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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.

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.

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)

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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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.)
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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.
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| 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
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| 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. |
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No
wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.
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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.
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No
day-use or picnic facilities.
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There
are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
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There
are water taps located throughout the campgrounds and one hand-pump at the Group Campsite.
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This
park has 11 pit toilets conveniently located throughout
the various campground loops. There are no flush toilets. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities.
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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.
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There are no electrical hook-ups in this park |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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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.
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This
park does not have a playground. |
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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.
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There
are paddling, canoeing and kayaking opportunities at
this park.
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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.
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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.
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Bicycles
must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory
in British Columbia.
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No
horseback riding.
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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. |
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No
wildlife viewing opportunities. 
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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No
hunting in the park. |
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. |
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