A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
As of January 30, 2009 - A digital camera was found in the park
in one of the South Slopes cabins. If you have lost your camera, please call the BC Parks Penticton office at 250-490-8200 to claim it.
Park Info
Snowy Protected Area was established on April 18, 2001, to provide increased representation of the Okanagan Ranges ecosection. The area also protects a wide range of vegetation and wildlife from dry grassland valleys to extensive alpine meadows and supports a provincially significant herd of California bighorn sheep.
30 km southwest of Keremeos. The best place to access the Protected Area is from the Ewart Creek Trail head in Cathedral Park. To get to this trail head you turn left on the Ewart Creek Road off the Ashnola Road at about 5 km, cross over the Ashnola River and follow the road to the end. The trail leads from there, crosses over Ewart Creek and heads south on its eastern bank. The trail crosses back over the creek and then branches. Go left which takes you onto the south slopes of the protected area. There is no trail map available of the area but this trail does lead up above tree line. Remember this is pure wilderness with no facilities.
Nature & Culture
Conservation - The area protects habitat representative of the Okanagan Range Ecosection, the northern extension of a landscape more common in Washington State. Present in the area are old growth forests, extensive Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir grasslands and alpine wetlands and lakes. The entire Ewart Creek Watershed is protected.
Wildlife - The primary consideration of the protected area is the provincially significant California bighorn sheep herd. The species is blue listed in the province and the protected area contains important winter range and lambing grounds. Other rare wildlife found in the protected area includes: blue listed Grizzly bear, Cascade mantled ground squirrel, Fringed myotis, Spotted bat and Townsend’s bat, and the red listed badger and Pallid bat. Birds found in the area include the blue listed Sandhill crane and Canyon wren and two red listed falcons, the Peregrine falcon and the Prairie falcon.
Online Management planning information for this park is not available at this time.
Activities Available At This Park
Fishing
Fishing available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
This park has hiking and/or walking trails. The trails in this area are not marked or maintained. 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.
Horseback Riding
The trails within this area are not marked or maintained.
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.
Facilities Available At This Park
Cabins / Huts / Yurts
There are a number of cabins in this Protected Area but only the backcountry cabin at Joe Lake is open to the public. All other cabins are either for approved permitted guide outfitters or the First Nations. At these cabins, users could encounter outfitters or backcountry cowboys hunting, guiding or cattle grazing.
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Snowy Protected Area was established on April 18, 2001, to provide increased representation of the Okanagan Ranges ecosection. The area also protects a wide range of vegetation and wildlife from dry grassland valleys to extensive alpine meadows and supports a provincially significant herd of California bighorn sheep.
