Situated in the Okanagan Valley, Mabel Lake Provincial Park has become one of the best tourist destinations in Canada, not only because of the vast area available for camping but also because it offers the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.
If you plan to spend your next vacation camping in the park, read ahead to find out what you should consider while planning your trip.
If you plan on delving into the world of backcountry camping, then Mabel Lake and Waterton are the spots you must check out.ย
1. About the Park
April to October is regarded as the peak season in Provincial Park. If you intend to visit during this season, make sure to make reservations beforehand (you would want to avoid the peak tourist rush!).
Luckily, the park accepts reservations all year long. Further information on availability can be checked on the official website.
The park also has ample parking space, so you need not fret about your vehicle while holidaying here. Surrounded by a beautiful mountain setting, Mabel Lake Provincial Park offers a quiet retreat into the arms of nature.
The Shuswap River system is the primary source of Mabel Lake. Some signs in Lumby that turn north onto Mabel Lake road, trailing the Shuswap River through a beautiful scenery of estates and farmlands, will guide you to Mabel Lake and the campsite.
Mabel Lake Provincial Park was established way back on December 21, 1972. The lake gets its name from the daughter of a Hudsonโs Bay Company manager, Mabel Charles, during the late nineteenth century. The park measures around 193 hectares.
Both campsites and group sites can be booked via reservations. If campsites are unavailable for reservation, they are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The entrance to the group camping area of Mabel Lake Provincial Park is through the Monashee Campground. It offers excellent privacy because the forest well separates it, and Taylor Creek flows beside it.
1.1. Location Details of the Park
Mabel Lake Provincial Park is located in the southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, west of the Monashee Mountains.
The main gate at the park entrance is closed during the operating system to make sure to check the accessibility status of the park before visiting.
An open gravel parking area is next to the 80-square-meter wooded picnic shelter for group camping.
The picnic shelter is complete with picnic tables and a large fire pit. Approximately ten tents can be put up in an open grassy plot of land nearby.
An adjacent gravel area can be used by putting up ten more tents or parking recreational vehicles. Double the number of taps and flush toilets to complete the setup of the group camping area.
1.2. Climate
The lake happens to be cold all year round since glaciers feed it. The warmest temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius is usually recorded around August.
The temperature can be warm but is never extreme, making it the ideal location for recharging.
1.3. Attractions of the Park
This park is perfect for water activities like fishing, swimming, boating, and so many more.
You need not worry about rations since you will find a small but well-packed convenience store near the boating area to satisfy all your needs. Picnic tables will also be available for every group.
The park also has an adventure playground that can keep your kids occupied. An attraction of the picnic tables is that they offer a perfect view of the adventure playground so that you can keep an eye on your children while relaxing.ย
There are two flush toilets and a tap next to the playground. The park has nine cold water faucets in the campground and group site as parking locations.
1.4. Water Activities at Mabel Lake Provincial Park
Canโt go to the seaside for vacation? No worries, Mabel Lake offers a similar pleasure. With its vast sandy beach, the park provides the perfect spot for swimming.
Experience the comfort of sunbathing on the soft, warm sands of the beach in fine weather.
(a) Fishing
If you want to catch some marvelous trout, then make sure to go fishing in Mable Lake around the summer season.
Maple Lake includes various trout and salmon, such as Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Chinook Salmon, and Kokanee.
The lake is known to be one of the best spots for some salmon during the late summer season.
Salmon fishing is an incredible prospect for enthusiasts because only the salmon caught at Mabel Lake qualifies for local fishing derbies.
Mabel Lake is known as a โfishermanโs destination parkโ for these reasons.
(b) Boating
Next to the Mabel Lake Marina, at the southern border, there is a gently sloping concrete boat launch into the lake.
You can enjoy your boat time by paddling, kayaking, or canoeing. Pay attention to the weather report before you venture into the lake on your boat, and take necessary precautions if the weather turns bad.
(c) Swimming
Mabel Lake has a good area for swimming. You can warm up or dry off on the fine sandy beaches.
The beach next to the Monashee campground is smaller, and the sand is coarser, but it is still a good spot for swimming.
The markers can differentiate the two zones, but the beach has no lifeguards.ย
1.5. Different Activities to Do in the Park
(a) Hiking
There is a 2 km gravel road between the campsites and the main road for hiking through the shaded forest, which takes around 30 minutes.
The hike is not too steep; it is relaxing amidst the western red cedar, hemlock, and some Douglas fir rainforest.
(b) Cycling
Mabel Lake Provincial Park offers an excellent spot for cycling along the roadways. Cyclists must wear helmets in British Columbia. E-bikes are not allowed on the trails of the park.
