PURE LAKE TRAIL FEATURES:
Picnicking
Swimming
Family-friendly
ABOUT
Pure Lake Provincial Park was created in 1981 and covers approximately 142 hectares, completely encompassing Pure Lake within its boundaries. Located about 19 kilometres south of Masset and 25 kilometres north of Port Clements, along Highway 16, the park is popular with tourists and locals alike because it provides such easy access to a beautiful, calm and shallow lake.
You will see signage indicating the pullout to Pure Lake as you drive along Highway 16. There’s ample parking here for several vehicles. A single pit toilet is nearby.
To access Pure Lake Trail, you must hike a short trail of approximately 329 meters (one-way). It only takes about 3 minutes to reach the lake, but please note that sections of this trail can and do get quite muddy – especially after some rainfall. Once you reach the terminus point of the trail, you’ll come upon a small sandy beach and, of course, the lake. This is a popular day-use area for picnics and swimming. As such, you’ll find 5 picnic tables and 2 fire pits. Unfortunately, there is no formal trail system allowing further exploration of the lake. Thick underbrush and salal dominate the immediate landscape.
While Pure Lake is wildly popular during the warmer summer months, it is also a destination during the cold winters. Because the lake is so shallow, it’s not uncommon for it to completely freeze over. If conditions are right, you can walk right out onto the lake! Locals will typically visit Pure Lake during the winter to ice skate.
DIFFICULTY: Easy
TOTAL DISTANCE: 658 meters (return)
TIME: 6 minutes (return)
TYPE: Out-and-Back
ELEVATION GAIN: None