Camping at Mabel Lake Provincial Park in British Columbia’s North Okanagan

This fall we went back to Mabel Lake Provincial Park for the first time in years, and it was even better than last time!

We love the quiet, peacefulness of Mabel Lake. It has an especially calm feeling in the fall as the cooler weather sets in. We booked ahead through the BC Parks Reservation System as it was a long weekend, a good plan since it was full.

To get to Mabel Lake Provincial Park, take Hwy 6 east from Vernon to Lumby then head north onto Mabel Lake Road for 36 kilometres. The last 1 kilometre is gravel, but well-maintained.

Mabel Lake is about 30 kilometres long and attracts the fishermen in the family. Many were fishing in small boats, belly boats and from the shore. Being that my husband will take any opportunity to fish, it worked great for me as it gave me lots of time to enjoy my book while he was out fishing for our supper. Apparently, the lake has many varieties and some big fish in deep water including Rainbow and Lake Trout and Chinook and Kokanee Salmon.  Don’t forget to buy your Freshwater fishing licence before you arrive, as there is no cell service in the campsite.

The campground has 114 sites, fresh drinking water, wood for a fee (outside of the fire ban periods), a big sandy beach, boat launch, lots of trails and a sani-dump. There is also a privately- run general store which had shut down for the season, but looks like they have basic supplies plus boat rentals. This campsite is great for kids, riding bikes, playing in the wide-open grassy fields and on the playground.

Uniquely laid out, the campsite has three loops: Trinity, Monashee and Taylor Creek. The Taylor Creek loop is set back slightly from the lake in the forest.  We camped in the Trinity Loop, but the Monashee loop looked equally as nice, both bordering and close to the lake. We were so lucky to snag a waterfront site with easy access for fishing and a great view.

This dog-friendly campsite has a big sandy dog beach and trails which meander through the campground. There is also easy access to the Taylor Creek trail which winds alongside the creek. 

We saw lots of interesting mushrooms along the Taylor Creek Trail. Friends we were with had taken a mushroom identification course and pointed out some Lobster mushrooms and Scarlet Waxy Cap mushrooms.

Throughout our stay, I kept asking “Who was Mabel?”. Being that we did not have cell-service, I had to look it up when we returned home. The park website shared that the lake was named after Mabel Charles, daughter of a Hudson’s Bay Company manager during the late nineteenth century.

Whilst there we decided to do a road trip on one of the days; with water and snacks, we headed north on the Mabel Lake Road. About 10 minutes down the road (6.5 kilometres), we arrived at the Cascade Falls Trail. It was well-marked and located on the east side of the road. There is a small parking area for a few cars; otherwise, people just parked on the side of the road.  The trail leading to the falls is short but could be difficult for some, as it requires climbing over roots and the path gets quite narrow and rocky at times. We found we had to watch our step in a few spots but didn’t find it too difficult. The falls were well worth the short hike. Apparently, they are even more spectacular in May/June with the spring runoff and during the hot summer days that bring a cool breeze.

A little further down the road, watch for a cedar tree covered with shoes. Yes shoes…runners, hiking boots, kids’ shoes and flip-flops! Either attached to the trunk of the tree or hanging off the branches, there must be hundreds. Surprisingly, some actually look like they are in pretty good shape despite being covered with dirt from the gravel road! We saw another tree like this one on the road from Port Hardy to Cape Scott Park earlier this summer.

This “shoe” tree marks the start of the Mystic Trail. As we meandered along the trail towards the lake, we passed an old rustic moss-covered log cabin. We were surprised when we peaked inside to see three little beds with three teddy bears, just like the Goldilocks story. Further along the trail are a variety of unique sculptures.

We talked to some locals who said the enchanted forest trail was there when they were kids and came with their parents. While the history of the trail is a bit of a mystery, it is a fun place to meander around, and kids would love it.

We continued down to the beach and enjoyed the different types of rocks and a beautiful view.