(c) Picnic Shelters
Areas for picnicking in the market range from Trinity Campground to the boat launch. The vast and spacious lawns in the picnic area provide the chance to carry out various fun activities and games.
A row of cottonwood trees separates the lawn from the beach, and ten picnic tables are placed under the shade of those trees.
There are five more tables with three fire rings near the boat launch, equally surrounded by lush greenery. The pebbled parking area has 45 spaces.
There are also two washrooms and a faucet close to the parking area. The water for the taps is collected from a well. Taps remain shut off during the off-season.
1.6. Wildlife
The parkโs fauna consists of squirrels, which will visit campsites occasionally.
You can also spot painted turtles at Taylor Creek. Mable Lake is also home to a large variety of birds as well as waterfowl. And if your luck is at play, you might spot a moose, deer, or even a black bear.
1.7. Facilities at Hand
Group sites include picnic shelters with tables, a water tap, fire rings, an open grassy lawn for pitching tents and other activities, two flush toilets, and even beach access.
Cold water for cooking and drinking can be easily availed from taps throughout the park. Firewood for the campfire can be easily purchased from the park host.
(a) Sanitation
The campers are requested not to leave their waste behind. Dustbins and garbage dumps are located evenly around the campsite to make it convenient for campers to get rid of their debris correctly and not leave it lying around.
The park has two types of toilets: flush ones โ of which there are 16 and pit ones, of which there are 2.ย
(b) Campground
The three available campgrounds are Trinity, Monashee, and Taylor Creek. The paths in Trinity Campground are single-lane and pebbled.
If you are driving into the Mabel Lake Provincial Park, this is the first campground you will encounter.
Even though fires are permitted, and fire rings are at each site, Mabel Lake Provincial Park requests tourists to preserve wood as much as possible and utilize stoves instead to save the surroundings by limiting exposure to fire.
Trinity Campground is located amidst a thick cedar and hemlock forest, providing ample shade and privacy, and the forest floor is covered in moss.
Open grassy areas separate the campgrounds, and a trail runs through them. The sites consist of gravel spurs of all sizes that have been leveled.
It might not be easy to park large RVs because of the abundance of trees.
Eight double sites are present in the Monashee campground. These sites are slightly smaller in size compared to the ones in the other campgrounds. But the woodlands in this area are much more profound.ย
There are also double sites, but these are smaller for camping trucks. The roads are graveled as well.
The Taylor Creek campground is the furthest from the lake and the smallest of the three campgrounds.
It is well-shaded under the canopy of the forest.
2. Important Things to Know
There is no cell service in Mabel Lake Provincial Park, but if you own a cell booster, then you can get a network near Lumby.
You can buy firewood in the park itself, or you may even carry firewood with you. The area determines the price of the firewood; thus, it can differ from one park to another. Take Highway 6 east from Vernon to Lumby to reach the park.
Another drawback of the park is that it is non-wheelchair accessible. Since the roadways are not paved, the rough terrain is unfortunately not wheelchair friendly.
People who use wheelchairs canโt access the beach either because of its sloping nature. Finally, there are no showers available at this park either.
Since the melting of the glaciers decides the availability of the park, the timings always remain subject to change.
Depending on the circumstances, the park might also have to limit campfire burning hours or ban campfires altogether.
The park only accepts payments in cash. It is an offense to collect firewood from around the park; if you are caught doing that, you will have to pay a fine.
The park aims at preserving the vegetation of the area. Thus, it is rigorous when taking action against the defaulters.
114 campsites can be reserved, and all of them are accessible by car. A part of the beach has been assigned for the campersโ pet dogs. It is in the middle of the boat launch and swimming areas.ย
Pets are permitted everywhere in the park but must be on a leash constantly. Please note that you must be responsible for your petโs behavior if you are taking them along. There is a chance of dogs getting excited by the wildlife.
If you wish to stroll along the beach, you must follow the route from the boat launch to Taylor Creek.
3. Safety First
Mabel Lake is prone to sudden changes in weather, so boaters are cautioned to take shelter in the bays along the shore in case of gusty winds.
There is a steep drop in the bottom of the lake; the tourists are requested to be careful. It is advised not to disturb any of the flora or fauna of the park.
4. Takeaway
This articleย is a sourceย for learning about the parkโs scenic qualities, recreational options, and ecological importance. For people who want to enjoy this jewel of British Columbia, it is a must-have companion since it provides helpful guidance, promotes responsible tourism, and strongly emphasizesย conservation.
Are you planning to enjoy the beauty of Mabel Lake Provincial Park? Hope this article was able to acknowledge any query you might have had in your mind.
Last Updated on by Namrata
