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Part of the appeal of E.C. Manning Provincial Park is its general ease of access as well as the access it offers to beautiful British Columbia wilderness. No matter the level of adventures or thrills you want out of a mountain trip, E.C. Manning has it all, from the quiet, relaxed front country camping to the gentle trails, the steep climbs, and the remote backcountry activities.
Credit: Similkameen Valley/Darren Robinson
No matter how you choose to explore the Cascade Mountains of southern BC, there is a lot to discover!
Here’s a list of activities available at E.C. Manning Park to help you plan your visit:
Discover the Cascade Mountains
The Cascade Mountains start to the south in the U.S., with a relatively small part of the range extending north into BC. This is also part of the “Ring of Fire,” a range of volcanic mountains that includes Mt. St. Helens among its most notable peaks. The volcanic features and activity are one exciting part of this region, while the incredibly diverse set of scenery and wildlife to be discovered is yet another exciting aspect of the Canadian Cascades.
The diversity of these vistas is in full view at E.C. Manning Provincial Park, where even the easiest of trails reveal natural bouquets of wildflowers, dense coniferous forests, golden larch forests in the fall, and the lower peaks of the Cascades’ subrange, the Hozameen.
Easy Hikes at E.C. Manning
There is a great variety of easier and shorter hiking trails or nature walking paths around E.C. Manning Provincial Park!
- The Paintbrush trail is one of the easy trails on the north side of the Crowsnest Highway, where it shares a trailhead with the much longer Heather Trail. For a short hike, keep to the 1.5km Paintbrush loop where wildflowers are in full bloom for June, July, and August. There are more great trails to explore in this area around the Lodge, like the 2.5km Little Muddy Trail, or the 500m Beaver Pond Loop, where there are beautiful places for birding and photography.
- Find gorgeous riverside scenery and more along the Rein Orchid Trail, a 500m loop, or the longer Strawberry Flats Trail at 2km one-way. Both trails are a short distance from the Lightning Lake day use area.
- The Rhododendron Flats and Sumallo Grove Trails are both near the park’s west entrance and the south side of the Crowsnest Highway. Each is a 500m loop offers a variety of foliage, including the notable and noticeable rhododendrons.
Challenging or Longer Hikes at E.C. Manning
There are several more trails around the park which take up more time or require more of a climb and elevation gain. These moderate-to-difficult routes around E.C. Manning Park might provide more of a challenge, but most of the rewards or views along the way make the trips worth the effort.
- Some of the trails are better for showcasing the deep-rooted history and Indigenous heritage surrounding the area with a variety of routes from which to choose. These include the Dewdney Trail (25km deep into the backcountry), Hope Pass (24km into the backcountry with a historic cabin along the way), the Whatcom Trail (a shorter 9.5km route but with a 1000m elevation gain and amazing views), the Skyline Trail (a strenuous 14.5km climb with incredible mountaintop views), and Blackeye’s Trail, named for a Similkameen Chief.
- Visit the park’s larger waterfalls with a 9km out-and-back trek. The Three Falls trail begins with a hike through first the Strawberry Flats area before it winds through a hemlock and spruce forest and reaches viewing areas over a first, second, and third set of falls: Shadow, Nepopekum, and Derek Falls.
- The Lightning Lakes Chain Trail creates a full-day hike around the expansive shorelines. It is 24km out-and-back as it passes Flash Lake, Strike Lake, and lastly, Thunder Lake. With all those checkpoint-type of areas, this trail is easily cut in half or thirds to create a shorter route.
The Wildlife of E.C. Manning Park
The campgrounds, the park roads, the Crowsnest Highway, and all of the many trails of E.C. Manning are all places for possible wildlife sightings. And within this park, the wildlife is varied!
- Among the smaller and more common animals to see are squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, pika, beavers, or muskrats. Be cautious and aware of some of the park’s larger residents like coyotes, deer, bears, and moose.
- There have been over 200 types of birds recorded in E.C. Manning Park, with certain trails and areas better for spotting these various species. Stroll around the Beaver Pond, Rein Orchid, and Similkameen Trails, or the Lightning Lake day use area, for the best chances at seeing or hearing those birds.
