Hartley Lake is a recreation lake in the backcountry forests located north of the community of Fernie, BC in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The small lake is a popular destination for fishing and camping.

Hartley Lake also acts as an overnight base camp for off roaders exploring the vast network of gravel roads located in the surrounding mountains. During the winter months these same roads are used for snowmobiling.

Hartley Lake is a wilderness campground and day use site with two campsites located on the shores of the lake. The site includes a picnic table, fire pit, roof top boat launch and a pit toilet. Room is very limited.

The recreation lake is a self maintained site. It is important to pack out what you pack in and leave no footprint of your visit. The local rod and gun club are responsible for the site, but in the end it is you who need to be responsible.

Just up the gravel road from Hartley Lake is the Three Sisters Hiking Trail and on your drive back from Hartley Lake, heading back to Fernie, is another hiking adventure named the Mount Hosmer Hiking Trail.

How to Get to Hartley Lake:

Travel to the community of Fernie, BC in the East Kootenays. Continue traveling north on Highway #3 through Fernie. Cross the Elk River and on your left is Dickens Road. Turn here. Continue on Dickens to the Hartley Lake FSR (Forest Service Road). Turn onto the gravel road and continue driving. Be aware as the road is narrow. At about the 7-8 kilometre mark look for the lake on your left side. The entrance road was not signed on our visit.