E C Manning Provincial Park

There are canoeing and kayaking opportunities on Lightning Lake. Canoe Kayak and rowboat rentals are available at Lightning Lake day use area. Contact Manning Park Resort at 250-840-8822. Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

Mountain bikers are asked to yield to hikers and horses. Mountain bikes are permitted on roadways and the following backcountry trails: Monument 83; Windy Joe; Poland Lake; East Similkameen; West Similkameen; Lone Duck; North Gibson and South Gibson. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

For the hardy hiker Poland Lake and Nicomen Lake offer good fishing for rainbow trout. Lightning Lakes chain also offers fishing opportunities for small rainbow trout. No motorized boats including electric motors. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Below is a list of trails in the park. Please note that trail conditions can change quickly due to weather conditions. More detailed trail descriptions are available by clicking on the individual links below:

EASY

Lightning Lake Loop- 9km return/ 2.5 hours. Trail begins at Lightning Lake Day Use area or at the Spruce Bay parking lot.

Lightning Lake Chain- 12 km one way from Day Use area/ 3.5-4.5 hours; or 10 km, one way from Spruce Bay/ 3-3.5 hours.

Rhododendron Flats- this 20 minute walk, located 32 km west of the Manning Park Resort travels through an impressive stand of red rhododendrons; peak bloom usually June 1-15.

MODERATE

Castle Creek/Monument 78: 12km one way / 3.5hours / elevation change: 200m. Trail starts at Monument 78/83 parking lot.

Dewdney Trail: 36km one way / 14-16 hours / elevation change 1131m. Trail begins at the Cascade Recreation Area parking lot and ends at Dick's Cabin in the Cascade Recreation Area.

Heather: 21km one way to Nicomen Ridge / 8-10 hours / elevation change 292m. Stat at Blackwall parking lot.

Hope Pass Trail: easy-moderate 23.5km one way / 10 hours / elevation change 1000m; begins at Cayuse Flats.

DIFFICULT

Bonnevier: 25km one way / 8-10 hours / elevation change: 950m. Begin at Blackwall Peak parking lot.

Frosty Mountain Loop: 29.3km or 27.7km depending on route / 9-11 hours / elevation change: 1150m. Begin just past dam on eastern end of Lightning Lake.

Grainger Creek: 17.5km one way (includes 6km along Hope Pass Trail)/ 5-7 hours / elevation change: 952m. Begin 25km west of the Visitor Centre at Cayuse Flats.

Monument 83: 16km one way/5 hours/elevation change: 850m. Begin at Monument 78/83 parking lot.

Pacific Crest Trail: 13km one way/4 hours/elevation change: 450m. Begin at Windy Joe/Pacific Crest parking lot on the Gibson Pass Road.

Poland Lake: 8km one way/2.5-3 hours/elevation change: 435m. Begin at Strawberry Flats parking lot.

Skyline I: 20.4km loop / 7-9 hours / elevation change: 775m. Begin at Spruce Bay parking lot or Strawberry Flats.

Skyline II: 12.5km to Mowich Camp / 5 hours / elevation change: 469m. Begin at Strawberry Flats.

Whatcom: 13km one way / 6-7 hours / elevation change: 1082m. Begin at the Cascade Recreation Area parking lot.

Windy Joe Mountain: 16km return / 4.5-5.5 hours / elevation change: 525m. Begin at Windy Joe / Pacific Crest parking lot on the Gibson Pass Road.

Horses are allowed on designated trails only, these include: Monument 83; Dewdney; Hope Pass; Poland Lake; Pacific Crest; Windy Joe; Skagit Bluffs, Similkameen East and West, North Gibson and Little Muddy.

Camp only in designated areas. Horse camps are available at Dewdney and Hope Pass trails. Visitors are requested to carry backpacking stoves and not have open fires. Unless otherwise noted on the trail description all horse camps include a toilet, fire ring, water, hitching rail and grazing.

Hunting is only permitted in these areas of Manning park, ( MU 2-17). These areas are only open to the discharge of firearms, bows and crossbows from September 10 to June 15 during lawful game hunting season. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping regulations for more information.

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or in park buildings. You are responsible for their pets behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. There is an area set aside at the Lightning Lake day use area for pets at the east end of the lake, in the picnic area. There is also a pets area on the east side of the Pine Woods Restaurant between Highway 3 and Access Road.

