Hidden within the rugged landscapes of Monashee Provincial Park, Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake showcase a pristine subalpine landscape.
The lakes reflect the surrounding peaks, bright wildflowers bloom in the meadows and marmots chirp in the rockpiles.
From here, it is possible to explore further into the alpine and summit the park’s most prominent peak (Mount Fosthall, 2679m).
The journey to reach this area is challenging, with a tough hike up a headwall ascent required (800m in just 3km). But there are old-growth cedar forests and another very pretty lake (Spectrum) to admire along the way.
This post shares everything you need to know about hiking to Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake as a day hike from Spectrum Lake or as part of a subalpine backpacking trip.
The breakdown looks like this:
Little Peters Lake / Big Peters Lake
Location: Monashee Provincial Park, British Columbia
Distance: 10.7km / 13.6km (one-way)
Elevation gain: 1100m / 1220m
Hike type: Out and back
Time: 5 to 6.5 hours / 6 to 7.5 hours
Difficulty: Challenging with some easy sections
Dogs: Not permitted
Backcountry necessities
- Always bring the 10 Essentials
- Know how to stay safe in the backcountry
- Remember to Leave No Trace to help keep the wilderness wild
- Understand how to avoid negative bear encounters
- Trying out backpacking for the first time? Read Backpacking 101
- Check out our packing guide with gear recommendations
- Sign up to our newsletter for a free backpacking checklist
Published August 2024. This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of these links, I may receive a small percentage of the sale.
Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake, Monashee Provincial Park
Monashee Provincial Park protects over 20,000 hectares of wilderness in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. This area is the traditional territory of the Sinixt, Okanagan, Secwépemc, and the Ktunaxa.
Situated in the Monashee Mountains range, the park is significant for its collection of snow-capped peaks, ancient rock formations and old-growth forests.
Monashee Provincial Park is most visited by hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter. There is no vehicle access to the park – visitors must hike or ski in.
Little Peters Lake (1737m) and Big Peters Lake (1737m) are situated in the park’s subalpine area, uphill from the much more popular and accessible Spectrum Lake (975m).
Both lakes have first come, first serve campgrounds, which make them an ideal backpacking destination as well as a day trip objective from Spectrum Lake.
From Big Peters Lake, several unmaintained hiking routes go to Margie Lake (5km, easy), Fawn Lake (4km, moderate), South Caribou Pass (3km, difficult) and Mount Fosthall (5.2km, difficult).
After visiting Spectrum Lake a few years ago, the subalpine areas of Monashee Park were high on our list to explore.
We finally made it in July 2024 – a three-day trip with one night at Little Peters, a day hike to Big Peters and then a night at Spectrum Lake on the way out. While I would have loved to have seen more, a nearby wildfire pushed us to exit early (see below).
Access to the Spectrum Lake Trailhead is via Sugar Lake Road only.
At the time of writing (July 2024), there is a large wildfire on the eastern side of the lake, around Sitkum Creek, and the road is under evacuation alert. Look for updates on the BC Wildfire Service website.
Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake: Hike experience
Want to know what to expect when hiking in this area of Monashee Provincial Park? Read on for a detailed trail description for Spectrum Lake, Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake.
Expect to spend 2 to 2.5 hours hiking to Spectrum Lake and then around 3 to 4 hours to Little Peters Lake.
Hikers who decide to take the ‘side trail’ around Spectrum Lake should anticipate similar overall timing (5 to 6.5 hours from the parking lot to Little Peters).
It takes around one hour to hike between Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake.
Trailhead to Spectrum Lake Campground
The hike from the parking lot to Spectrum Lake is relatively straightforward – 6km with 275m elevation gain. The ascent is fairly gradual.
For more details, check out our dedicated Spectrum Lake guide.
At the 5km mark, there is a trail junction. Turn right to continue to Spectrum Lake. Turn left to take the slightly shorter ‘detour’ route around Spectrum Lake towards Little Peters Lake.
The final approach to Spectrum Lake is downhill. Once at the lake, take a moment to check out the mountain views from the floating platform before continuing north along the shoreline.
Note that the detour route to Little Peters that avoids Spectrum Lake Campground is less used and also seems to be less maintained.
There are some narrow sections with drop-offs. It is 2km long and includes 150m elevation gain, 80m loss (not too dissimilar to the Spectrum Lake route).
I’d recommend continuing to Spectrum Lake instead to enjoy an extended break there before tackling the climb to Little Peters.
Spectrum Lake Campground to Little Peters Lake Campground
While Little Peters Lake Campground is just 4.7km from Spectrum Lake, the journey features an impressive 800m elevation gain. It’s a bit of a grind.
The lakeshore trail first passes through the Spectrum Lake Group campground before climbing through a dark forest. After 1.3km, a junction will appear (this is where the detour route finishes). Turn right for Little Peters Lake.
