Monck Provincial Park

Know Before You Go

Major credit cards are accepted at the gatehouse and store.

There is a pay telephone at the gate office near the entrance to the park.

Campground Guidelines

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.
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.

Parking and Traffic Safety

Roadways can be very busy. All road users must obey traffic regulations and rules. The speed limit within the park is 10 km/hour or less. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel; e.g., cyclists yield to walkers.
Motorcycles and Bicycles are permitted on park roads only and must travel in the same direction & speed as the signage indicates. Motorcycles must be properly licenced and must be operated by a licenced driver only. Helmets must be worn. Unlicenced 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.

General Safety

Nicola Lake is subject to frequent sudden windstorms, poseing a very real danger to small boats.
The swimming area is buoyed off from boat traffic. The lake bottom drops off sharply between the buoys and close to the shore in other areas of the lake. Use caution.
The extreme hot, dry climate can result in overexposure to the sun. Everyone in your party should wear sunscreen of at least 15 SPF and a hat with a brim.
Wood ticks are most prevalent between March and June. These parasites reside in tall grass and low shrubbery and seek out warm-blooded hosts. Although they are potential carriers of disease, they are a natural part of the environment and can be easily avoided. Your legs should be protected by wearing trousers tucked into socks or gaiters. After outdoor activity, thoroughly examine yourself. Check your pets for ticks as well.
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.

About This Park

Set on the shore of Nicola Lake, Monck Provincial Park offers a wide assortment of recreational activities including camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, water-skiing, wind-surfing and hiking. A very popular family-oriented campground in a hot, dry setting this park has very high use during the summer season. In addition to providing recreational opportunities, Monck protects a ponderosa pine, bunchgrass ecosystem and a volcanic rock cliff landscape.

Park Size: 92 hectares

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.)	Main gate and one campground loop open with limited services from April 15 to April 30 and from October 1 to October 31.
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:	May 1 – September 30
Campground Reservable Dates:	May 8 – September 8
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:	120
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served)	72
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.

Reservations

All reserveable, vehicle accessible campsites must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Location and Maps

Location Map

On the western shore of Nicola Lake, 22 km north of Merritt, 12 km off Hwy 5A via narrow paved road.

Maps and Brochures

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Park Map (PDF - updated June 2008)
Brochure - (PDF)

Nature and Culture

History - Established in 1951. The original land was donated and was the site of an old homestead. There are archaeological sites including two First Nations pit house depressions in the day use area.
Wildlife - There are 26 species of fish in Nicola Lake.
General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

Approved online Management Planning Information

Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing

Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are available; however, extreme caution should be used due to the high winds occurring daily on the lake. These boats should stay close to shore.

Cycling

Bicycling is allowed only on paved roads and designated trails in this park. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Fishing

Rainbow trout and kokanee are the most common fish, however there are 26 species of fish in the lake. A valid BC angling licence is required and must be carried with you when fishing.

Hiking

There is a 5 km self-guided interpretive hiking trail that loops around the park. In 2005, the Park added 1.3 km of trail to the east of the existing upper trails. The loop is best walked from the upper end. Sections of this trail are steep and require caution. 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.

Interpretive Programs

Programs will begin late June 2009; program information will be posted at that time

Pets on Leash

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.

Swimming

Swimming is very popular at the sandy beach. There are marker buoys sectioning off the swimming area. The beach shelves quickly to deep water, so swimmers need to use caution. There are two change houses.

Waterskiing

Waterskiing occurs on Nicola Lake.

Wildlife Viewing

Excellent bird-watching spring and fall. There are deer and bear sightings in the fall.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is very popular on Nicola Lake due to the daily high winds the area receives.

Facilities Available at this Park

Boat Launch

There is a concrete boat launch located next to the day-use area. Water skiing is popular on the lake.

Campfires

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.

Drinking Water

There are potable water posts located throughout the campground.

View the Annual Drinking Water System Report: Monck

Picnic Areas

The day-use is located next to the lake on a large grassy area. There are 40 picnic tables; 15 of the tables have a roof shelter. There are a few ponderosa pine trees to provide some shade. There is a large parking area adjacent to the day-use. No campfires are allowed in the day use area. Please ensure that all barbeques or campstoves are used on the ground and not set on picnic tables.

Pit or Flush Toilets

There are three flush toilet buildings, five single flush toilets (four with sinks) and seven pit toilets.

Playground

There is an adventure playground and horseshoe pitch near the day-use area.

Sani-Station/Dump

There is a user pay sani-station near the entrance of the park.

Sani-station Use Fee: $5.00 per discharge

Vehicle Accessible Camping

Monck provides 120 vehicle accessible campsites, including 17 "double" sites. Sites are sunny but each receives some shade throughout the day. Most sites can accommodate larger units. Five of the sites also have a tent pad. Campsites are located in three loops and provide close and easy access to the lake. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-com e, first-served sites are also available.

If there are no staff at the gatehouse upon arrival, all campers, including reservation customers, must self register. There are three self-registration stations in the campground, one in each loop. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season. The entrance gate is locked between the hours of 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. In emergencies the park attendant can be reached at the residence in the service yard during these hours.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $21.00 per party / night

BC Senior's Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $10.50 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Wheelchair Access

The flush toilet buildings each have 2 stalls that are wheelchair accessible.