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photo of Ellison ' Ellison Provincial Park
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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!

If you are interested in volunteer Park Host positions (the Volunteer Park Host Program is a hospitality service for park visitors), there are currently positions available at this park.   For more information, click here.

BC Parks in currently conducting fuel reduction work in Ellison Provincial Park. While the campground is open during this project, some sections may be temporarily closed to ensure public safety. Please adhere to all posted safety notices. The estimated date of completion is May 18th 2008.

Park Info:

Nestled on the northeastern shore of Okanagan Lake, Ellison Provincial Park includes 200 hectares of forested benchlands above a rocky shoreline of scenic headlands and sheltered coves. The park's natural attractions, combined with the dry, sunny Okanagan climate provide many recreational opportunities from spring through fall. Hiking trails along the scenic headlands are steep and require care and attention.

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Park Size: 200 hectares

Special Notes:

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

  • The approved Master Plan is now available in PDF format.

Location:

If coming from Highway 97 north, turn right on 25th Avenue (main intersection downtown Vernon), park is 16 km or approximately 20 minutes from that junction. If coming from Highway 97 south, turn left on 25th Avenue (in Vernon), through Okanagan Landing Road, follow blue and white VIP signs saying Ellison Park.

Map/Brochure:

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

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Nature & Culture:
  • Cultural Heritage - A rich cultural history is illustrated by signs of native habitation in four archaeological sites and by old European homesteads.
  • Conservation - Most of the park is dominated by stands of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with grassy open areas typical of the Okanagan Basin landscape. A blue-listed plant species, Engelmann's knotweed, is also found in the park.
  • Wildlife - Porcupines, deer and columbian ground squirrels are common along the trail above Okanagan Lake.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:

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

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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:

Quality Recreation Ltd.
Email address: quality-recreation@shaw.ca

Phone: 1-250-545-9943 (Apr-Oct)

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vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

This park offers 71 vehicle accessible campsites, 8 of which are double sites. There are no pull through sites at this park. Campsite reservations are accepted (49 of these sites are reservable) and first-come, first-served sites are also available. While there is no gatehouse, an information shelter and telephone are located where the access road enters the campground.The park is open from April 1 to October 31. In the off-season (Nov 1-March 31) a locked gate blocks the access road at Okanagan Landing road. It is roughly 300 m down a steep grade to the campsites, making walk-in camping difficult in the off-season. Through the summer, the gate is closed between 11:00pm and 7:00 am.

Most sites are large and well-shaded by a canopy of mature Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine. The sites are well-spaced and the abundance of low shrubs affords privacy. The campsite pads are gravel and have fire rings and picnic tables. For very large RVs (over 50 feet) the entrances to the pads may be narrow and there are a few low-hanging branches to watch out for. The closest store is a general store roughly ten kilometres away in Okanagan Landing or in Vernon for more services.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party /night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $12.00 per senior's couple/night

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.)

April 1 - October 31
(gate is closed during off-season)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: April 1 - October 31
Campground Reservable Dates: May 16 - September 4
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: 71
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) 49
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

No wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.

group camping - 15 or more campers

No group campsites.

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees, click here.

Two beautiful bays with over 50 picnic tables and a group picnic area are reached by trail from the day-use parking lot. Volleyball nets are available.

There are two parking lots for the day-use area beaches. The two main beaches are accessed by a steep, coarsely paved trail with benches conveniently located at the switchbacks.

Otter Bay has a pit toilet, fountain tap and volleyball net. Picnic tables with views of the lake line the crescent-shaped beach of coarse pink sand. The area is shaded by well-spaced Douglas fir trees with an open understory. The tables are on cement pads and the ground is pebbly gravel. There are no fire pits or BBQ attachments for the tables. The swimming area is marked with swim buoys and there are also mooring buoys. The bay is sheltered by rocky headlands making it a great spot for swimming.

South Bay has a fountain tap. The picnic tables sit slightly above the large sandy beach and are separated from it by a low rock wall. Ponderosa pines are interspersed amongst the tables allowing for some shade. The area offers a great view of the Fintry delta to the south and the other side of the lake. The swimming area is marked with buoys and mooring buoys stretch to the south towards a third beach.

