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2004 CPAWS photo contest - Terry Webb ' Kentucky Alleyne 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!

  • There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

Wide open spaces, great fishing, wildlife, old west history and a quieter camping spot can all be yours in less than a 90 minute drive from the central Okanagan. Located in the heart of cattle country, the rolling grasslands and dry open forest surround the sparkling turquoise waters of Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake. The scenery is spectacular from early April to late October with springs' palette of soft pastels slowly changing to the vibrant golds of autumn.

Once known only by local fishers and their friends, the park is being discovered as a weekend destination from the coast and from the Okanagan. The Coquihalla and the Hwy 97C Connector have made the access easier to these beautiful fishing lakes.

This is also an excellent spot for small mammals and large bird species.

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Park Size: 144 hectares

Special Notes:

  • Quiet Hours - are 10 pm to 7 am. Music, generators, etc. must be shut off completely between these hours.
  • Hibachis and Campstoves - can burn the picnic tables. Please do not use them on the tables.
  • Valuables - when left unattended or at night, should be stored out of sight and locked up at all times. Please report all thefts to the park staff as soon as possible.
  • Traffic Safety - The speed limit within the park is 20 km/hour or less.
  • Motorcycles and Bicycles - are permitted on park roads only. Motorcycles must be properly licensed and must be operated by a licensed driver only. Helmets must be worn. Unlicensed ATV's or dirt bikes are not permitted.
  • Parking - is prohibited on the side of the road. Please park on the gravelled portion of your campsite or in designated parking spaces. Vehicles parked in day-use areas after 11 pm may be ticketed or towed.
  • Pets - must be on leash (no longer than 2 metres) at all times while in the park. They are not allowed on beaches or in day use areas. Owners must clean up after their pets.
  • Consumption of Alcohol - is prohibited except in your campsite.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Location:

The park is located 38 km south of Merritt or 11 km south of Aspen Grove, just off Hwy 5A. From the east, the park is 11 km. from Coquihalla Highway 97C on paved access. The closest communities, towns and cities are Aspen Grove, Merritt, Princeton and Elkhart Lodge.

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:
  • History - The park was established 5 March 1981 and is set in the heart of British Columbia's cattle country. Surrounding the park is land belonging to the Douglas Lake Ranch, Canada's largest cattle ranch with a rich, 115 year history.
  • Conservation - Several kettle lakes, eskers and fluvial outwash deposits are solid evidence of the glacial activity that formed the landscape. Rolling grasslands and dry open forest with some large, mature Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine surround the sparkling turquoise waters of Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake. The scenery is spectacular from early April to late October with springs' palette of soft pastels slowly changing to the vibrant golds of autumn. 
  • Wildlife - The lakes and ponds draw a variety of waterfowl such as goldeneye, mallards, teal, and grebe. A variety of hawks and falcons can often be seen aflight searching the grasslands for a meal. The blue-listed sharptail grouse as well as jack rabbits and ground squirrels can be found under cover in the stands of aspen and scrub juniper.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:
  • Roadways can be very busy. Whether you are walking, cycling, roller-blading, skateboarding or driving, please be careful. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel; e.g., cyclists yield to walkers. Obey all traffic regulations and rules of the road.

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.

Individual campsite reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

Group Camp/Picnic Reservations:
The park has a group campsite that accepts reservations for groups with 10 parties or more. Here is more information on the group campsite and/or group picnic site reservations
for this park.

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

Contact Information:

B/L Parks Contracting Ltd.
E-mail address:
info@bcinteriorparks.com
General Office phone: (250) 378-5334 (April to October)
Please specify PARK NAME when sending or leaving a message
For Employment & Camp Host opportunities, please e-mail to address shown above.

Click here to view a non-government website for additional information.

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vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

This park offers 58 vehicle accessible campsites including five double, eight pull-through and one group camp site. The group campsite is located at the north end of Alleyne Lake. The campground is quite spread out and divided between Kentucky Lake, sites 1-31, the West Pond, sites 36-41 and Alleyne Lake with sites 42-58. The sites along Kentucky Lake are spacious and open allowing for lots of sunshine and fantastic views of the lake. Most of the sites are right on the lake. The sites are gravel and have a picnic table on a cement pad and a fire ring.

