Travelling east up the Fraser Canyon on the Trans Canada Highway, Cultus Lake is the closest provincial park east of downtown Vancouver (100 kms), and just a short 10 kilometres south of Chilliwack.

This breathtaking provincial park and resort area is one of the primary summertime destinations in southern British Columbia, and has been amongst the most popular tourist areas in the Fraser Valley for more than a century.

Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a whole season of relaxation, Cultus Lake is a remarkable retreat. Its crystal-clear waters shimmer off gently sloping sandy shores, beckoning to swimmers, sail-boarders, sailors, and water skiers.

Those who like their adventures wet and wild can challenge themselves at the huge waterpark or by taking one of the many offered rafting trips for an unforgettable journey down the Chilliwack River. And when it's time to dry off, there's plenty to do back on terra firma. Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, trail riding on horseback or mountain bike, or maybe just taking a leisurely round or two at Cultus Lake's two excellent golf courses.

Long before its recreational use by Chilliwack's European settlers, Cultus Lake served for centuries as a popular spot for spirit quests by the local Sto:lo First Nation. So popular in fact, that by the 18th century, the lake's spiritual powers had diminished such that the Chinook word Cultus, meaning worthless, was ascribed to it.

Cultus Lake Park was founded in 1924, with about 200 summer cottages being built on leased land along the western lakeshore by 1930. Until the 1950s, the increased traffic was handled by a one-lane road. When Cultus Lake became a provincial park in the 1950s, the road developed into the present-day Columbia Valley Highway.

Further along the Columbia Valley Highway is picturesque Columbia Valley, where some of the first families settled around 1890. Always the site of mixed farming, Columbia Valley's true origins are in logging. Most of today's roads through the Columbia Valley are built on top of old logging roads.

Conveniently close to the Vancouver area and a fine showcase for B.C.'s natural beauty, Cultus Lake is a great summertime destination.