BCTROUTFINDEROpen the app

Elbow Lake

MU 5-15, Cariboo
52.2305° N, 120.8278° W

Map of Elbow Lake: the shoreline from the BC Freshwater Atlas, the roads round it from the BC Digital Road Atlas and the recreation site.120°53′W120°52′W120°51′W120°50′W120°49′W52°13.5′N52°14′N52°14.5′N52°15′NElbow LakeElbow Lake rec site7 campsites, 50 m to shore05001 kmNMap of Elbow Lake: the shoreline from the BC Freshwater Atlas, the roads round it from the BC Digital Road Atlas and the recreation site.120°50′W52°13′N52°14′N52°15′NElbow LakeElbow Lake rec site7 campsites, 50 m to shore01 kmN
WaterRoadRough surface roadRec siteShoreline from the BC Freshwater Atlas, roads from the BC Digital Road Atlas, under the Open Government Licence, British Columbia. Rec site position from BC Recreation Sites and Trails, checked 9 September 2026. The lake's depth is not drawn on this map.
Surface area
342.5ha
Maximum depth
125.6m
412 ft
Elevation
909m
Campsites
7
At Elbow Lake rec site

Open Elbow Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.

Elbow Lake at a glance

Region
Cariboo
Management unit
MU 5-15
Species
Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Bull Trout, Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1971)The province's newest fish record here is from 1971.Species from the province's fish observation records and angling reports.
Lake size
Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
Coordinates
52.230494, -120.8278

Affiliate link: we may earn a commission

Gear for rainbow trout

Lines, leaders, lures and flies for rainbow trout, searched on Amazon.ca.

Search Amazon.ca

As an Amazon Associate, BC Trout Finder earns from qualifying purchases.

Fish on record at Elbow Lake

Species in the Province's fish observation records
SpeciesFirst recordedLast recordedRecords
Whitefish (General)197119711

A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.

Elbow Lake fishing regulations

We have no lake specific regulations on file for Elbow Lake yet.

Getting to Elbow Lake

Coordinates: 52.230494, -120.8278

Camping and rec sites at Elbow Lake

  • Elbow Lake
    Campsites
    7 designated
    To the shore
    50 m

    Access: From Horsefly, follow the 100road to 126km, turn right onto the 500rd, and follow this road for approximately 20km. The campsite has two entrance roads on the left.
    Coordinates: 52.233482, -120.851171

    The site on Recreation Sites and Trails BC

Depth chart for Elbow Lake

125.6 mdeepest

Elbow Lake runs to 125.6 m (412 ft) at its deepest.

The Province sounded Elbow Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1971. It runs to 2 sheets.

The ice year at Elbow Lake, modelled

Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.

In the model Elbow Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 5 November and 18 November, and ice-off between 21 April and 8 May. The median winter freezes on 11 November and opens on 29 April.

Modelled ice season at Elbow Lake: freeze-up most winters between 5 November and 18 November, ice-off between 21 April and 8 May.OctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJunFreeze-upIce-offabout 170 days in the median winter

the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter

Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 15 November 2024 to 6 April 2025, 142 days.

We have no ice fishing regulation on file for Elbow Lake either way. Check the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis before you plan a trip.

Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.

Elbow Lake climate, 1960 to 2025

Averaged over a year, the air above Elbow Lake is 0.8 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.

  • +0.8 Csince the 1960s
  • 2.8 Caverage year now
  • 2.0 Caverage year then
  • -7 daysbelow freezing, change
Average year at Elbow Lakedegrees C, yearly mean
-0 C3 C5 C1960198020002020

each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025

Days below freezingdays a year averaging under 0 C
1061441821960198020002020

each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025

This week at Elbow Lake

The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.

DaySkyHigh / lowWindRainPressure
Wed 21 OctOvercast13° / 6°13 km/h, gusts 36drySteady
Thu 22 OctHeavy rain8° / 0°13 km/h, gusts 365 mmRising (+4.2 hPa)
Fri 23 OctFog5° / 0°13 km/h, gusts 25dryRising (+13.7 hPa)
Sat 24 OctOvercast8° / 1°4 km/h, gusts 24dryFalling (-3.0 hPa)
Sun 25 OctMainly clear9° / 1°2 km/h, gusts 8drySteady
Mon 26 OctMainly clear11° / 1°3 km/h, gusts 8dryFalling (-5.1 hPa)
Tue 27 OctOvercast6° / 0°7 km/h, gusts 14dryRising (+3.4 hPa)

Open Elbow Lake in the app

Elbow Lake, in brief

What fish are in Elbow Lake?

Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Bull Trout, Whitefish (General) (last recorded 1971). Species from the province's fish observation records and angling reports.

How big is Elbow Lake?

Elbow Lake covers about 342.5 ha, by the province's Freshwater Atlas.

Which management unit is Elbow Lake in?

Elbow Lake is in MU 5-15, in the Cariboo. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.

Trout lakes near Elbow Lake

All 328 lakes in the Cariboo, with today's conditions on each.

Reading the water