There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

There are excellent opportunities to view a variety of wildlife in Manning Park. The animal life includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, pika, coyotes, beaver, muskrat, deer, bear, moose and most members of the cat family. More than 200 bird species have been spotted here.
Some good locations include: Beaver Pond, Rein Orchid, Lightning Lakes Day Use Area, and the Similkameen Trail.

There are backcountry trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the park. There are down-hill skiing opportunities offered by the Manning Park Resort nearby.

A boat launch is available next to the boat rental building at the Lightning Lake Day Use area. No motorized boats including electric motors.

Manning Park Resort includes motel/cabin rentals; a pub; a restaurant; gift shop/grocery store, canoe, boat and kayak rentals in the summer as well as snowshoe, nordic ski and alpine ski rentals in the winter. For more information about Manning Park Resort, please call 250-840-8822 or click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

Open fires are not permitted in Buckhorn and Kicking Horse wilderness sites. In the rest of the backcountry, open fires are not encouraged. Bring a portable stove for cooking.

All wilderness sites have a water source close by. During a long hot summer some creeks may dry up. Carry water with you and fill canteens as required. Treatment of water is recommended.

There are group campsites at this park. Click here for reservation information.

Group Summer Camping:

Two group campsites, Lone Duck I and Lone Duck II are available for summer camping. The group campsites are open from May to October. (Dates subject to change due to weather conditions) The group site consists of a shelter complete with picnic tables and wood stove; no firewood, pit toilets, grassy area for tents, a parking lot and the use of showers at the Lightning Lake campground. Both sites overlook Lightning Lake Lone Duck Bay. They are located 4 km off of Hwy 3. The turnoff to the campground is 41 km east of the west portal to the park. There are several hiking/walking trails close to this campground and the Amphitheatre is a very short walk.

Winter Camping: Two areas are set aside for winter camping and are open throughout the winter from October to March. Lone Duck 1 Group Campsite: This area is available on a first come first serve basis and consists of a shelter complete with picnic tables, wood stove; a fire pit, no fire wood, pit toilets, parking lot and a large walk-in camping area to set up your tents or dig-in. Lone Duck 2 Group campsite: This area is available for reservations and consists of a shelter complete with picnic tables, wood stove; a fire pit, no fire wood, pit toilets, parking lot and a large walk-in camping area to set up your tents or dig-in. Cambie Creek Group Campsite: This area is available for reservations and consists of pit toilets, parking lot and a large walk-in camping area to set up your tents or dig-in. NO FIRES allowed, no water and there are no picnic tables available.

This park has day-use/picnic areas at 7 locations: West Gate Portal; Sumallo Grove; Coldspring campsite; Lightning Lake Day Use area; Spruce Bay; Sub-Alpine Meadows and Blowdown.

The wilderness sites have pit toilets only.

A sani-station/dump is available during the collecting season. It is located 1 km east of Manning Park Lodge. Opening and closing dates are subject to change due to weather.

Showers are available for campers staying at the Lightning Lake campground. Campers registered at the Group Campsite can also use these showers.

This park offers vehicle accessible campsites.There are four summer drive-in campgrounds with a total of 355 sites. There are also two areas set aside for winter camping. Lightning Lake campground offers only reserveable campsites (Campsite reservations).  All other campsites are first-come, first-served campsites only sites: Coldspring, Hampton and Mule Deer campgrounds.
Other Services: Just outside the east entrance to the park (16 km east of the Visitor Centre) is a service station, convenience store, restaurant, liquor outlet, postal service and Greyhound bus service.

Coldspring, Hampton and Mule Deer campgrounds

Lightning Lake campground

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping with limited facilities are provided at 10 wilderness campgrounds with a total of 55 sites.

Buckhorn wilderness site located at 5 km on the Heather Trail, consists of 10 tent pads, bear cache and outhouses. This wilderness camp is situated in the sub-alpine meadows. NO OPEN FIRES ARE ALLOWED. It’s a 5 km (1 - 1.5 hour) hike from the trailhead, which makes it a very popular spot. During the peak alpine bloom (usually late July early August) and on long weekends this site is very busy.

