A remote alpine cabin and wilderness camping area in the Tenquille Lake to Owl Lakes Recreation Area. Use this page to plan your booking, understand the cabin and tent site rules, review access information, and prepare for travel in remote mountain terrain.
Please read this before reserving the cabin or tent sites. The Tenquille Lake Cabin and Tenquille tent sites are available by reservation only. You must have a confirmed reservation before arriving, and you must bring proof of booking to show the Tenquille Site Operator.
There is no cell service at the cabin or tent sites. Do not rely on being able to book, change plans, contact the site operator, or call for help once you are in the area.
The recreation site offers two different overnight options. Choose the cabin if you want shared indoor accommodation. Choose a tent site if you are camping at Tenquille Lake.
Best for: Shared indoor overnight accommodation
Best for: Camping at Tenquille Lake Recreation Site
Háwint, also known as Tenquille Lake, is within the unceded territory of the Líl̓wat Nation and has high cultural significance. Past and present, Líl̓wat Nation and N’Quatqua citizens access the area to carry out cultural practices and connect with their territory.
The Tenquille Lake area also provides important habitat for grizzly bear, black bear, mountain goat, wolverine, wolf, deer, and other wildlife. Please travel carefully, stay on established trails, pack out everything you bring in, and respect the land, cabin, tent sites, and other visitors.
The Tenquille Lake Cabin was rebuilt in 2011 through a major community effort led by Pemberton Wildlife Association members and local volunteers. The cabin is provided as a public service for backcountry mountaineers and the general public, and is intended for non-commercial recreational use only.
The PWA helps maintain the cabin, trails, and camps within the Tenquille Lake to Owl Lakes Recreation Area through an agreement with the Provincial Government. Volunteer work and visitor fees help support trail clearing, repairs, supplies, cabin upkeep, and site maintenance.
Tenquille Lake has 9 reservable tent sites for visitors who want to camp in the recreation area rather than stay inside the cabin.
Tent sites are available by reservation only. You must have a confirmed reservation before arrival, and you must bring your booking confirmation to show the site operator. There is no cell service at the cabin or tent sites, so do not expect to book, change, or confirm your reservation after arriving in the area.
Each tent site is limited to 2 tents and 4 adults. Drop-in visitors are not permitted. The maximum number of consecutive booking nights is 10.
Tent site bookings are listed as open from June 15 to October 31. The Tenquille area is often snow covered until late June, and snow can arrive again in October, so visitors need to plan for mountain conditions even during the posted camping season.
Please do not bring pets, horses, mountain bikes, motorbikes, ATVs, or commercial groups.
Do not leave food, garbage, propane canisters, wrappers, or personal items behind. The site does not have garbage removal. If you packed it in, you must pack it out.
Please keep the cabin clean and tidy. Leave muddy boots outside, sign the journal, and do not write on or carve into the walls, tables, or other cabin surfaces.
Make room for everyone who has a reservation. The cabin is shared accommodation with communal sleeping space, so work together and respect people who want to sleep.
Close all windows and secure the door when leaving the cabin.
Propane stoves are provided for cooking. Bring your own 1 lb green propane canisters.
Use the stoves on the tables, not on the birch countertop. The kitchen supplies, including cutlery, plates, pots, and pans, must stay inside the cabin.
Cooking outside over an open fire is not permitted.
The sink drains into a bucket under the sink. Do not let the bucket overflow. Dump grey water in the designated area west of the cabin and look for the sign marking the grey water dumping area.
Clean up before leaving. Pack out all garbage, food, food wrappers, and propane canisters.
The wood stove is for heat only. Do not use it for cooking.
Use the stove only when necessary, such as in wet or cold conditions. A brief fire can keep the well-insulated cabin warm for a long time. All-day fires waste firewood and can make the loft too hot to sleep.
Firewood is provided. Burn only clean, dry wood. Do not burn building materials stacked near or under the cabin.
Do not gather firewood from the immediate or surrounding area.
The cabin has solar LED lighting. Use it sparingly.
Turn off main floor, loft, and outside lights when they are not needed. Consider bringing your own LED or propane lantern to preserve solar power.
No boots upstairs. Help keep the sleeping area clean and protect the ladder and loft.
Guests are responsible for daily cleanup and for leaving the cabin clean at departure. Cleanup is not the responsibility of the site operator.
There is no garbage removal at the cabin or recreation site. Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps, wrappers, and green propane bottles.
Quiet hours are 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
The cabin is for active people and families using the area for mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, hunting, fishing, and wilderness appreciation. It is not a party cabin.
Campfires are not permitted at the Tenquille Recreation Site.
Dogs, pets, and horses are not permitted in the Tenquille Lake Recreation Site, cabin, or tent sites. Registered Guide Dogs for the visually impaired are exempt.
Discharge of firearms is prohibited within any BC Recreation Site. Commercial use is not permitted.
Tent sites are available by reservation only. Bring proof of your booking and be prepared to show it to the site operator.
There is no cell service at the recreation site, so reservations must be made before you arrive.
There are 9 tent sites. Each site is limited to 2 tents and 4 adults.
Do not exceed your site capacity. Drop-in visitors are not permitted.
This is bear country. Campers are responsible for keeping their tent site clean and storing food properly.
Food must be kept well away from tents and stored in the food cache lockers provided. There are two food cache lockers available.
