 116 km wilderness canoe circuit are located.
Quesnel is the last major town before Bowron Lake Circuit. If you need fuel, groceries or supplies. This is the town to get them.
After your last night on the Bowron Lake Circuit, please return your canoe(s) by 3 p.m to the same location where you picked them up.
Please do not just leave the canoe(s) without seeing our staff. There is a tap and hose provided to ensure the canoes are returned in a clean state to avoid an additional fee.
By completing a reservation and purchase, you are agreeing to the following conditions:
All canoe rentals are subject to a cancellation fee. Up to 8 days before your reservation start date, you will be refunded less a $50 administration fee. If you need to cancel within the 8 days before your departure date, 50% will be refunded. Rentals cannot be refunded on the date of departure.
IMPORTANT: Please bring a credit card with you when you come to pick up your rental. To ensure the safe return of our gear, we preauthorize a credit card for its entire value. This charge is cancelled when you return the canoe and gear.
You will be asked to sign a waiver when you pick up your rental. If you want to see a copy before renting, you can download our waiver.
We at BowronLakeCanoe.com and Bowron Lake Canoe Rentals will never release information stored on our site including but not exclusively emails, transaction information, or any other personal information to a third party. All information will be securely held and deleted at the request of a user.