Manning Provincial Park (Mule Deer)

Mule Deer campground is located in Manning Park on Highway 3, 57 km west of Princeton and 75 km east of Hope.

Gibson Pass Resort Inc.
E-mail address: camping@manningpark.com
Phone: 604-795-6161
Winter Snow phone 604-795-6169

Fees

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night.

BC Senior Rate (Labour Day to June 14 only): $7.50 per senior couple/night.

Winter Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $10.00 per party / night.

Operation Dates

Campground opening and closing dates: May 1– September 13. Campground dates with full fees and services: May 9– September 13.

Winter camping is available at Lightning Lake day-use area and Lone Duck Group campgrounds only.

Vehicle Accessible Camping

There are four summer drive-in campgrounds with a total of 355 sites in this park. There are also two areas set aside for winter camping. This campground, Mule Deer, has 49 campsites available on fist-come, first-served basis.

Walk-in / Wilderness Camping

Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping with limited facilities are provided at 10 wilderness campgrounds with a total of 55 sites. A detailed map of the park and the trails can be picked up at the Visitor%u2019s Centre 1 km east of the Manning Park Resort.

Group Camping

Two group campsites, Lone Duck I and Lone Duck II are available for summer camping. They are located 4 km off of Hwy 3. The turnoff to the campground is 41 km east of the west portal to the park. The group site offers a shelter complete with picnic tables and wood stove. Both sites overlook Lightning Lake. In order to qualify as a group you must have a minimum of 20 persons and a maximum of 50 persons per site. It is necessary to make a reservation by calling Gibson Pass Resort at 604-840 8842. The group campsites are open from May 18 to October 8. The Lone Duck 2 Group Site and Cambie Creek Group Site are open throughout the winter (reservation only). Please book by calling 604-795-6169. Group Camping Fee: $19.00 per party / night. Youth Group Camping Fee: $50.00 per group / night.

Cabins

Manning Park Resort includes motel/cabin rentals; a pub; a restaurant; gift shop/grocery store, canoe, boat, kayak, mountain bike rentals in the summer as well as snowshoe, nordic ski and alpine ski rentals in the winter. For more information about Manning Park Resort, please call 250-840-8822.

Picnic Areas

This park has day-use/picnic areas at 7 locations: West Gate Portal; Sumallo Grove; Coldspring campsite; Lightning Lake Day Use area; Spruce Bay; Sub-Alpine Meadows and Blowdown. Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee: $1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day.

Campfires

Fires are permitted in the designated fire rings at vehicle-accessible campsites. Open fires are not permitted in Buckhorn and Kicking Horse wilderness sites. In the rest of the backcountry, open fires are not encouraged.

Drinking Water

All wilderness campsites have a water source close by. During a long hot summer some creeks may dry up. Treatment of water is recommended.

RV Sani Station

A sani-station/dump is available during the collecting season. It is located 1 km east of Manning Park Lodge. Opening and closing dates are subject to change due to weather. Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge.

Boat Launch

A boat launch is available next to the boat rental building at the Lightning Lake day-use area. No motorized boats are permitted, including electric motors.

Wheel Chair Accessibility

Sumallo Grove Interpretive trail and Lightning Lake day-use area are wheelchair accessible.

Fishing

For the hardy hiker, Poland Lake and Nicomen Lake offer good fishing for rainbow trout. Lightning Lakes chain also offers fishing opportunities for small rainbow trout. No motorized boats are permitted in the park, including electric motors.

Hiking

There are 17 hiking trails available in this park, ranging from short and easy to long and strenuous. A detailed map of the park and the trails can be picked up at the Visitor%u2019s Centre 1 km east of the Manning Park Resort.

Canoeing / Kayaking

There are canoeing and kayaking opportunities on Lightning Lake. Canoe, kayak and rowboat rentals are available at Lightning Lake day-use area. Please contact Manning Park Resort at 250-840-8822 for more information.

Bicycling

Mountain bikers are asked to yield to hikers and horses. Mountain bikes are permitted on roadways and the following backcountry trails: Monument 83; Windy Joe; Poland Lake; East Similkameen; West Similkameen; Lone Duck; North Gibson and South Gibson.

Horse Riding

Horses are allowed on designated trails only, which include: Monument 83; Dewdney; Hope Pass; Poland Lake; Pacific Crest; Windy Joe; Skagit Bluffs, Similkameen East and West, North Gibson and Little Muddy. Horse camps are available at Dewdney and Hope Pass trails. Most horse camps include a toilet, fire ring, water, hitching rail and grazing.

Wildlife Watching

There are excellent opportunities to view a variety of wildlife in Manning Park. The animal life includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, pika, coyotes, beaver, muskrat, deer, bear, moose and most members of the cat family. More than 200 bird species have been spotted here. Some good locations to view wildlife include: Beaver Pond, Rein Orchid, Lightning Lakes Day Use Area, and the Similkameen Trail.

Hunting

Hunting is only permitted in these areas of Manning park (MU 2-17). These areas are only open to the discharge of firearms, bows and crossbows from September 10 to June 15. Please check the BC Hunting and Trapping regulations for more information.

Winter Recreation

There are backcountry trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the park. Downhill skiing is offered by the Manning Park Resort located in the park.