Camping at Cat Lake in the Paradise Valley near Squamish, BC

Hot sun. Cool wind. Crisp mountain water. The perfect remedy for a warm, Fall day’s hike is a dip in one of the Sea to Sky’s many lakes. If you’re looking for a quick fix hike or bike trail with the family while camping, think Cat Lake. Nestled in the stunning Paradise Valley, Cat Lake is one of the best swimming holes around, complemented with dusty outcrops to set up your picnic area and encircled with fun hiking and biking trails. The lake itself is set against the backdrop of the stunning snow-capped Tantalus mountain range, and is a little more remote than some of the other parks in the Squamish area. Cat Lake provides the out of the way recreational experience but only a stones throw from the main highway. The biking trail system in the area is filled with challenging mountain bike routes navigating around the Cat Lake and Cheekeye River – my advice is to get on them early before the crowds (usually before 11am) as speed and congestion make for a nasty combo!

Camping is plentiful here but set a good distance apart so it feels like you’ve got space and privacy. There’s a 1km walk to reach the campground, so tranquility is virtually guaranteed. We headed straight for the lake in our raft and two kayaks. If you don’t have your own, fret not, there are wooden home-made rafts on the shoreline at your disposal. Look a few metres down from the main beach and you’ll spot rope swings from the trees which provide all the entertainment you’ll need on a hot, sweltering day here. The lake is a popular party spot at weekends, so my advice is to head down from Monday to Wednesday and really experience the beauty this place has to offer.

For other camping opportunities go to http://www.campingrvbc.com/camping.

Published: September 19th, 2013