BC Parks Home Ministry of Environment Home Ministry of Environment Home Government of BC
'
'
'
'
photo ' Blanket Creek Provincial Park
'
important info, warnings, alerts for park visitors
general overview of park, size, special features safety, park hazards, wildlife information, health risks
park location, parks nearby, how to get to the park history, cultural heritage, conservation, wildlife
maps of park and/or campground, trails, etc. Management Planning
campsite reservations, group and picnic site reservations images of the park
 

vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites wilderness, backcountry, walk-in camping group camping - 15 or more campers picnic, day-use facilities, no camping wheelchair accessiblity drinking water toilets showers sani-stations, sani-dumps firewood, campfires There are no electrical hook-ups in this park interpretive, educational programs
walking, hiking trails playgrounds swimming canoeing, kayaking power boats, boat launch fishing cycling, mountain biking, bicycling horses, horseback riding pets, domestic animals in parks Icon Legend- Green =Available Grey = Unavailable

wildlife viewing
winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating scuba, snorkelling windsurfing waterskiing hunting climbing, rock climbing spelunking, caving cabins, yurts, lodges click on green symbols for more information

 

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

  • There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

Looking for a family holiday destination? Plan your next weekend to Blanket Creek Provincial Park just south of Revelstoke. Popular with local residents, this park was originally a farm now developed to provide recreational opportunities. It is one of a system of four provincial parks on the Arrow Lake Reservoir. With its warm man-made swimming lagoon, adventure playground, historic homestead site and easy access to scenic Sutherland Falls, this park offers enjoyment for the entire family.

Blanket Creek Park makes a great staging area for other recreational explorations. Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks both close by, offer hiking trails for all skill levels. Travel south, take a ferry ride and discover Nakusp Hot Springs. The variety of opportunities both in and around this park beckons recreationists of all ages.

Top of Page

Park Size: 318 hectares

Special Notes:

Management Planning:

Location:

Located in the southern interior of BC, a 15-minute drive, 25 km south of Revelstoke on Hwy 23, where Blanket Creek flows into the Columbia River just north of the Upper Arrow Lake.

Map/Brochure:

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

Top of Page

Nature & Culture:
  • History - The park encompasses a farming area known as the old “Domke homestead”. The remnants of this heritage farm and it’s wide array of trees, both native and imported, are reminders of the pioneer orchardists who first homesteaded the area in the late 1940’s. The park was established in 1982 after the reservoir was made, to provide recreational opportunities for local residents. Blanket Creek Park lies in the Okanagan and Shuswap first nation traditional territories.
  • Conservation - Blanket Creek Park is 318 hectares, contains white pine and second growth western hemlock and western cedar. The park protects the scenic qualities of Sutherland Falls, a regional significant natural feature. There are only a few waterfalls in the Kootenay region as easily accessible to the public. The creation of the Arrow Reservoir reduced Kokanee spawning and ungulate winter range over a large area. Blanket Creek Park is only one of a few small parks along the Arrow Lake Reservoir where these values are protected. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please don't damage or remove them.
  • Wildlife - Bears are commonly seen in the fall when they are attracted to the fruit trees remaining from homesteader’s orchards. Mule deer and hares are occasionally observed. The park is also popular for bird watching. Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance.


Visitor Safety:
  • Bears have historically been attracted to this site for its fruit trees remaining from the orchards of the early settlers. Keep a clean camp and keep pets on a leash at all times. Free-running pets can anger a bear and provoke an attack. The bears are more active in the fall.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Top of Page

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Campsite Reservations:
Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

West Kootenay Park Management Inc.
Phone: (250) 837-5734
Fax: (250) 837-5764
Email for general inquiries: information@westkootenayparks.com
Email for park specific inquiries: blanketcreek@westkootenayparks.com
Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

Top of Page

vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

The park has one campground situated near the Arrow Lake reservoir. The campground contains 63 vehicle accessible sites, 5 of these are doubles. There are no pull through sites or tent pads but tents can be placed on the campsite gravel pad. Many of the sites are considered large and can accommodate extra vehicles. The campground offers a selection of both open/sunny sites or wooded/shaded sites in a mixed smaller forest of white pine, cedar and hemlock.

The park offers services during the peak season from May to September. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. Visitors can select any non-reserved site and staff will come to collect fees. The park has 2 park gates, one at the park entrance and one before the entrances to the campground or day-use/picnic area. There are no pay phones in the park. The closest store is in Revelstoke, 25 km north on Highway 23.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $7.50 per senior's couple/night

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.)