Back in the car, a little further down the road (about 15 kilometres from Cascade Falls) we stopped at Cottonwood Beach. The campsite is 3 kilometres off the main road as it winds down to the lake. A good campground either as a destination or to keep in mind if you forget to book a reservation at Mabel Lake Park and find it full; or like us if you’re looking for another place to stop and explore. There are a real variety of campsites, some close to the water and some back in the trees.

After Cottonwood Beach we headed back to our campsite at the Provincial Park; others may choose to head north another 70 kilometres to Revelstoke.

Whether you are camping in the heat of the summer or the cool fall, keep in mind this park is a little higher up in the mountains, so temperatures tend to be a cooler. For us, it’s a great choice in any season!

For other campgrounds in the area or elsewhere in British Columbia go to the Camping Map.

Share your BC travel and camping photos using hashtag #campinbc #explorebc

It’s always a great day to #campinbc.

Getting back to Nature Any Time of Year

Winter camping in the Thompson Okanagan brings family and friends together.

Camping can be enjoyed any time of year; all the smartest people know that. And, thanks to the increase in popularity over the last few years in year-round RV travel, winter camping is more popular than ever before.

The Thompson Okanagan has a variety of camping locations that are available year-round, offering amenities and services for short and long-term camping; your choices abound!

Marrying the popular skiing site of Silver Star Resort outside of Vernon is the Cedar Falls Campground. With about 30 sites available, it’s a great destination for families on a budget and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Steps from BX Falls Trail and about 30 minutes from the ski hill, Cedar Falls offers 18 fully equipped sites and 14 sites that offer power but not water. Information is available at Cedar Falls Campground.

“We have seen a real increase in our winter camping visitors,” says winter site manager Gail Sweeney. She and her husband are on site over the winter to assure that the roads are plowed, the on-site coin laundry facilities are fully stocked and the washrooms and shower facilities are sparkling.

Also in Vernon is Swan Lake RV Park and Campground. Located right on the shores of Swan Lake, nature is never far away. This quiet and family-friendly campground features coin showers and a small laundromat. There is a 20 per cent discount on daily rates for long-term campers and owners Orville and Audrey recommend reserving early for a winter spot. More information can be found at Swan Lake RV and Campground.

Heading south and located on the banks of Coldwater River just south of Merritt is Moon Shadows RV Park and Campground, where there are 25 fully serviced RV spots, 25 non-serviced RV spots and 19 tenting spots, all available year round. The fully serviced campsites have electric and Wi-Fi capabilities, as well as sewer and water hookups. There are also wheelchair accessible washrooms and bathing facilities at the administration building. Learn more at Moon Shadows RV Park & Campground.

In the South Okanagan, where it feels like winter barely kisses the land, are the communities of Penticton, Oliver and Osoyoos. Snowbirds flock to the area, as temperatures are mild and snow is rare. In fact, golfing is available almost year-round at the local golf courses.

Penticton has several year-round campgrounds, including Wright’s Beach Camp. Located on the shores of Skaha Lake, this large campground has more than 200 sites, most of which are fully serviced and offer a lake view. In the winter, there are 44 sites that offer either 30 or 50 amp service. For more information, click on Wright’s Beach Campground. In Oliver, Apple Beach RV Park is a family-owned RV park open year-round. Its sites are fully powered and large, while pets and kids are welcome. Hosts Gary and Marilyn Johnson are friendly and welcoming, and the lakeside campground is known for being quiet and tidy. More information is available at Apple Beach RV Park.

Known as Canada’s Warmest Welcome, Osoyoos changes from its bustling tourist destination in the summer to a more sedate welcome in the winter. On the shores of Osoyoos Lake is Nk’mip RV Park, which is open year-round and has fully powered sites, laundry facilities and an indoor swimming pool. There are weekly and monthly rates available. Learn more at Nk’mip RV Park. 

Further west along Hwy 3 is Manning Park Resort and Skyview RV Campground. Open year-round the campground features 60 large pull-through and back-in sites in winter and all have full services with 50-amp power, water, and sewer. There is also a large modern washhouse.

