ABOUT LOON LAKE
Loon Lake sits on the Bonaparte Plateau north of Cache Creek. The turnoff is on Highway 97 about 20 km north of Cache Creek, and Loon Lake Road, an all-weather road, follows the lake from there. From Kamloops it is about a two-hour drive. It is in Electoral Area E of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
The lake covers about 7 square kilometres and is up to 65 metres deep, with rainbow trout, and resorts have operated here since the 1930s. About 200 people live here year round, and the population grows to more than 1,000 in summer. Most properties are lake cabins on smaller lots, with some year-round homes. The 2017 Elephant Hill fire burned about 60 buildings at Loon Lake.
LOON LAKE LISTINGS
Listed by REMAX Kamloops
Listed by REMAX Kamloops
Listed by Landquest Realty Corporation
Listed by Engel & Volkers Kamloops
Listed by REMAX Kamloops
Listed by Macdonald Realty
Loon Lake
Area Guide
The practical answers on Loon Lake, from a rural REALTOR who has lived on a lake at Pinantan since 2008.
Contact JeremiaWhere is Loon Lake?
On the Bonaparte Plateau north of Cache Creek. Turn off Highway 97 about 20 km north of Cache Creek and follow Loon Lake Road, an all-weather road, along the lake. From Kamloops it is about a two-hour drive. Loon Lake is in Electoral Area E of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. Policing comes from Clinton, and the nearest hospital is in Ashcroft.
Who lives at Loon Lake?
About 200 people year round, growing to more than 1,000 in summer. Most buyers want a cabin or summer place on a fishing lake, and some want quiet year-round living. It is too far for a daily commute to Kamloops. For a lake closer to town, see Paul Lake.
What is the lifestyle like?
Lake life. Loon Lake is about 7 square kilometres and up to 65 metres deep, with rainbow trout, and resorts have operated here since the 1930s. Historic Hat Creek is at the junction of Highways 97 and 99, Chasm Provincial Park and its layered lava canyon are north of Clinton, and Juniper Beach Provincial Park on the Thompson River is east of Cache Creek.
What are the properties like?
Mostly lake cabins on smaller lots, with some year-round homes. Servicing varies: some properties draw water from the lake, others have wells, and some cabins use composting toilets instead of septic. Zoning is set by the TNRD, and docks on Crown foreshore may need provincial authorization.
Schools and services
Schools are in School District 74 (Gold Trail), including Cache Creek Elementary (K to 7), Desert Sands Community School in Ashcroft (K to 12) and David Stoddart School in Clinton (K to 12). Confirm the catchment for a specific address. The TNRD runs a small Loon Lake community water system from a shallow well, and advisories have been issued on it, so check the current status. The 2017 Elephant Hill fire burned about 60 buildings and the fire hall at Loon Lake, so wildfire history is part of every purchase here.
Discover Loon Lake
Things to Do & See
Rainbow trout fishing on Loon Lake
View Activities
Chasm Provincial Park: a layered lava canyon north of Clinton
View Activities
Historic Hat Creek at Highways 97 and 99
View Activities
Juniper Beach Provincial Park on the Thompson River
View Activities
WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT THINK TO ASK
At Loon Lake the questions are about water, waste and fire history. Find out whether the property is on the community water system, a lake intake or a well, and whether a lake intake has a water licence. Ask whether there is a septic system or a composting toilet, and for the records. If the cabin was built or rebuilt after the 2017 fire, ask for the permits. After 18 years in construction, I look at the foundation, the roof and how the cabin is heated first. Then check the dock's provincial authorization, winter access and internet options for the exact address. I am not a licensed home inspector, and a qualified professional inspection is always recommended before any purchase.
Huxley
Jeremia Huxley is a REALTOR with Stonehaus Realty Corp., based in Pinantan Lake, BC, who specializes in rural, acreage and lake properties around Kamloops and the Thompson region, including Loon Lake. He has 9 years of real estate experience and 18 years prior experience in construction. He is not a licensed home inspector. Contact: 250-571-0379.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers about buying a cabin or home at Loon Lake.
On the Bonaparte Plateau north of Cache Creek. Turn off Highway 97 about 20 km north of Cache Creek and follow Loon Lake Road along the lake.
About a two-hour drive, by way of Cache Creek.
Yes. Loon Lake has rainbow trout, and resorts have operated on the lake since the 1930s.
The TNRD runs a small community water system from a shallow well, and other properties use lake intakes or private wells. Advisories have been issued on the community system, so check the current status and confirm the water source for each property.
The water source, whether the property has septic or a composting toilet, internet options, winter access and wildfire history. The 2017 Elephant Hill fire burned about 60 buildings at Loon Lake. A qualified home inspection is recommended before any purchase.
REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS
Buying or selling rural property raises questions that city listings never do: wells, septic, who plows the road, what the ALR allows.
The blog takes them one at a time, in plain language, from someone who has lived on rural property since 2008.