BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia
Pinto Lake
BC Recreation Sites · British Columbia, Canada
- Sites
- 2
- Hookups
- 2 no hookups
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,196 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Nearest town
- Tatla Lake
- Activities
- Picnicking, Viewing, Camping
About
Pinto Lake recreation site provides a picturesque location for a picnic or overnight stay that is conveniently located along the famous Highway 20 in the Chilcotin region. Pinto Lake is a small, shallow lake that is often a pretty green color. From here you can admire the spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks in the Niut Range of the Coast Mountains to the southwest, including Niut (?Eniyud) Mountain, White Saddle Mountain, Butler Peak, Razorback, and Blackhorn Mountain. Because Pinto Lake is quite small and shallow, it is not suitable for boats, but kayaks, paddleboards, canoes or other small self-propelled vessels are an excellent way to explore the crystal clear waters of this small lake on a warm and sunny day. Other nearby lakes along this stretch of Highway 20 that also host free public recreation sites include Tatla Lake, Pyper Lake and Eagle Lake, each offering unique views and experiences that are sure to complement your visit to the Chilcotin.
Road access. Maintained to Recreation Sites and Trails BC standards by a partner or contractor. Facilities on file: toilets, picnic tables, fire rings. First come, first served.
Getting there: Located off Highway 20, about 5.5 km east of the community of Tatla Lake. The access road into the Pinto Lake recreation site is actually part of the old highway.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 16° | -31° | 40° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 13° | -24° | 46° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 38° | 18° | -10° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 43° | 29° | 14° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 56° | 36° | 28° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| June | 62° | 43° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 70° | 51° | 41° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 73° | 53° | 43° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 64° | 45° | 33° | 82° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 46° | 32° | 26° | 68° | 9 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 24° | 2° | 48° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 29° | 14° | -21° | 39° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Tatla Lake / Tatl'ah · BC Recreation Sites · 2 mi · 5 sites
- Eagle Lake West / Lhuy Nachasgwen Gunlin · BC Recreation Sites · 3 mi · 4 sites
- Cochin Lake / Gwedzin · BC Recreation Sites · 10 mi · 5 sites
- Sapeye Lake · BC Recreation Sites · 11 mi · 8 sites
- Horn Lake · BC Recreation Sites · 11 mi · 14 sites
All public campgrounds in British Columbia · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-09-10. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.