Keep your tent site clean during your stay and leave it clean when you depart.
There is no garbage removal service at the recreation site. Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps, wrappers, and propane bottles.
Urine-diverting toilets are available. Bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Quiet hours are 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
The tent sites are for active people and families using the area for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, and wilderness appreciation. They are not party sites.
Campfires are not permitted at the Tenquille Recreation Site.
Verify before publishing: The old booking system also mentions a social fire pit and wood available from the site operator. That wording should be checked because it appears to conflict with the no-campfires rule.
Dogs, pets, and horses are not permitted in the Tenquille Lake Recreation Site, cabin, or tent sites. Registered Guide Dogs for the visually impaired are exempt.
Mechanized use is prohibited, including mountain bikes, motorbikes, and ATVs.
Commercial use of the cabin and tent sites is not permitted. This includes guided groups, fee-for-service recreation, film groups, product advertising, and business use.
Use the interactive map to review the Tenquille Lake Cabin area, trail routes, access points, and surrounding recreation area before you leave.
There is no cell service at the cabin or tent sites. Save or print the information you need before departure and carry proper navigation tools. Mountain weather changes quickly, trails may be snow-covered, and access roads can require a suitable vehicle.
Branch 12 is the more direct route to Tenquille Lake, but access requires the right vehicle and road conditions.
You need a 4×4 vehicle with good clearance to reach the Branch 12 trailhead. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to get to the trailhead from Pemberton.
The Lillooet River trailhead is easier to reach by vehicle, but the hike itself is longer and steeper.
The trail ascends steep, rocky terrain for the first few kilometres, then gradually follows the contour of the landscape before crossing Wolverine Creek and joining the route toward Tenquille Pass.
The Tenquille Lake to Owl Lakes Recreation Area is a 730-hectare wilderness area with four main trails totalling more than 50 km, plus secondary side-trip trails.
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6 km one way
This trail is generally moderate, with some steeper sections. It leads around the south side of Goat Peak, ascends the upper Wolverine Creek drainage, crosses through Tenquille Pass, and descends to Tenquille Lake.
High avalanche danger can exist in winter and spring through Tenquille Pass. From spring to mid-summer, use caution when crossing snow bridges over creek gullies.
Difficulty: Moderate, long and steep
Distance: 9.5 km one way
This route is easier to access by vehicle, but more demanding on foot than the Branch 12 route. It winds through open forest, offers views of the Lillooet River valley, crosses small seasonal streams and meadows, and joins the Branch 12 route after Wolverine Creek.
Difficulty: Short and easy, slight elevation gain
Distance: 2.5 km one way to the first of three small lakes
The Chain Lakes Trail is an easier hike through timber to the first lake, where there is a small wilderness campsite. The route continues to the third lake and can be extended toward the remains of an old trapper’s cabin.
Difficulty: High
Distance: 25 km plus the distance from Tenquille Lake out to your chosen exit trailhead
This is a multi-day traverse requiring a good map, GPS, navigation skills, strong fitness, and proper backcountry gear. A minimum of 4 to 5 days is recommended.
Travel in the Tenquille Lake area is at your own risk. There is no cell phone coverage. Mountain weather is unpredictable, and you may encounter snow, avalanche terrain, black bears, grizzly bears, cougars, wolves, and other wildlife.
Prepare carefully before leaving. Bring proper clothing, food, water, footwear, map, GPS, extra batteries, whistle, bear spray, first aid supplies, and a satellite communication device. Do not hike alone, and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
Snow may be present on trails from late October to early July at higher elevations. Winter and spring travel can involve serious avalanche risk. Check Avalanche Canada before attempting winter or spring trips.
Stay on established trails. Mechanized use is prohibited, including mountain bikes, motorbikes, and ATVs.
Pack out everything you pack in. Food remains, wrappers, and garbage can attract wildlife and create safety problems for future visitors.
Yes. The cabin and tent sites are available by reservation only. You must have a confirmed reservation before arrival and bring proof of booking to show the site operator.
Cabin and tent sites normally open for bookings 60 days before the arrival date at 5:00 pm, with prepayment required at booking. Verify the current tent site booking window before publishing because the old system included a temporary 30-day tent site note.
No. You do not need to be a PWA member to stay at the cabin or tent sites.
Check-in is 3:00 pm or later. Check-out is 11:00 am.
No. The cabin has communal sleeping quarters in the upper loft.
No. The cabin and tent sites are not within cellular range. A satellite communication device is strongly recommended for emergencies.
No. Dogs, pets, and horses are not permitted in the Tenquille Lake Recreation Site, cabin, or tent sites. Registered Guide Dogs for the visually impaired are exempt.
Campfires are not permitted at the Tenquille Recreation Site. Verify the old system’s separate social fire pit note before publishing.
No. There is no garbage removal. Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps, wrappers, and propane canisters.
No. Commercial use is not permitted. This includes guided groups, fee-for-service recreation, film groups, business purposes, product advertising, and similar uses.
No helicopter access is permitted within the Tenquille Recreation Area without prior written permission from the District Recreation Officer.
No. Mechanized use is prohibited, including mountain bikes, motorbikes, and ATVs.
The Pemberton Wildlife Association and community volunteers help maintain the Tenquille Lake Cabin, trails, tent sites, and recreation area. Donations help support materials, equipment, repairs, supplies, and ongoing stewardship work.
