Rolley Lake is a quaint 115 hectare park set in a beautiful woodland area. The area was once home to majestic stands of old-growth forests, but heavy logging in the early 1900s has unfortunately decimated these forests. Today it is a scenic lakeside park that offers many recreational activities.
This area was once inhabited the Coast Salish First Nations people. In 1888 James and Fanny Rolley, who the lake was named after, settled on the lake’s shores lived there for ten years. Then during the early 1900s, like much of British Columbia, the area became part of the booming logging industry. The lake was used as a holding pond for shingle bolts (short logs) that were destined for Stoltze mill 5km away at Ruskin. Later in the 1930s, the area became home to a small Japanese-Canadian hand logging operation. Today all logging activity has ceased completely, but remnants of the past remain scattered throughout the second-growth forests.
The park has a day-use/picnic area, children’s playground and a small beach, perfectly in keeping with the scale of the diminutive lake itself. It’s a welcome feature when camping in the park. A gentle walking trail runs around the perimeter of Rolley Lake, part of which includes a boardwalk that crosses a wetland at the lake’s west end. An astounding variety of birds can be spotted if you wait patiently here. Other good viewing spots are from the docks that jut out at several places around the lake. The lake is a tranquil area, as powerboats are not permitted on Rolley Lake. However canoes and kayaks are permitted on the lake so you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon paddling the soothing water of Rolley Lake.
At Rolley Lake Provincial Park, anglers have as much competition from blue herons as from each other. You can toss in a line from many points along a trail that runs around the perimeter of the lake, beginning from a modest beach and boat launch in the day-use parking lot. Docks jut out into the lake at several locations, from which anglers can toss in a line. Although the lake is well stocked early in the season with rainbow and cutthroat trout, it is often fished out by late summer. The catch limit is two per day.
The park has 64 vehicle/tent campsites that are set amongst stands of western hemlock and vine maple, providing privacy and shade. This campground provides excellent facilities including showers, flush toilets and a sani-station. The campground is also wheelchair accessible. There are some group campsites available, but reservations are required. Camping fees are collected from April to October.
The park is located 23km northwest of Mission. Take Highway 7 to Maple Ridge and turn north at 287th Street to Dewdney Trunk Road. Turn right onto Bell Road where you then make a left turn and travel north to the park.
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