May 1 - October 15
(gate is closed during off-season)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: May 1 - October 15
Campground Reservable Dates: May 15 - September 15
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: 63
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) 30
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.

 

wilderness, backcountry,  walk-in camping

There are no wilderness/walk-in campsites at this park.

group camping - 15 or more campers

No group campsites.

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

The park has one day-use /picnic area located past the campground, near the reservoir on the north side of the park. A large 120 vehicle parking lot is available. This park is unique as it contains a man made lagoon for swimming. 457 metres of sandy beach and 1 hectare of grass surround the circular lagoon. Thirty-two picnic tables are situated mainly around the lagoon in the grassy area. Shady spots are created from the trees on the edge of the grassy ring. An adventure playground set in sand with swing set, monkey bars and slide is nearby. Other facilities on site include 5 pit toilets and a water tap. A change house, fire pits or BBQ stands are not available. A signed dog beach can be found out on the reservoir and is only a 10-minute walk away.

wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities in this park.

Top of Page
drinking water

Cold well water is available for cooking and drinking. Three water taps are located in the campground with a single water tap in the day-use/picnic area. Taps are shut off during the off season.

toilets

Eleven flush and pit toilets are conveniently located throughout the campground. The day-use/picnic area contains five pit toilets. There are no toilet buildings in the park.

showers

There are no shower facilities at this park.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

During the collection season, a sani-station/dump is available near the campground entrance and a fee is charged for the service

firewood, 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.

There are no electrical hook-ups in this park There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
interpretive,  educational  programs

There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

Top of Page
walking, hiking trails

The park is noted for its trail that leads to the foot of the beautiful 12 metre high Sutherland Falls with its one straight drop into a pool. Less than a km long this trail is an easy 10-minute walk and is accessed from a small parking lot off the left turn exit before the sani-station.

The other popular hike starts form the south end of the campground is 2 km in length and considered and easy to moderate hike. The start of the trail will lead you through an old cedar forest with huge stumps displaying spring-board notches from early logging activity. It then takes you through dense forest and opens up to a very pretty, fjord looking inlet with deep clean water. The final section of the trail heads to the old homestead. This site still contains a deep rock lined pond and elaborate rock work fences. Total hiking time is 30 to 45 minutes.

A 10-minute trail winds through the forest to connect the campground with the picnic area and swimming lagoon

For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.

playgrounds

An adventure playground with swing set, monkey bars and slide is provided near the picnic area/swimming lagoon. The equipment is set in sand.

swimming

Although, the northern portion of the reservoir is less useable given the steep slope of the banks, cold silt water and frequent low water levels, a man-made lagoon for swimming and beach use has helped to artificially provide these recreational opportunities. The circular, calm, fresh flowing water lagoon has a diameter of 60 metres and a depth of approximately 2.5 metres in the middle. With its ring of sandy beach and warm water the lagoon is popular with visitors of all ages. There is no roped off swimming area. There are NO LIFEGUARDS on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

Car top boats, canoes or kayaks are used on the reservoir and may be launched off the beach after a short 200 metre, 10 minute "portage" from the day use parking lot.

power boats, boat launch

No boat launch is available at this park.

fishing

The far north end of the reservoir is shallow, stumpy and not recognised for fishing. Anglers access the reservoir via the boat launch at Shelter Bay Provincial Park south on Highway 23 near the ferry terminal. From here there is good lake and stream fishing for Bull and rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license. Check the BC Fishing Regulations Synopsis for quotas and restrictions.

cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in BC.

horses, horseback riding

No horseback riding at this park.

pets, domestic animals in parks Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. A signed dog beach can be found out on the reservoir. 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.

wildlife viewing

There is no viewing platform but there is easy access to the scenic Sutherland Falls.

Top of Page

winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating

No winter recreation opportunities.

scuba, snorkelling

No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

windsurfing

No windsurfing opportunities.

waterskiing

No waterskiing opportunities.

hunting

No hunting in the park.

climbing, rock climbing

No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

spelunking, caving

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

cabins, yurts, lodges

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.

Top of Page

 

Footer Graphic Copyright Information Mail Us Privacy Information A Complete Site Map Search the Ministry's SiteDisclaimer
'''''