For winter and year-round camping opportunities in the Thompson Okanagan and all of British Columbia go to the Camping Page.

Share your BC camping photos using hashtag #CampinBC.

Five Spots to Ice Fish and Camp this Winter in British Columbia

Ice-fishing is often overlooked as a winter activity, especially if you live in southern B.C. But fishing doesn’t stop when the temperatures drop – it only gets more exciting. Ice-fishing is a very social activity that requires only a limited amount of gear or experience. When solidly frozen, an entire lake becomes accessible without the need of a boat, and you don’t need the often-complicated casting techniques required in other fisheries. It’s as simple as drilling a hole, and dropping a line.

It is important to exercise caution, however. Always make sure the ice is thick enough to ensure a safe trip. Before you walk out onto ice, it needs to be at least 10 centimetres (four inches) thick if you are fishing alone, and at least 38 centimetres (15 inches) thick before you drive your truck onto it. Remember that a freshwater fishing licence is still required for ice-fishing, and that you should check the regulations for any closures or restrictions.

With these points in mind, along with some basic gear, you can be set for some fun times on the ice this winter. And the good news is, with many parks open year ’round that are close to great hardwater lakes, you can make a wintertime camping trip out of it.

Here are our top five spots, with recreational vehicle or camping spots close by, to try ice-fishing this winter:

Alleyne Lake (near Merritt)

Stocked kokanee provide an exciting winter fishery in this lake. The trick is finding schools of fish. Using a fishfinder is your best bet, but if you don’t have one, start at the bottom and work your way up through the water column until you find a school.

Note: The neighbouring lake, Kentucky SE Pothole, located 50 metres east of Kentucky Lake, is closed to ice-fishing.

Camping: Moon Shadows RV Park & Campground

Check out the Winter Camping Map for campgrounds open year-round in the Merritt and surrounding area.

Monte Lake (Kamloops)

Conveniently located near Highway 97, Monte Lake is easily accessible, and has one of the best winter kokanee fisheries in the area. Each year, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC stocks Monte Lake with 10,000 of these tasty land-locked sockeye salmon, along with 5,000 rainbow trout. 

Kokanee prefer deep lakes, and typically school together. They feed on minute zooplankton higher in the water column. A typical scenario for kokanee fishing would be to find water that is anywhere from 10 to 25 metres deep, and fish suspended baits or jigged lures at depths between five and seven metres. Jigging is the process of slowly raising and lowering your rod to flutter your lure up and down through the water column to attract fish. Adding a small piece of bait to a flashy lure or jig can be an effective way to fish for kokanee.

Camping: Kamloops Riverview RV Park, Knutsford/Kamloops RV Campground, Sunnyside Heights RV Park

Check out the Winter Camping Map for campgrounds open year-round in this area.

Edith Lake (Kamloops)

Target both brook char and rainbow trout in Edith Lake. For brook char, try fishing with mealworms close to the shoreline. The water is clear in the shallows, and since a brookie’s bite can be very light, by laying down and looking into your hole through the ice, you will be able to see when a brookie has taken your bait and is on your line. Move out to a spot over a little deeper water, and use a big attractor spoon, followed by a hook and worm on a short leader, to try your luck for rainbow trout.

Camping: Kamloops Riverview RV Park, Knutsford/Kamloops RV Campground, Sunnyside Heights RV Park

Check out the Winter Camping Map for campgrounds open year-round in the Kamloops and surrounding area.

Ness Lake (Prince George)

Ness Lake is currently stocked with both kokanee and rainbow trout. However, brook char are also present in the lake, which presents many different fishing options for the hardwater angler. Ice-fishing gear and an auger can be borrowed for free for up to a week from the Prince George Visitor Centre.

Camping: Blue Cedars RV Park & Campground

Check out the Winter Camping Map for campgrounds open year-round in the Prince George and surrounding area.