The sites above the West Pond are also open and situated on a narrow terrace overlooking the water. These sites are pull-through and there is a small turn-around area past the sites to make entering and leaving easier.

There is a combination of sites on Alleyne Lake. The access road winds down a terrace accessing multiple of levels of sites. Some are right on the lake while others overlook it. Most of the sites are open, separated by natural grasses, with great views and lots of sunshine. One small loop of four sites is located amidst the Douglas fir forest.

Campsites on the West Pond and Alleyne Lake are open year round. Services are available mid May to October annually. The gate to Kentucky Lake is closed annually after the Canadian Thanksgiving. All sites are first-come, first-served and,campsite reservations are not accepted. During the camping season, overnight visitors can now pay at the campground with a self registration system - cash only accepted. Deposit cash in the envelope (change will be provided when attendant arrives if you do not have correct amount), fill out the information and place in the vault provided at the information kiosk. Please detach the receipt portion and attach to the campsite number post. You may also pre-pay firewood with your campsite self registration. There are no phones in the park and the closest store is at the Elkhart Lodge on the Coquihalla Connector or in Merritt, 38 km north of the park.

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

Kentucky Lake Gate opens:
May 15, 2008
Gate Closes:
October 14, 2008
Off-season - No water, garbage collection, firewood, or fees. One pit toilet open at campsite #41 - user maintained..
Roadside campsites can be accessed off Bates Road; gate to group campsites at north end of Alleyne Lake is always closed/controlled.

Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: May 15 to October 14, 2008
Campground Reservable Dates: Not applicable
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: 58
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) Not applicable
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

The group site is located on the north end of Alleyne Lake accessed via a narrow 2.5 km gravel road. The group site requires a minimum booking of ten parties. There are picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets, potable water and is located lakeside for good fishing and boating opportunities. Here is more information on how to reserve a group campsite.

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

No day-use or picnic facilities.

wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.

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drinking water

There are water taps located throughout the campgrounds and one hand-pump at the Group Campsite.  

toilets

This park has 11 pit toilets conveniently located throughout the various campground loops. There are no flush toilets.

showers

No showers.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

No sani-station/dump facilities.

firewood, campfires

Firewood can be purchased from the Park Facility Operator in some parks or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. You may pre-pay for firewood with your campsite self registration. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.

Please ensure that all barbeques or campstoves are used on the ground and not set on picnic tables.

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.

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walking, hiking trails

A four km walking trail circling Kentucky Lake provides viewing and access to the lakeshore where the swimming is great. The trail is well-defined, 2-3 foot wide hardpacked dirt. It is an easy walk with minimal elevation change that takes one hour. It follows the lakeshore through large Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine trees. At the south end of the lake, a spur trail leads 20m to another small quiet pond. The other trails in the park serve only to link the various camping loops. 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.

playgrounds

This park does not have a playground.
swimming

Although you can swim here, the clean turquoise water is cold and there are no buoys to designate a swimming area. There are no beaches and most of the lakeshore by the campgrounds is a natural marsh with lots of rushes. Though it makes for poor swimming, the area is good for waterfowl. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

There are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at this park.

power boats, boat launch

The small gravel boat launch on Kentucky Lake is accessed by a single lane gravel road past site 4. There is a small wooden dock and a turn-around area with no parking. Another small gravel boat launch is found on Alleyne Lake between sites 53 and 54. They are best suited to small, light boats. There is a horsepower restriction.

fishing

Ice Fishing

This area is very popular for fishing and even features a 'children only' fishery to foster interest in the sport among youth. The ponds between Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake are open only to those under the age of 16. The lakes and ponds are stocked with rainbow trout from the Summerland Trout Hatchery. Depending on temperatures, there are ice fishing opportunities in the park. Access may be difficult depending on road conditions. 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.

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 or park 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.
wildlife viewing

No wildlife viewing opportunities.

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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.

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