Frosty Mountain wilderness camp is at the 1850 m elevation on the Frosty Mountain Trail. The hike to the camp is a strenuous 7 km from the Lightning Lake Day Use area. This 2 or 3 tent camp consists of pit toilet, fire ring and a shelter. During inclement weather this could be a welcome sight but come prepared as it may already be in use. A small creek runs through the campsite; when moving on be sure to fill your water bottles here. Approximately .5 km further along the trail the larch grove starts and continues on for about 1.5 km. and 5 km from camp brings you to the peak of Frosty Mountain.

Grainger Creek wilderness/horse camp is on the Hope Pass Trail just past the junction of the Hope Pass/Grainger Creek trail or 6 km from Cayuse Flats and 11.5 km from Nicomen Lake camp. The camp has space for 3 tents and consists of a fire pit, pit toilet and a good water source from Grainger Creek.

Kicking Horse wilderness site's located at 13.5 km on the Heather Trail consists of 8 tent pads and an outhouse. This wilderness camp is situated in sub-alpine meadows. NO FIRES ARE ALLOWED. During the peak alpine bloom (usually late July early August) and on long weekends this site is very busy.

Mowich wilderness site is located on the Skyline II Trail, 12.5 km from Strawberry Flats or 6.5 km from the Skyline I and Skyline II junction. It is at the 1600 m elevation, has a wilderness shelter, pit toilet, bear cache and a camping area for 4 tents. During a hot and/or dry summer the water is not always readily visible and often drops to a trickle by late summer. Mowich is an Indian word meaning deer and there is almost always deer to be seen at this site. This is also a common place to see Black Bears.

Nicomen Lake wilderness site located at 23 km on the Heather Trail or 17.5 km from Cayuse Flats consists of an open 6 tent camping area near the lake, shelter and outhouse. The lake is a cold alpine lake that is a very good fishing lake for those who choose to carry the extra weight of fishing gear. This lake freezes over in the winter and does not usually thaw until early July.

Pacific Crest wilderness camp is located on the Pacific Crest Trail, less than 1/2 km from the Pacific Crest Trail/Frosty Mountain Trail junction or 6.3 km from the PCT/Windy Joe/Frosty Mountain trailhead parking lot. While this camp does not have a shelter, there is a pit toilet, fire ring, space for 4 tents and a good stream for water. Fill up here if necessary as there will be few opportunities until Castle Creek to the south or the Windy Joe trail.

Poland Lake wilderness site is located at the north/west end of Poland Lake. After hiking a fairly strenuous 8 km from Strawberry Flats you arrive at a pristine mountain lake which is very cold but a refreshing site after the hike. Poland Lake freezes over in the winter and does not thaw until early July. The site consists of a camping area for 6 tents, bear cache, wilderness shelter, pit toilets and a creek which flows into the lake. The spring flower bloom often occurs later here than up in the sub-alpine meadows so it is an opportunity to see spring flowers that are often otherwise missed. This is also a popular destination for winter back country skiing and camping. Black bears are often seen on the trail that crosses the ski hill area.

Strike Lake wilderness site is nestled in a protective grove of tall Engelmann Spruce trees at the western end of Strike Lake. Strike Lake is the third of four lakes on the Lightning Lake Chain Trail. It is relatively easy to hike to the camp in 1 - 1.5 hours. The camp consists of pit toilets, bear cache and a camping area for 8 tents. As this site is one of the easiest hikes and the first site to be free of snow it is very popular throughout the season.

Sumallo Grove Interpretive trail, Lightning Lake day-use area and the washhouses in the Lightning Lake campground are wheelchair accessible.

Winter Camping: Two areas are set aside for winter camping from October 8 to March 31:

Self-contained units can camp in the Lightning Lake Day Use area parking lot that is located 3.7 km off of Highway 3 on the Gibson Pass ski hill road. The pit toilets are open, NO FIRES allowed, no water and there are no picnic tables available.

Walk –in winter camping parties can camp at the Lone Duck winter camping area which is located 4 km off Highway 3 on the Gibson Pass ski hill road. The area consists of a shelter complete with picnic tables, wood stove; a fire pit, no fire wood, pit toilets, parking lot and a large walk-in camping area to set up your tent or dig-in.