The trail descends to a creek, with the route continuing on the other side. As of July 2024, there is no bridge. It was easy to rock-hop the creek during our visit. This is the last water source until Little Peters Lake.
The first 500m of the Little Peters Lake Trail offers some small ups and downs as it passes the 8km distance sign and some beautiful old-growth cedar trees (one of which has had a rock smash into it).
The real climb up the headwall begins after this point, with a short series of switchbacks. From here, it is uphill all the way.
The narrow rocky and rooty path winds through forest and overgrown foliage sections. There are a couple of rocky avalanche chutes to cross as well. I’d say that over half is shaded.
The views open up relatively quickly, with Mount Fosthall visible 1km from the trailhead. A waterfall can be seen cascading into the valley. For most of the way, a creek can be heard.
A second set of steep switchbacks heralds the beginning of the end of the climb. They last around 800m before levelling out.
At this point, the top of the headwall can be seen through the trees – not long to go now! Wildflowers line the trail as it starts descending to Little Peters.
The path arrives the lakeshore at the site of the old campground. Continue 200m further along the trail to reach the new campground.
Little Peters Lake to Big Peters Lake
The hike from Little Peters Lake to Big Peters Lake is a lot more mellow than the previous section! It is 2.9km one way with about 120m elevation gain (and a similar amount of loss).
The trail begins with a descent to a creek. The main metal bridge was damaged during our visit in late July 2024 (reported at the trailhead and website). There is an old wooden bridge as well, also damaged.
From my research, it seems that the bridge across this creek has been consistently damaged most winters for the last 15 years.
BC Parks does not recommend trying to cross the creek as it is hazardous. With water levels relatively low while we were there (and no rain forecasted), we chose to cross the creek at our own risk.
After the creek, the path starts to gradually climb, eventually levelling off after 1km. The next section meanders through subalpine meadows and patches of Engelmann spruce and fir trees.
The final 700m of the trail is all downhill, with the surface of Big Peters Lake shining through the trees.
There is a trail junction just before bridge over the second creek (Mount Fosthall/South Cariboo), with the campground on the other side.
Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake Hiking Guide
Get started with your backcountry trip planning with this Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake hiking guide!
Before going, we didn’t find a lot of information online about either lake. Now having visited, I can confirm that some of the details on the BC Parks page are outdated or incorrect (especially regarding Little Peters Campground).
The following guide is based on our July 2024 experience in the park.
Location
Monashee Provincial Park is located east of Vernon and northwest of Nakusp. There are two main entrances.
Most hikers access Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake via the Spectrum Lake Trailhead.
The Spectrum Lake Trailhead is northeast of Cherryville, a small community east of the city of Vernon. This is the last stop for gas before heading to Monashee Provincial Park.
Driving directions from Cherryville
- In Cherryville, turn off Highway 6 onto Sugar Lake Road. If you’re driving from Vernon, Sugar Lake Road is before the main access road to Cherryville
- Continue on Sugar Lake Road for 16km. Most of this section is paved, with the last 2km turning to gravel
- Stay left at the junction just before Sugar Lake. Cross the bridge and then continue for 21.5km.
- Look for a blue ‘Monashee Provincial Park’ sign on the right, indicating the turn-off onto Spectrum Creek FSR
- Continue for 1.3km. At the junction, turn right (again, look out for the blue signs). Stay on this main road for 12km
The roads beyond Cherryville are heavily used by industrial vehicles and there is active logging in the area. Stay alert and give way to all industrial traffic.
The unpaved portion of the Sugar Lake Road is usually maintained to a decent standard – it is wide, quite flat and generally clear of debris.
Spectrum Creek FSR is a narrower, less maintained road. It has some sections with uneven surfaces, some potholes and loose rock. The last 10km is uphill, with the final 3/4km being a little rougher than the rest.
Overall, however, the Spectrum Creek FSR is usually a pretty decent unpaved road. A vehicle with good tires and high clearance is preferable to avoid damage. Most hikers bring trucks or SUVs.
Driving distances/time:
Cherryville: 51km, 1 hour
Vernon: 104km, 1 hour 45 minutes
Kelowna: 104km, 2 hours 30 minutes
Driving distances/times are approximate and based on our own experience
Alternative route
It is also possible to access Big and Little Peters lakes via the Margie Lake Trailhead, on the eastern side of Monashee Provincial Park.
According to BC Parks, visitors should follow Highway 23 south from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay and then turn onto the Shelter Bay Forest Service Road.
Continue for 35km and then turn right onto North Fosthall Creek FSR. Follow for 17km and watch for the Sol Mountain Lodge signs. The route is maintained by the Lodge.
