E C Manning Provincial Park
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A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
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- Click here for information on drive-in campgrounds.
- Trail Report
- Groups planning to hike in E C Manning Provincial Park are asked to register here.
- Please note: The sani-station is closed for the season.
Park Info
E.C. Manning Park is a focus of outdoor recreation that is unique in British Columbia. Located in the heart of the Cascade Mountains it is within a three hour drive from either the Lower Mainland (Vancouver) or the Okanagan. The climate and geography have combined to make this park an all season recreation area. Bisected by Hwy. 3, Manning Park is one of the most popular destination areas in the province. The landscape diversity of this park combined with four seasons’ development and easy access are the prime factors which stimulate visitor interest. The park contains a large number of scenic, historic, floral and fauna attractions and provides a wide range of both summer and winter recreational opportunities.
To simplify finding information, E.C. Manning Provincial Park is divided into two areas:
- Frontcountry opportunities along the Highway 3 Corridor-vehicle accessible camping, day-use interpretive trails
- Backcountry/wilderness opportunities-longer hiking trails, horse use and wilderness camping.
Park Size: Over 70,844 hectares of rugged forest-clad mountains, deep valleys, alpine meadows, lakes and rivers.
Special Notes:
- The park has a large variety of walking/hiking trails which range anywhere from a 15 minute walk up to a 6 day hike. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. During the winter season, all trails are closed for hiking due to snow.
- The plants in this park are susceptible to winds, rain, extended periods of dry weather, heavy snow fall and a very short growing season. For this reason we ask that you and your pets stay on the trails, don't trample or pick the flora.
| Campground Hours of Operation
*All dates are subject to change without notice due to operational requirements and weather |
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| During early or late season campgrounds are accessible, but may not offer full services such as water, security, firewood, etc. Campground gates are closed during the off-season. Lightning Lakes day-use area is open all year without restrictions. Parking fees in effect. |
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Campground Opening and Closing Dates: *sites are available on a first-come, first serve basis except for Lightning Lake and Lone Duck |
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| Coldspring campground - 64 sites | May 15 – October 12 (Thanksgiving weekend) |
| Hampton campground - 99 sites | June 26 – September 7 |
| Lightning Lake campground - 143 sites | June 5 – October 12 (Thanksgiving weekend) (Campground is open as early as snow conditions permit. Usually, first week of June to October 12 Please use contact information below to find updated information- Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
| Mule Deer campground - 49 sites | May 1– September 13 (Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
| Lone Duck Group campground - 2 sites | Year round |
Campground Full Service Dates: |
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| Coldspring campground | May 15 – October 8 (Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
| Hampton campground | June 26 – September 7 |
| Lightning Lake campground | June 15 - September 3 (Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
| Lone Duck Group campground | June 13 - October 8 (Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
| Mule Deer campground | May 9– September 16 (Dates subject to change depending on weather) |
Campground Reservable Dates: |
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| Lightning Lake Campground Reservations only | June 15 – September 6 |
| Lone Duck Group Campsite Reservations only | May 18 to October 13 (Thanksgiving weekend) |
| Note: The above information is for the drive-in, vehicle campground only, not including the backcountry campgrounds. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts. | |
General Visitor Information
Some dangers exist when different users share the same trails. However, all recreationists who are aware of others and practice "Leave No Trace" will help reduce conflicts and environmental damage, making everyone's visit more enjoyable.Location
Bisected by Hwy 3, the park stretches for 58 km from portal to portal. The western portal, marked by the carving of a marmot, is 26 km east of Hope and the eastern portal, marked by a carving of a bear, is 52 km west of Princeton. The core area of the park is located 68 km east of Hope and 68 km west of Princeton.
Map / Brochure
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Map [PDF 460KB] (updated June 2008)
- Lightning Lake Campground Map [PDF 85KB]
Reservations
All reserveable, vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.
Campsite Reservations:
Campsite
reservations are accepted at Lightning Lakes campground only;
this campground is 100% reserveable. The other three
campgrounds in this park – Coldspring, Mule
Deer and Hampton – are available only on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Group Camping:
Contact Info
Manning Park Resort
www.manningpark.com
E-mail: camping@manningpark.com
Phone: 250 840 8822
Winter Snow phone: 604-795-6101
Activities Available At This Park
Canoeing | ||
Cycling | ||
Fishing | ||
Hiking | ||
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.
Horseback Riding | ||
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 | ||
Interpretive Programs | ||
There are scheduled interpretive programs offered at this park. See the interpretive poster for details.
Pets on Leash | ||
Swimming | ||
Wildlife Viewing | ||
Some good locations include: Beaver Pond, Rein Orchid, Lightning Lakes Day Use Area, and the Similkameen Trail.
Winter Recreation | ||
Facilities Available At This Park
Boat Launch | ||
Cabins / Huts / Yurts | ||
Campfires | ||
Drinking Water | ||
Group Camping | ||
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. In order to qualify as a group you must have a minimum of 20 persons and a maximum of 50 persons per site.
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. Reservation can be made by contacting Gibson Pass Resort at 250-840 8842. 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 (reservation only). In order to qualify as a group you must have a minimum of 20 persons and a maximum of 50 persons per site. Reservation can be made by contacting Gibson Pass Resort at 250-840 8842. Lone Duck 2 Group Campsite: This 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 tents or dig-in. Cambie Creek Group Campsite: This area 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.
Youth Group Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night
Picnic Areas | ||
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.
Pit or Flush Toilets | ||
Sani-Station/Dump | ||
Showers | ||
Vehicle Accessible Camping | ||
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:
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping | ||
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.
Wheelchair Access | ||
Winter Camping | ||
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.






