Here's what you need to know:
Murtle Lake is accessed by travelling highway 5 to Blue River and then following a twisting, rough gravel road 27 km to the portage parking lot. This is where you leave your vehicle, and transfer your gear down a "wheelchair accessible" 2.5 km trail to the lagoon launch, WHERE YOU PAY YOUR CAMPING FEES at the self registration station.

Camping fee is currently: 5 DOLLARS PER PERSON PER NIGHT
(Kids under 13 free), in Cash, in Advance - No credit cards!

The lake is still a further 1.5 km away, but you can paddle through the lagoon to it.  If you're hiking into campsite 1 for an overnight stay or just a look at part of the lake, you've got another short walk to make.

Useful Info

Useful tip 1
Get a Canoe cart, but get a good one.  It'll take a lot of the work out of the portage job. You can rent a welded one from a couple of places in Blue River (see links), and they're well worth the small fee. No offense to MEC, but generally the carts they sell have wheels too small for the task at hand... A 12 inch diameter minimum wheeled cart is best for this trail. Bigger wheels are better!

Useful tip 2
June, July and September are the quiet months.  August is the busiest month by far, because the weather is traditionally better. If the forecast is good, come in June or September to avoid the bugs and people.

Useful tip 3
How to flag down the PFO Boat Patrol. Put your paddle straight up in the air, they move it quickly left to right. That usually gets our attention. Waving a life jacket from shore works well too.

Useful tip 4
Use the Park Patrol to your advantage. The
PFO staff are on the lake every day in the only powerboat you will encounter on Murtle Lake. They can travel much faster than you, and have current knowledge of which campsites are busy and which ones are free. They also usually know the weather forecast, fishing conditions, about firewood, where that big group of kids is camped and other info that may affect your plans (Not to mention the fact they're very friendly).

Useful tip 5
Bring an Axe
Hatchets are a waste of time. Any cut firewood you may come across will require at least an axe to split. Be careful, Medical Attention could
be DAYS away!

Some basic rules you should know:

1. Absolutely no dogs or other pets at Murtle Lake, or on any trails to the lake.

2. No glass containers

3. No commercial guided groups - if in doubt of your status contact us.

4. No chainsaws, no firearms.

5. No cutting of standing or live trees. We supply limited firewood for you for free.

What do you do in an
emergency?
Get in touch with the PFO Staff, either on the lake or at their cabin near site 4. The PFO staff have radio communication with emergency services, and have a detailed plan for dealing with Medivacs, forest fires, and other problems.

The Stats:
Camping locations: 19 (shows 20 on map, but #19 does not exist and Fairyslipper Island is closed)
Capacity: 70 or so canoes (2-4 people each)
What's there: fire rings, outhouses, bear-proof food caches
Hot spots: Leo Island, Tropicana, Strait Creek
Average number of parties per night: 10 June/Sept; 20 July; 45 August
Things not to miss:The West Arm, the far North Arm, fishing, loons, and at least one hike!