The third beach, Sandy Beach, is a pet beach accessed by a trail of hard-packed dirt from between sites 11 and 12. A pit toilet is found roughly 50m up from the beach. The beach has coarse pink sand and is the smallest of the three beaches. Pets are allowed in this area.

wheelchair accessibility

Some facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible. The trails down to the lake are paved; however, they are steep and require caution. There is a drop off area at the beach but vehicles must return to the parking lot. There are three wheelchair accessible toilets and a wheelchair accessible shower in the park.

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drinking water

Cold spring water is available for cooking and drinking; 6 taps are located throughout the campground.

toilets

There is one pit and eight flush toilets, as well as a shower building located throughout the campground. There are no electrical outlets or hot water in the washrooms.

showers

There is a shower building ( new June 2006) in the campground. There is an outside cold water shower at beach area to aid in prevention of swimmer's itch.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

No sani-station/dump facilities.

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 from the Park Facility Operator or you can 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, though there is an amphitheatre capable of seating 120 located in the campground beside site 59.

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walking, hiking trails

Over 6 km of easy walking trails, with some steep sections, access many of the park's natural features and viewpoints. 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.

Trails along the tops of the rocky headlands offer panoramic vistas of Okanagan Lake north to Spallumcheen and south to Fintry as well as Terrace Mountain and the communities of Westside road; however, please use caution while hiking as these trails are difficult.

playgrounds

A children's playground is found in a corner of the irrigated lawn flanked by sites 51-59 and 62-71. The lawn can be seen opposite the service yard and forms an open area with potential for a variety of games. There are four tables near the wood and plastic adventure playground, which has numerous slides, a tire swing, and multiple levels. The base of the playground is sand. Volleyball nets are also available at the North beach.

swimming

There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. Warm waters and a gradually sloping bottom provide excellent swimming at three main beaches. The swimming areas are designated with buoys to keep boats out. The park also features western Canada's only freshwater dive park, where sunken artifacts add to the fascinating plant and animal life. Swimmers itch may be present at times during the year.

canoeing, kayaking

Canoes and kayaks are welcome. No rentals at the park.

power boats, boat launch

This park does not have a boat launch. There are several nearby, approximately 10 minutes away. Houseboats can pull ashore at Sandy Beach, the standard park camping fee is charged for overnight use. Mooring buoys offshore in South Bay and Otter Bay are part of a marine park system sponsored by the Okanagan's yacht clubs. Water-skiing and cruising are also popular.

fishing

Various freshwater fish available in Okanagan Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. No mountain biking trails are available.

horses, horseback riding

No horseback riding.

pets, domestic animals in parks Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas (except Sandy Beach) or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Sandy Beach, a pet beach is accesed from the trail leading out of the campground between sites 11 and 12.

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

wildlife viewing

There are no viewing platforms, but the nature of the topography allows for great views of Okanagan Lake.

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

If the area receives enough snowfall, the park could provide snowshoeing opportunities along the easy nature trails, though the park is not a destination for the activity.

scuba, snorkelling

There are SCUBA diving/snorkelling opportunities at the underwater dive park located at Otter Bay.

windsurfing

No windsurfing opportunities.

waterskiing

No waterskiing opportunities.

hunting

No hunting in the park.

climbing, rock climbing

The small granite cliffs by South Bay are used for climbing, mainly by locals and beginners due to their small size and moderate degree of difficulty. There is scrambling, bouldering and top-rope climbing in short pitches. Local recreation groups offer guided rock climbing and outdoor recreation day camps in the park.

spelunking, caving

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

cabins, yurts, lodges

There are two yurts located near the playground (sites 51/53) available and can be reserved by phone only through Discover Camping or on a first-come first-serve bases. The total cost is $65/night/site and allows up to 4 people with one vehicle, includes a top single/bottom double bunk bed, picnic table and fire pit. Please note: you must bring your own sheets/pillows/blankets, no pets or cooking allowed in the yurt and an additional $20 key deposit will be required on arrival; then refundable upon return of keys.

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