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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Situated just south of Nakusp, McDonald Creek Park is
one of a system of four provincial parks on the Arrow
Lake reservoir. With facilities on the eastern shoreline,
it is a holiday destination for swimming, boating, jet skiing, water skiing and
fishing opportunities. It features several kilometres
of fine sandy beach, water front sites and open grassy
meadows. You can always find a quiet spot for yourself,
try some beachcombing or join in the fun at the main swimming
area. A boat launch is available offering good fishing opportunities
for kokanee, bull and rainbow trout - a tempting invitation
for anglers of all ages.
The Arrow Reservoir bisects McDonald Creek Provincial
Park and protects lakeshore riparian habitat on the east
side and forested upland habitat on the west side. This
combination offers outdoor recreational opportunities
in a unique forested/lakeside setting.
Park
Size: 468
hectares
Special
Notes:
Management
Planning:
Management Planning Information
Location:
Located
in the southern interior of BC, on the east and west
shores of the Upper Arrow Lake, 10 km south of Nakusp on
Highway
6. The park facilities are only in the eastern section
of the park.
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 - This area
was originally cleared for homesteading. Several remnant structures
from the historic homesteads can still be found. The park now
supports a 2nd growth forest of mostly pine and larch. It was
established in 1982 as a holiday destination to offer recreational
opportunities for the local community and tourists along the
travel corridor. The east side of the park contains McDonald
Creek, its namesake. It is located in the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket,
Okanagan and Shuswap first nation traditional territories.
- Conservation - McDonald
Creek Provincial Park encompasses 468 ha. The Arrow reservoir bisects
the park and creates two distinct portions of protected area. The
East Side protects lakeshore riparian habitat and kokanee spawning
habitat associated with an alluvial fan and creek, a somewhat rare
feature for interior lakes. The west side with its forested upland
habitat provides critical winter range for ungulates, primarily deer
and elk. Conifers of pine and larch are the primary trees found in
the park. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please do not damage or remove them.
- Wildlife - This park supports a divers population of small mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks and porcupines. In late August and mid September the spawning kokanee are a point of interest to park visitors. With its critical winter habitat, elk and deer are commonly observed during the off season.
Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Visitor
Safety:
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.
Campground reservations are accepted at this park 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:
West
Kootenay Park Management Inc.
Phone: (250) 837-5734
Fax: (250) 837-5764
Email for general inquiries: information@westkootenayparks.com
Email for park specific inquiries: mcdonaldcreek@westkootenayparks.com
Click here to view a non-government
web link, for additional information.
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Upon
entering the park, turn right to access the campground.
The campground has a two-way, gravel road situated
on the edge of the forest. This facility has been
extended three times, so along the road you will
find turnarounds at different intervals. There are
38 vehicle accessible sites in the park including
3 doubles. Four of these sites have tent pads. There
are no pull through sites however the campground
has an even mix of small to large sites and can
accommodate large recreational vehicles. The majority
of sites are lakefront and offer access to the beach
but are not considered to have lake views. All sites
are shady, set in a mixed forest of pine and larch.
Extra vehicles can be parked in the day-use parking
area.
The park offers services during the peak season
from May to September. Reservations are accepted, as well as first-come, first-serve campsites are available. A
park gate is located at the park entrance. The closet
phone and store is in Nakusp, a 15 minute drive
12 km north on Highway 6.
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.)
|
May 1 - October 15
Gate is closed during the off-season |
| Campground
Dates with Full Services and Fees: |
May
1 - October 15 |
| Campground
Reservable Dates: |
May 15 - September 15 |
| Total
Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: |
46 |
| Number
of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) |
30 |
| 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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No
group campsites.
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One
day-use/picnic area is located before the campground
on a sandy/grassed bench. This area has 6 tables,
2 pit toilets and a water tap. During high water
the beach is sandy with the tables 50 metres from
the waters edge. Although this area is recognized
as
the main day-use/picnic site, many visitors do picnic
along its entire 800 metre shoreline. This day-use/picnic
area has limited facilities and contains no change
house or barbeque stands. A day-use /picnic parking
area is nearby.
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There
is some wheelchair access in the park.
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Cold
water is available for cooking and drinking. The
park has chlorinated, treated water pumped from the
reservoir. Four taps are conveniently located in
the park, three in the campground and one in the
day-use/picnic area. Taps are shut off during the
off-season.
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This
park has seven pit toilets - no flush toilets. Three sets are located
at the start, middle and end of the campground. The two at the start
of the campground are shared with the day-use/picnic area. One is at
the boat launch. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities. The nearest sani-station
dump to the park is in Nakusp.
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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 in the park or you may 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.
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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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There
are no developed trails at this park.
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This
park does not have a playground. |
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As
the park is on the Arrow Lake reservoir, the water
does fluctuate. In the spring during low water, the
shoreline is muddy and not considered attractive
to swimmers. However at peak season, during July
and August when the water is high, the beach is sandy
and is popular for sunbathing, swimming and beach
combing. The combined shoreline on the east and west
encompasses over 6 km and is complimented with natural
sandbars and coves. The eastern shore, where all
the day-use /picnic facilities are concentrated is
the most popular. The western shore although equally
as sandy is less used as logging roads or boats are
required to accesses it. The water can be described
as refreshing to cool. There is no roped off swimming
area. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial
parks.
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There
are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this
park. Users access the lake from either the boat
launch or the waterfront sites.
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The
boat launch is located at the south end of the park,
accessed by turning turn left at the park entrance.
This concrete plank, singlewide ramp is only useable
during high water. A nearby 25 vehicle parking lot
is available for overnight parking. There is no wharf
but boats are beached during the day. Both car top
and power boats can be seen on the lake.
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There
are kokanee, bull and rainbow trout angling opportunities
at this park. Anyone fishing or angling in British
Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Check
the BC Fishing Regulation
Synopsis for restrictions
and quotas.
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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. There is no off leash area in this park. 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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During the spawning season, you can see kokanee.
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No
winter recreation opportunities. |
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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Windsurfing opportunities are available on Arrow Lakes.
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There are
excellent waterskiing and jet skiing opportunities on Arrow Lakes. |
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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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