We will use this route the next time we visit the subalpine area of Monashee Provincial Park. In July 2024, there was a wildfire by Shelter Bay so access was not permitted.
Parking
The Spectrum Lake Trailhead has space for around 20 vehicles to park comfortably off the road, with additional space along it.
A single outhouse sits just beyond the parking lot in the forest (bring your own toilet paper).
There is trail signage with a map and trail information as well as recent alerts and advisories.
Fees and permits
Monashee Provincial Park is completely free to visit. Parking is free too.
Camping has a $5 per person, per night fee (6+ years and older). All campsites ar provided on a first-come, first-serve basis with no reservation system.
The best way to pay for a permit is via BC Parks’ online registration system. It is also possible to pay at the campground (cash only).
- Go to the BC Parks Camping website
- Select the ‘Backcountry’ tab
- Select ‘Backcountry Registration’ and then ‘Monashee’
- Enter arrival/departure dates and party size information and then ‘Search’
- On the map, select the green ‘Backcountry’ diamond below Spectrum Lake
- A sidebar should appear – select ‘Reserve’
- Complete the checkout process
Print out a copy of the permit and bring it with you to the park.
Keep in mind that despite the references to a ‘reservation’ during the booking process, backcountry camping permit registration is not the same as making a reservation! There are an unlimited number of permit registrations available in this park. Registering does not guarantee a campsite.
Campgrounds
Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake both host backcountry campgrounds.
Both campgrounds are $5 per person, per night fee, with no reservation system.
No campfires are allowed at Big Peters Lake or Little Peters Lake.
Of the two, I think Big Peters Lake is the most beautiful campground. It also has the best connections to other trails and routes in the area.
If I visited again, I would definitely stay at Big Peters Lake over Little Peters. I’d then spend at least one day exploring the subalpine – that is the main reason to come up here after all!
To break up the journey from the trailhead to the subalpine, consider a stop at Spectrum Lake Campground. Note that it can be very busy on weekends.
We camped at Spectrum Lake for one night on our way back. The lake is a lot warmer for swimming than either Big or Little Peters!
Little Peters Lake Campground
Little Peters Lake Campground is located on the southwestern corner of the lake and features four wooden tent pads, an outhouse and metal food cache.
Unlike most BC Parks’ tent pads, these ones are quite compact – I think they would only fit a two-person tent.
The campground is very small, with all the facilities on a slope above the lake. Most of the tent pads have views of the water. It’s possible to go swimming but there is no real beach.
The old Little Peters Lake Campground is situated on the northwestern side of the lake. It has two framed dirt tent pads only and no other facilities.
I’m not sure when the new campground was built – the BC Parks website information and maps do not reflect the change. To find the campground, walk along the shoreline and look for the large green metal food cache.
Big Peters Lake Campground
Big Peters Lake Campground is a sprawling camping area situated in an expansive meadow area on the southern side of the lake.
Upon reaching the area from Little Peters Lake, there are two framed dirt tent pads on the left-hand side. A rough trail continues towards the lake, where there are two more framed dirt tent pads (these are very overgrown).
Back at the main trail junction, the path continues across the meadows to a park information board. A wooden tent pad is located behind, for rangers’ use – it is available for use when staff are not present.
A bear hang pole is situated on the right-hand side of the rangers’ tent pad. To the left, trails lead to six more tent sites and the outhouse.
In July 2024, the outhouse was partially destroyed, with the top half of the building separated from the bottom.
The tent sites are quite scattered but most are close to the lake. 5 and 6 are framed dirt pads while 7, 8, 9 and 10 are wooden tent pads. 5, 9 and 8 enjoy the best lake views, with the latter two offering the best water access.
Best time to go
Little Peters Lake and Big Peters Lake are both situated at 1737m.
The campgrounds and trail between them are usually snow-free from mid-July to early October. The timing varies from year to year with recent weather and winter snowfall – the snow-free period may be longer or shorter.
The path from the Spectrum Lake Trailhead to Spectrum Lake is typically snow-free much earlier, from early June to early October.
With that in mind, expect the trail from Spectrum Lake to Little Peters Lake to have snow or at least patches of snow until early July (sometimes later).
We found lots of beautiful wildflowers in the subalpine in late July.
Navigation
The hiking trails in Monashee Provincial Park are established and mostly well-defined, particularly the section from the parking lot to Spectrum Lake.
There is signage at trail junctions, though most of the subalpine signs are damaged.
Bright orange diamond markers are attached to trees along the trail from the parking lot to Little Peters Lake. There are orange kilometre markers along most of the path as well.
The main route from the parking lot to Big Peters Lake is marked on our favourite trail app, Organic Maps. A map of the trail and campground can be found on the BC Parks’ website.
The trail up to Little Peters is on the rougher side. It’s still well defined in most areas but the foliage is quite overgrown in some sections. There are stinging nettles.
