Bear Creek Provincial Park

The Canyon Loop Trail is closed due to potential hazards after a forest fire.
The boat launch at Bear Creek which is operated and maintained by the Regional District of the Central Okanagan will be closed indefinitely effective April 4, 2011.

About This Park

Truly a natural wonderland, Bear Creek Provincial Park is situated in the Central Okanagan Basin on the west side of Okanagan Lake. The park features lakeside camping, over 400 metres of sandy beaches and 5 km of spectacular, well-marked hiking trails. A picturesque canyon has been carved into the bedrock by Bear Creek tumbling onto a cottonwood-lined delta. This park is extremely busy during the summer season and reservations are required to camp here. For your convenience, during the summer season the park has a concession located at the gatehouse and managed by the Park Facility Operator.

Park Size: 178 hectares

Campground Hours of Operation All dates are subject to change without notice
Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)	March 30 – Oct 8 (gates locked during off-season)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	March 30 – Oct 8 approx (Entrance gate locked nightly from 11 pm – 7am)
Campground Reservable Dates:	May 11 – September 2
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:	122 - Campground is 100% reservable
Number of Reservable Campsites:	122
Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.

Reservations

All campsites must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are required for all campsites in this park.

Location and Maps

Location Map

The park is located on Westside Road, 9 km off Highway 97, west of Kelowna. From Highway 97, travelling south, leave the city of Kelowna, cross floating bridge on Highway 97 out of Kelowna, travel 2 km and turn west onto Westside Road at the main intersection and follow for 7 km. The entrance to the park is just past the bridge over the Lambly (Bear) Creek. The closest community, towns and cities are Kelowna, Westbank and small housing developments on Westside Road.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Park Map - updated April 2011(PDF)
Campground Map (PDF)
Nature Trail Map (PDF)
Brochure (PDF)

Nature and Culture

Conservation - Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir proliferate in the dry, rocky hills above the canyon, balsam-root and prickly-pear cactus compete for the area's meager rainfall. The canyon floor below is home to maple and birch, saskatoon and buffalo berry, wild rose, horsetail and mosses. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please don't damage or remove them.
Wildlife - Wildlife abounds from the swallows and hawks that swoop through the canyon to the owls and coyotes that enliven the night. Noisy tree-frogs can be heard in the spring, crickets are active in the summer. Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife.

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

Approved Management Plan

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Canoes and kayaks are welcome.

Cycling

Cycling on roadways in the park; helmets required. No mountain biking trails.

Fishing

Various freshwater fish available in Okanagan Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence and observe the following restrictions: there is a daily quota of 2 rainbow trout (only one over 50cm), no fishing for kokanee and single barbless hooks only.

Hiking

Gentle trails take hikers around the campsites and along the creek as it passes through the campground. The Bear Creek Canyon trail is a popular, more demanding hike offering spectacular views of the creek and the surrounding area. The trail leaves the parking lot and makes a loop of the canyon. Hikers can cross the creek on a footbridge to the north side of the canyon and begin their ascent of the slope. A sturdy staircase of milled lumber makes the climb a little easier and reduces impact on the plant life and soil structure. A viewpoint after the first flight of stairs offers a place to rest and look down at the creek.

The wide, hard-packed trail continues up the rim of the canyon with two more viewpoints perched on the edge of the canyon wall and hemmed in by chainlink fence. The view of the creek, as it meanders through the steep-walled canyon forming various ripples and small waterfalls, is fantastic. Gradually the trail levels out and then begins a descent to the creek. A pit toilet is located here. The trail follows the creek for a short distance before crossing to the south side.

The canyon forms a microclimate with noticeably different vegetation on the two sides of the creek. The slope on the north is dry with Ponderosa pine and bunches of grass while the cooler south side has Douglas fir and carpets of moss, evidence of more moisture and shade. Allow 1 hour to hike Canyon and for your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure

Interpretive Programs

An amphitheatre is located between the day-use parking and site 66. There will no longer be an Interpretive Program at Bear Creek.

Pets on Leash

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.

Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Swimming

Over 400 metres of coarse sandy beach stretches the length of the campground from the day-use area to the creek. There are pebbles on the beach but no big rocks in the water. The beach is narrow and the swim area is marked with buoys. There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at provincial parks.

Waterskiing

Okanagan Lake provides many waterskiing and jetskiing opportunities. Jetski and boat rentals are available at Lake Okanagan Resort ten minutes north of the park on Westside Road.

Wildlife Viewing

Excellent views of the canyon and lake from the canyon trail. The cottonwoods along the creek and the delta provide habitat for a variety of birds and offer birdwatching opportunities.

Facilities Available at this Park

Campfires

While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.

Drinking Water

Cold water is available for cooking and drinking and taps are located throughout the campground; from well water.

Picnic Areas

Upon entering the campground, turn left to access the large day-use/picnic area with some 59 tables, 12 with BBQ attachments, and parking for 180 vehicles. The tables are spread out on lawns overlooking the beach and shaded by well spaced mature cottonwood and oak trees. The tables have a great view across the lake to the city of Kelowna and Knox Mountain. Right next to the parking lot is bathroom/change house with flush toilets that are wheelchair accessible. A kiosk beside the changehouse has interpretive signs discussing the area and some of the issues facing the park. The large, open lawns found throughout the park offer opportunities for a variety of activities.

Parking fees are no longer being charged. Find out more.

Pit or Flush Toilets

Flush and pit toilets are located conveniently throughout the campground. There is a washroom building found at the park entrance just past the gatehouse with the men's and women's sides each having one regular and one wheelchair accessible shower stall. A pit toilet is located beside the shower building. Two more flush toilet buildings are found next to sites 26 and 54. These also have shower stalls, one each for the men and women with access from the back of the building. The southern campsite loop has a washroom building with flush toilets and three shower stalls each for the men's and women's sides. A pit toilet is located beside site 91. There are also two pit toilets across Westside Road by the trailhead parking.

Playground

B.C. Parks is proud to announce that Bear Creek Provincial Park has now installed a new playground equipped with two separate structures. This new facility has many new features designed for two separate age groups as well. The first structure is designed for children ages from 2 to age 6 with activities that we are sure your children will enjoy. The second structure is designed for the more adventurous children ages from 8 to 12. The new facility is located in the grassy area beside campsite 30/31. There is plenty of room for parents to sit on the grassed area and be spectators or to engage with their children in the new playground. We look forward to seeing you enjoy the new facility.

Sani-Station/Dump

During the collecting season a sani-station/dump is available and a fee is charged for the service. The sani-station/dump is located across Westside road from the gatehouse next to the Canyon Trail parking area.

Sani-station Use Fee: $5.00 per discharge

Showers

There are hot showers in the washrooms. There is no extra charge for showers and they are for registered guests only.

Vehicle Accessible Camping

The park has one campground, though it is divided by Lambly (Bear) Creek. There are 122 vehicle accessible sites in the park, including 18 doubles.

All campsites require reservations at this park.

Sites are # 1-80 on the north side of the creek in two loops. These medium to large sized sites are found amongst well spaced trees and irrigated lawns. The trees are well trimmed and a mix of both coniferous and deciduous with many non-native species present. The effect is of fairly open, well manicured grounds. The sites are gravel and have a fire ring and picnic table on a cement pad. There are no BBQ table attachments. Nine of these sites back onto the creek and are slightly smaller and surrounded by more dense vegetation.

Crossing the creek within the campground leads to sites 81-122 on the south side of the creek. This area of the park is newly landscaped (sites were developed in 1996) and though most of the area is now shaded, some of this area is still open with newly planted saplings, irrigated lawn and raised beds of bark mulch landscaped with low growing plants and bushes between the sites. This area has its own shower/washroom building and taps.

A gatehouse is situated near the park entrance just off Westside Road with three payphones and an information shelter. There is a gate on Westside Road which is locked from 11:00pm to 7:00am during the operating season and then locked during the off-season.

Click here to make campsite reservations.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $30.00 per party / night

BC Senior's Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $15.00 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair accessible; the park is mostly level, with paved and gravel roads. Showers and toilets have handicapped access.