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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Monashee Provincial Park protects substantial stands
of old growth cedar, spruce and hemlock. Lush green forests
grace the valley bottoms and, in the spring, alpine meadows
blossom with a colourful array of wildflowers. The park
is also known for some of the oldest rock formations in
western Canada. Peters and Margie Lakes sparkle beneath
2697 metre high Mount. Fosthall, the highest peak in the
park and part of the rugged Monashee Range of snow-capped
peaks that surround the park. Lucky visitors may get a
glimpse of the rare mountain caribou or wolverine or the
much more common mule deer, ground squirrels and pikas.
This undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure
for both experienced, backcountry hikers and willing beginners
alike.
Park
Size: 22,722
hectares
Special
Notes:
- Dogs
are not permitted in this park.
- Fires
are not permitted outside of the Spectrum Lake campground.
Management
Planning:
Management
Planning Information
Location:
111 km
north of Vernon. Take hwy #97 to Vernon, then go east on Hwy
#6 from Vernon for 47 km, through Lumby to Cherryville. Turn
north onto Sugar Lake Road and proceed 46 km until you reach
the turnoff (km marker #22) to the park. Proceed on Spectrum
Creek Road for 16 km to 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:
- Conservation - The Monashee's peaks reach elevations of 3000 metres and the bases are cloaked in dense vegetation. Hiking the low elevations can be difficult, as the forest floor is comprised of clusters of devil's club and nettles, but rewarding with groves of old-growth cedar, spruce and hemlock. Traversing upward, the distinctive alpine region unfolds with an array of wildflowers, heathers, mosses and lichens.
The Protected Area protects flood plain to alpine. It also protects critical habitat of caribou and ensures continuance of their migration corridors. The area around Rainbow Falls and the riparian zone along a section of the upper Shuswap River are also protected.
- Wildlife - The cool summer temperatures and abundant vegetation provide ideal habitat a variety of wildlife. The park is home to one red-listed bird species, the Northern Goshawk, and two red-listed mammals, the wolverine and mountain caribou. As well as endangered species, the area also boasts moose, mule deer, and black bear, blue-listed grizzly bear and Townsend's big-eared bat, marten and cougar.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information
Visitor
Safety:
- Campers
must be prepared for extreme weather changes while camping
and hiking in the sub-alpine areas of the park. Even in
mid-August, subzero temperatures are common.
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.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
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No
vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
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Backcountry
camping is available in two areas. The park is open
year round if accessible and there are no fees.
Spectrum Lake is the main
camping area located 6 km from the Spectrum Creek
trailhead. There are 16 sites are spread out along
the lakeshore and up the slope towards the Ranger
Cabin. Each site has a ten foot by ten foot wooden
tent platform, fire ring and picnic table. Most
of the sites along the lake also have a small wooden
shelter with cedar shake roof over the picnic table.
Cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir are found throughout
the camping area offering plenty of shade and providing
a backcountry experience for novice hikers. The
understory is sparse, with most of the ground carpeted
by moss. A metal food cache pole is located at each
end of the campground. They are 20 feet high with
cables attached for stringing up food and backpacks.
Big
Peters Lake is the other camping
area located 15 km from the Spectrum Creek
trailhead.
It is more
rustic than Spectrum Lake. There are 10 tent platforms
spread out amongst the trees on the southern
end
of the lake. The terrain is mostly open meadows
and wetlands broken up hummocks of land
covered
by Engelmann spruce and sub-alpine fir. There is
a metal food cache box but no taps, fire
rings,
picnic tables.or shelters. There are fantastic
views down the length of the lake to Slate
Mountain.
There
are no facilities at Margie Lake, though there has
been use at the north east end of the lake.
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A
group campsite is found roughly 100m further along the
Spectrum lakeshore on the northeast side of the lake.
There is a large, covered picnic table shelter offering a place to
keep dry, though it does not have a stove. There are
four double tent pads nearby as well as a pit toilet
and two taps. Use of these facilities is on a first-come, first-serve basis; reservations are not accepted. This area is also in a thick cedar forest
with a meandering stream running through.
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This
park has a day-use/picnic area at Rainbow Falls. There
is a 15 car gravel parking lot with one pit toilet and
an information shelter beside the trail to Spectrum
Lake. The other trail leaving the parking lot is a steep,
well defined trail that leads down to the falls. Wet
areas are covered with boardwalk and footbridges. There
are no picnic tables at the falls or in the parking
lot. There are two wooden viewing platforms below the
falls offering a spectacular view.
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There
are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
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There
are no water taps located at this park.
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There
are three pit toilets at the main Spectrum
Lake campground, one at the Spectrum group
site, one pit toilet at the Peters Lake campground
and one at the trailhead. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities.
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Campfires are permitted within fire rings at Spectrum
Lake campground only. Bring a portable stove for
cooking. 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.
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BC
Parks do not have electrical hookups. |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at
this park.
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This
undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure
for experienced, backcountry hikers. There are also
trails for the willing beginner. Click
here for trail information. 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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No
swimming.
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There
are no opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this
park.
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This
park does not have a boat launch.
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Visitors can enjoy fishing for rainbow trout. Peters
Lake has numerous fish though they are generally smaller
than those found in Spectrum Lake. Anyone fishing or
angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate
licence.
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There
is no biking permitted in this park.
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Horseback
riding is permitted
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Dogs
are not permitted within this park.
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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There
are two viewing platforms at Rainbow Falls. One is found extended out over
Spectrum Creek just downstream from the falls to give visitors a beautiful,
unobstructed view of the entire falls. The second platform is perched on
the rocks nearer the falls bringing the visitor closer to the enormous
power of the rushing water. Spray from the falls drifts over both platforms
to feed the mossy forest below. The platforms may be slippery if wet.
Lucky visitors may get a glimpse of the rare mountain caribou or wolverine
or the much more common mule deer, ground squirrels and pikas.
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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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Mount
Fosthall and Slate Mountain offer climbing/scrambling 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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