E.C. Manning Provincial Park

Manning Provincial Park is easily accessed from Hwy # 3. It is centrally located between Vancouver and the Okanagan Valley. The ease of access and location make it one of the more popular parks in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

The location and natural features of the park provide the opportunity to enjoy many different adventures in the area. There are many mountains including the Nepopekum, Shawatum, Red, Snow Camp, Lone, Frosty, Big Buck and Dewdney Mountains.

There are many lakes, creeks, rivers and waterfalls including Lightning Lake, Poland Lake, Thunder Lake, Ross Lake, Nicomen Lake, Poland Creek, Snass Creek, Passage Creek, Skagit River, Derek Falls, Shadow Falls and Nepopekum Falls.

During the summer some of the more popular activities enjoyed in Manning Park include backpacking, hiking, swimming, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, birdwatching and wilderness camping.

Lightning Lake is ideal for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. There is a boat launch and rentals near the day use area. The hike-in lakes of Poland Lake and Nicomen Lake provide a backcountry wilderness fishing experience.

After the snow falls and the waterways freeze some of the activities enjoyed in Manning Park include snowshoeing, ice fishing, cross country skiing (100+ km of trails), backcountry skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding (24 ski trails).

Many adventures cross over into neighboring parks and recreational areas. To the north of Manning Park is the Cascade Recreation Area and to the west is the Skagit Valley Provincial Park. To the south, over the USA border, the park butts up against the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and the North Cascades National Park.

In Manning Park there is a developed resort providing accommodations, activities and services. Throughout the park there are recreational facilities and services including campgrounds, wilderness campsites, winter campgrounds, washrooms, pit toilets, day use picnic areas, sani station, picnic shelters and a boat launch.

There are over 15 campgrounds and 7 day use picnic areas in the park. The day use picnic areas include picnic tables, information signs and pit toilets. The locations of the day use picnic areas include Lightning Lake, Coldspring, West Gate, Sumallo Grove, Spruce Bay and Blowdown.

Many arrive in the park for the opportunity to explore deep into the wilderness regions of the park. This is made easy with over 255+ kilometres of trails leading into the remote mountains and valleys. There are easy - going trails, as well as, challenging multi day adventures. When exploring always prepare for weather and temperature at varying elevations.

Easy trails include the Lightning Lake Loop (9 km return), Rhododendron Flats (.7 km return) and Lightning Lake Chain (12 km one-way).

Moderate trails (varying degrees of difficulty based on fitness levels) include the Dewdney Trail (36km one-way), Castle Creek/Monument 78 (12km one-way), Hope Pass Trail (23.5km one-way) and the Heather Trail (21km one-way).

Difficult trails (challenging for all fitness levels) include the Bonnevier Trail (25km one-way), Windy Joe Mountain Trail (16km return), Pacific Crest Trail (13km one-way), Frosty Mountain Loop Trail (29.3km return), Monument 83 Trail (16km one-way), Poland Lake Trail (8km one-way), Skyline 1 Trail (20.4km loop), Grainger Creek Trail (17.5km one-way) and the Whatcom Trail (13km one way).

Not all recreation trails are shared trails for all activities. Some are designated trails for specific adventures. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders all should be aware of the each other, keeping your eyes and ears alert at all times. Beware of blind corners and downhill trail sections.

Some of the popular horseback riding trails include the Windy Joe Mountain, Skagit Bluffs, Hope Pass, Dewdney, Monument 83, North Gibson and the Similkameen East and West Trails. Horseback riding is also permitted on the gravel backcountry roads. There are also staging areas in the park for horseback riding at Cayuse Flats, Monument 83 and Dewdney Trailhead. .

Some of the popular backcountry mountain biking trails include the Monument 83, Windy Joe Mountain, Poland Lake, Lone Duck, North Gibson and the East and West Similkameen Trails. Mountain bikes are also permitted on the gravel backcountry roads.

Manning Park is also the home to many species of wildlife, flora and fauna. There are over 200+ bird species and 60+ mammals identified living in the park. Some of the wildlife in the park includes the pika, squirrel, beaver, wolverine, grizzly bear, black bear, cougar, spotted owl, marmot, coyote, moose and chipmunk.

Explore E.C. Manning Provincial Park near the Village of Hope, BC, Canada in the Fraser Valley Area of British Columbia, Canada.