We did get lost once on our way to Little Peters. The hikers behind us did as well.
590m from the last junction (Little St Peters/Spectrum Lake), the path starts a steep switchback section. The first turn to the left is very sharp and is therefore easy to miss.
Many people, including us, have mistakenly continued straight ahead and onto a steep side route. The amount of people doing so has made the path look almost like a real one. Don’t make this error!
Difficulty
The first section of the hike, from the parking lot to the first junction, is an easy backcountry trail.
The path gradually gains elevation and features rocks, roots, uneven surfaces and the occasional fallen tree. In the spring, some parts can be a little muddy.
The final approach to Spectrum Lake is rated similarly and is mostly downhill.
The ‘shortcut’ side trail to Little Peters (avoiding Spectrum Lake), is slightly more difficult as it receives less use. Expect more fallen trees.
The trail from Spectrum Lake to Little Peters Lake is uphill almost the entire way, with the first section (approx 2km) featuring a slow, steady ascent. The final 2.7km is steep. The terrain is rocky and rooty with some loose/slippery surfaces
For a lot of people (especially if carrying backpacking gear), the hike up to Little Peters is a challenging and tiring hiking experience in both directions. It is a 2-3 uphill grind.
Experienced alpine hikers may rate the ascent moderate rather than difficult.
Little Peters Lake to Big Peters Lake is an easy backcountry trail. There are some hills in both directions as well as some flat sections. Expect the odd fallen tree.
Wildlife
Monashee Provincial Park is home to a vast array of animals including moose, black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, deer and mountain goats. The endangered mountain caribou and wolverine also live here.
To avoid negative wildlife interactions:
- Make noise to warn wildlife of your approach
- Carry bear spray, know how to use it and keep it accessible
- Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings
- Pack out everything you bring with you (including biodegradable items like banana peels and apple cores)
- Store food and smelly items properly when not in use, using the provided bear hangs and food caches
- Leave your dog at home. Dogs are not permitted in Monashee Provincial Park
- If you do see animals – keep your distance, don’t feed and always leave them with an escape route
For more information, check out our bear safety guide.
Safety information
Monashee Provincial Park is a remote mountainous wilderness area.
While Spectrum Lake is a popular camping destination (especially on the weekends), expect to see few other people in other areas.
To help stay safe, keep the following in mind:
- There is no phone signal on Clearwater/Azure lakes, or at the boat launch. We carried an InReach device in case of emergencies.
- Always tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to be back (check out our outdoor safety guide for more tips).
- Weather conditions can vary and change quickly in the subalpine. Bring warm clothing and plenty of layers. Snow is possible at any time of year. We wore warm hats in the evening and base layers at night in the subalpine.
- After the creek crossing near the start of the Little Peters Lake Trail, there is no water source until Little Peters Lake. Bring plenty of water (ideally 2l+ per person on a hot day)
- The bridge just south of Little Peters Lake is often damaged during the winter months. Crossing the creek without the bridge is hazardous, especially in early summer – BC Parks does not recommend it.
- The trail to Little Peters features some steep terrain. If you do not usually hike uphill for prolonged periods, you may find this very tiring.
- There may be snow on the trail until early July, sometimes later.
- Besides these hazards, it’s also important to be aware of wildlife, particularly bears (see previous section).
Before planning a trip, check the BC Parks page first for advisories and alerts.
Essential items
Carabiner for bear hang: As mentioned above, the Big Peters Lake Campground has a bear hang (as does the Spectrum Lake Campground). I’d recommend bringing a carabiner so you can secure your food bag properly.
Bear spray. Monashee Provincial Park is home to both grizzly and black bears. Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
Insect repellent. In late July, the mosquitoes and biting flies were pretty aggressive in the subalpine (not at Spectrum Lake). Be sure to bring your favourite insect repellent!
Toilet paper and sanitiser. Expect to find no toilet paper in any of the outhouses in this park.
Camping permit. Pre-pay for a camping permit online and print a copy to bring with you.
Hiking poles – The descent from Little Peters Lake to Spectrum Lake is steep. Hiking poles can help reduce knee pressure. We used Black Diamond’s Carbon Zs, which are super light and also pack down easily.
Fully inflated spare tire: The unpaved roads leading to the Spectrum Lake parking lot are in fairly good condition, but it’s a good idea to double-check your spare tire before heading out.
Other local hiking trails you may enjoy:
Pinnacle Lake Trail Guide, Cherryville
Twin Lakes Trail Guide, Cherryville
Enderby Cliffs Trail Guide, Enderby
9 Fast and Fun Hikes in Vernon
Hiking Pincushion Mountain, Peachland
Hiking the Myra Canyon Trestles, Kelowna
16 Fast and Fun Hikes in Penticton
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One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada