Cranbrook, BC : North Star Lake Recreation Site
East Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada

North Star Lake Recreation Site is a wilderness recreation site located southeast of the community of Cranbrook in the East Kootenay region in British Columbia, Canada. The recreation site is situated south of Jaffray in a forest of ponderosa pine on the shores of North Star Lake.

The small recreation site is a two tiered campground with a small day use park. The lower tier of campsites rest on the shores of the lake and have lake access. The top tier backs onto the forest with views of the lake. They tend to be more private.

Each campsite includes a picnic table and fire pit. Other amenities of the North Star Recreation Site include a roof top boat launch, small pier and pit toilets. No motorized boats are permitted on the lake. Also at the far end of the site is a small log adventure playground.

The wilderness recreation destination is a self serve campground and day use area. Self serve means you must pack out what you pack in. Leave no trace behind so others may enjoy the lake also.

The lake is stocked annually with Kootenay Trout. Fishing is best enjoyed by paddle and trolling. However, the lake is shallow and does have muddy shores so deep sections are few. Fishing can be a challenge at this lake.

Some activities enjoyed at the North Star Recreation Site includes swimming, boating, canoeing, camping, birdwatching and kayaking. Birding is good here with waterfowl and songbirds often visiting the lake and surrounding forest.

How to Get to North Star Lake Recreation Site:

Travel to the community of Cranbrook, BC. From Cranbrook travel Highway #3/93 south to Jaffray. Look for the Jaffray-Barnes Forest Service Road. Travel down the road and look for the North Star Recreation Site sign on your left. The gravel roads are good enough for RVs and trailers.