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Crown Lake in Marble Canyon Park ' Marble Canyon 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:

A small, quiet campground, set between two small lakes Turquoise and Crown. This park is popular with fishermen and birders. Nestled in the rugged Pavilion Mountain Range. The limestone canyon in which Marble Canyon Provincial Park is located is a rather rare geological formation in British Columbia. That's what makes picnicking here such an unusual experience. You can sense there's something different; the white, chalk-faced slopes are certainly not composed of granite, as are the nearby Coast Mountains. And the weathered peaks, surmounted by the remarkable Chimney Rock, have the appearance of a crumbling castle wall. This canyon was once part of a Pacific island chain, another section of which lies in the northwest corner of the province. A waterfall on the far side of suitably named Turquoise Lake reminds you of the power of the elements to eventually wear all things down.

Visit historic Hat Creek Ranch and the town of Lillooet, both nearby. Explore the area, rich in the history of the Interior Salish people and the pioneers who followed the gold rush and homesteaded this area.

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Park Size: 355 hectares

Special Notes:

  • The nearest public telephone is at Hat Creek Ranch 26 km east at the junction of Hwys 97 and 99.
  • 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:

40 km northwest of Cache Creek, off Hwy #99.

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 - Established in 1956 with the addition of Pavilion Lake on April 18th, 2001.
  • Cultural Heritage - The Pavilion Indian Band holds special heritage and spiritual connection to Pavilion Lake and the surrounding land.
  • Conservation - From the campground, view spectacular limestone cliffs 1 km high, part of the Pavilion Range. The park boundary now includes all of Pavilion Lake and the lake bottom to protect the unique and sensitive freshwater stromatolite features. Because the stromatolites are fragile scuba diving in Pavilion Lake requires specialised training.
    Pavilion Lake is only one of a few places in the world where freshwater stromatolite features can be found. Similar stromatolites to 1-2 cm have been found at nearby Kelly Lake, but there are no known freshwater stromatolites anywhere else that approach the large size of those found at Pavilion Lake. There are large stromotalites found in hypersaline conditions in Hamelin Pool, which is part of the Shark Bay world heritage site in Australia. Click here for information on Pavilion Lake Research Project.
    The coral-like structures are formed from fossilized remains of micro-organisms (microbiolites) that are considered to be similar to some of the oldest known lifeforms on Earth. Microbiolites are believed to have formed a critical stage in the evolution of life on earth. There is also scientific speculation that search for life on other planets such as Mars would focus on finding fossilized remains of similar organisms.
  • Wildlife - Trout are found in Crown, Turquoise, and Pavilion Lakes.
    Black bears are frequently seen in the area.
  • General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information


Visitor Safety:
  • The extremely hot, dry climate can result in overexposure to the sun. Everyone in your party should wear sunscreen of at least SPF 15, and a hat with a brim.
  • 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.

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.

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 30 high-density vehicle/tent accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis - 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 water pump. Please detach the receipt portion and attach to the clip on the picnic table. You may also pre-pay firewood with your campsite self registration. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season. Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $7.50 per senior's couple/night

Campground 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.)

Year round
Gate is open year round.
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees: April 25 - September 30, 2008.
Off-season: no fees, no water, no garbage removal, no firewood, one pit toilet open, user maintained.
Campground Reservable Dates: Not applicable
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: 30
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

No group campsites.

picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

This park has limited day-use/picnic facilities on the edge the campground.

wheelchair accessibility

There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.

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drinking water

There is one hand pump.

toilets

This park has pit toilets - no flush toilets.

showers

No showers.

sani-stations, sani-dumps

No sani-station/dump facilities.

firewood, campfires

Campfires are permitted and firepits are provided. 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

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

There is a small sandy beach on Crown Lake. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.

canoeing, kayaking

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking on Pavilion, Crown and Turquoise Lakes.

power boats, boat launch

This park does not have a boat launch.

fishing

fishing

Rainbow Trout fishing to 1 kg at Crown, Pavilion and Turquoise Lakes. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. There are opportunities for ice fishing in this park.

cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

Cycling is not permitted.

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

The white, chalk-faced slopes are certainly not composed of granite, as are the nearby Coast Mountains. And the weathered peaks, surmounted by the remarkable Chimney Rock, have the appearance of a crumbling castle wall. This canyon was once part of a Pacific island chain, another section of which lies in the northwest corner of the province. A waterfall on the far side of suitably named Turquoise Lake reminds you of the power of the elements to eventually wear all things down.

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

No winter recreation opportunities.

scuba, snorkelling

There are SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.  Click here for more information.

windsurfing

No windsurfing opportunities.

waterskiing

No waterskiing opportunities.

hunting

No hunting in the park.

climbing, rock climbing

Marble Canyon Provincial Park has one of the best and most easily accessed icefalls in the region. Lower Mainland rock climbers have opened dozens of routes over the past decade in this area, which has come to be known as the "Cinderella of BC rock," because of its still relatively undiscovered beauty. A maze of canyons run off on both sides of the main canyon, through which the highway makes it way as it passes beside the brilliantly hued Turquoise, Crown, and Pavilion Lakes. Chimney Rock, known as Coyote Rock by members of the Fountain Band First Nation, dominates the crenellated skyline. The best description of routes such as the Headwall and the Great Gully are found in "Central B.C. Rock" by Lyle Knight, a comprehensive climbing guide to routes in the Lillooet region north through the Central Interior and east through the Okanogan and West Kootenays.

spelunking, caving

No spelunking or caving opportunities.

cabins, yurts, lodges

No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.

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