E.C. Manning’s Best Mountain Biking Trails
There are a wide variety of mountain biking trails within E.C. Manning Park, while it is important that the cyclists and bikers keep to these trails only and avoid those for foot-traffic. Plus, younger mountain bikers have access to a Bike Park at the Hampton Campground where they can sharpen their skills before hitting the trails.
- Many of those trail options and their dozens of kilometres are within the park’s Southwest section. This includes North Gibson and South Gibson, near Lightning Lake day use area (14.2km out-and-back between the two trails), Monument 83, Poland Lake, and Windy Joe Trails.
- The riverside East Similkameen and West Similkameen run parallel to the river while there will be a few creek crossings to watch for while on bikes. During the height of summer, these creeks are usually low enough to walk across.
- Most of the trails that permit mountain biking also permit horseback riding!
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Water Adventures on Lightning Lake
The Lightning Lake day use area is one of the more popular spots of E.C. Manning Provincial Park, and a bit of a hub for fun around and on the water. Lightning Lake is among the larger of those within the park and is home to some of the park’s front country campgrounds. The area is also home to a wide range of opportunities for recreation and adventures or sightseeing.
- The Manning Park Boathouse has all you’d need to explore the long shorelines of Lightning Lake, including canoe, kayak, and paddleboard rentals. There are many fun places to explore around the lake including where it narrows into a canal under the Rainbow Bridge, or the small cove next to the boat launch. The area is especially peaceful with motorized craft not permitted anywhere in E.C. Manning Park.
- The beach area is an expansive field of short grass lined with washrooms, picnic sites, and paved pathways. The waters of Lightning Lake are cool, clear, and fairly shallow around the swimming area where the grass turns into the soft, sandy lake bottom.
- The mostly open swimming area and beach are surrounded by large and densely forested hills to offer a beautiful backdrop for any activity.
- Whether from your paddle boat, or from the shore areas away from the beach, Lightning Lake provides awesome trout fishing.
Several Ways to Stay at E.C. Manning Park
This large southern park has many campgrounds, backcountry campsites, and a lodge resort to offer guests. With this comes the option for remote tent camping, regular tent, trailer, or RV sites, and cabin or lodge room rentals.
- There are four campgrounds for front country camping in E.C. Manning Provincial Park, all of which are a short drive off the main Crowsnest Highway. These include the Coldspring, Hampton, Lightning Lake, and Mule Deer Campgrounds. Plus, there is also an RV-only campground at the Skyview area near Lightning Lake.
- Backcountry camping is available all across the expansive trail network of E.C. Manning Park. This includes three main backcountry campgrounds (Frosty Creek, Kicking Horse, and Buckhorn), along with 30 more individual sites scattered around the park.
- Find cabin or lodge room rentals, plus more RV sites, at the Manning Park Resort within the heart of E.C. Manning Provincial Park. The resort has its own short trails to explore and local dining options.
Planning Your Trip – E.C. Manning Provincial Park
What: E.C. Manning Provincial Park is a large and popular park within southern BC’s Cascade Mountains. The park’s size offers room for front country and backcountry activities, with trail and backcountry areas stretching for several kilometres north and south of the Crowsnest Highway.
E.C. Manning is a popular summer destination for several reasons: the area’s wilderness is easily accessible by car, foot, bike, or horse, while the front-country areas offer swimming, boating, fishing, camping, and picnic areas. There are four campgrounds, while many other backcountry sites are scattered across the trails. The park’s trail system is extensive and runs for over 100s of kilometres with options for easy, moderate, and difficult routes.
Location and how to get there: 67km southeast of Hope, BC, on the Crowsnest Highway/BC-3
E.C. Manning Provincial Park is located approximately 180 km (3 hours drive) from Vancouver and 75 km (45 min drive) from Chilliwack.
Best time to go: Camping and day use open year-round
How much: backcountry camping $5 per night; front country camping $25-$71 per night
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