Stay up-to-date with the Latest Park Advisories
We provide regular updates about park conditions. Review this page before your visit for the latest updates. For more information, review our visitor rules.
Open during operating hours
Lake Conditions
- Breezy, use caution on the lake. Yellow Flag.
Sales and Rentals
- Fishing rod rentals are available.
- Fat tire bike rentals are available. Online reservations can be made here.
- Stand-up paddleboard rentals are available. Online reservations can be made here.
- Canoe and kayak rentals are available. Online reservations can be made here.
- Electric boat rentals are no longer offered as a service at Island Lake Conservation Area. We are always reviewing and adjusting our services. Increased fluctuations in water levels are affecting our ability to ensure a high-quality and safe experience for visitors.
- Emerald Shiner minnows are temporarily available and worms are available for sale.
Activities
- Fishing from watercraft on the lake and shoreline fishing permitted from the southern shore; no fishing is permitted from any bridges, dams or from the Crane Gathering Site pier. Live bait from outside the conservation area is not permitted.
- Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Sunfish and Northern Pike are in season.
- Bass season opens on June 28, 2025.
- 2025 picnic bookings are now open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Reservations can be made at cvc.ca/picnics or by calling 1-800-367-0890 extension 7. Bookings are available between May 3rd and October 26th, 2025. Reservations can be made here online.
Trail Status
- Trail conditions are a mix of dry and wet. Proper footwear is recommended.
- The Vicki Barron Lakeside Trail between station markers 3 and 33 is uneven in sections.
Tales on the Trail
- ‘Watch It Grow’ by Barbara Reid is currently on display.
Special Events
- Island Lake Bass Fishing Derby: July 12 to 13, 2025.
- $7500 in cash prizes.
- Tickets are now available at islandlakederby.ca
Extended wait times from approximately 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends
- For best access to Island Lake Conservation Area, we recommend arriving before 1 p.m. on weekends. Extended wait times are common from approximately 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Construction Closure
- Due to construction, there are some fenced off areas near the picnic spaces by parking lot P4. Please stay out of the fenced areas. The ground surface may be uneven in this area and there are limited picnic tables available.