Whiteswan Lake (Canal Flats)

If Lussier Hot Springs weren’t reason enough to try ice-fishing at Whiteswan Lake, the quality of the rainbow trout in this lake is. Since the East Kootenays can be very cold, make sure you pack along appropriate warm clothing. You may want to think about getting an ice shelter. 

Camping: Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, Fairmount Hotsprings RV Resort

Check out the Winter Camping Map for campgrounds open year-round in this area.

Check out winter camping in British Columbia for over 150 provincial parks and private campgrounds that are open year round.

Share your winter BC camping & fishing photos using hashtag #campinbc.

It’s always a great day to #CampinBC

Fun Family Camping Trip to the Okanagan, British Columbia

It doesn’t feel like summer until we visit Penticton, the interior of BC where it’s always warmer and where fruit orchards and wineries make for a picturesque summer photo. With our trailer in tow, the average five-hour commute allows us to enjoy the beautiful lush scenery and mountain peak tops until we arrive at Southbeach Gardens RV & Campground, where we have become regulars.  Often times the kids will have their tablets and headphones ready for the road-trip, along with pillows and blankets next to them just in case they feel like taking a nap.  We would pack fresh fruits, lots of water and some salty snacks to avoid having to make unnecessary stops if someone gets hungry.

Upon arriving and checking-in, unpacking and settling at our camping spot becomes the next item on our to do list.  We keep coming back to this campsite because it’s conveniently located across the Skaha Lake, offering over 250 RV and tent spacious camping spots and lots of greenery to keep cool during the hot summer days. The kids playground, arcade and the mini golf is where the kids like to spend most of their time.  For us, being able to grab the beach towels and walk across the street for a swim in the lake saves us time and makes it that much more enjoyable. Renting equipment for various water sports such as paddle boards, jet-skis and kayaks is also available at the beach.

This year we could not have asked for better weather, with temperatures tempering between high twenties and mid thirties, it was beach weather everyday.  And since we booked two weeks in August, I made a list of all the places I wanted to visit and make the most of our time spent here.

One of the first places we visited was the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm.  Situated on the hills of South Kelowna overlooking the Okanagan Lake, it is the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll or catching the last sun rays before the sun sets.  And if you are a lavender enthusiast like I am, then you will cherish the free sample of edible ‘pure lavender and lemon balm’ that you receive upon your entrance into the garden.  Beside the beautiful blooming lavender buds, we really enjoyed walking through the hedge maze and writing wishes on the wishing tree; where you write your wish on a long plastic strip and tie it to the round iron structure amid all the purple plants.

On one of the ‘cooler’ days, we felt like leaving the beach scene and checking out the H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre where the Surf Simulator is all the hype.  A fifteen-minute drive from Kelowna Downtown, the centre features three waterslides, a wave-pool, lazy river, a spray park and play area for the little ones, as well as two hot-tubs and an Olympic size pool.  Of course, most of our time was spent at the Surf Simulator, where the kids got to practice their surfing moves, either standing up or on their knees for the less advanced.

With our friends from Kelowna, we visited the Kalamalka Lake.  A glacial lake four kilometers south of Vernon, particularly known for its turquoise blue water due to crystals forming in the hot summer days that result in distinctive blue and green color.  The sandy Kal Beach roughly stretches 300m in length and 50m in width, includes a pier, and is a popular destination for swimming, picnicking and beach volleyball.  A concession stand is open during the summer months, and parking is conveniently located across the beach.

The entire Okanagan valley consists of many activities to do and places to visit, such as elegant wineries that display their ripe grapes in structured rows overlooking lakes; where wine tours are available at most wineries during the weekdays.  Other events such as various festivals and farmer’s markets are active on the weekends, where one can find sweet cream peaches among other local fruits.  U-pick is also available at most fruit orchards if you have the time and want the freshest pick.

For other campgrounds in this area or elsewhere in British Columbia go to the Camping Map.

Share your BC travel and camping photos using hashtag #campinbc #explorebc

It’s always a great day to #campinbc.

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Published: October 21st, 2016