Thompson. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Roadways can be very busy. Whether you are walking, cycling, roller-blading, skateboarding or driving, please be careful. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel; e.g., cyclists yield to walkers. Obey all traffic regulations and rules of the road.
- The edges around the lakes and ponds may be muddy and difficult to traverse. At Alleyne Lake especially, the deep mud makes swimming impractical and boat launching difficult. Children (and even adults) could become stuck in the mud.
Special notes
Please obey all park rules and policies to help everyone enjoy their time and stay safe in the park.
- Quiet hours are 11 pm to 7 am. Music and other loud noises must be silenced completely between these hours.
- Generators are permitted 9 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 8 pm only.
- Hibachis and camp stoves can burn the picnic tables. Please do not use them on the tables.
- Keep valuables hidden and locked up when unattended. Please report all thefts to the park staff as soon as possible.
- Pets must be on leash (no longer than 2 metres) at all times while in the park. They are not allowed on beaches or in day-use areas. Owners must clean up after their pets.
- Alcohol is only permitted in your campsite.
- The speed limit on roads is 20 km/h. Road can be very busy. All road users must obey traffic regulations and rules. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel (for example, cyclists yield to walkers).
- Motorcycles and bicycles are permitted on park roads only. Motorcycles must be properly licensed and must be operated by a licensed driver. Helmets must be worn. Unlicensed ATVs and dirt bikes are not permitted.
- Parking on the side of the road is prohibited. Please park on the gravelled portion of your campsite or in designated parking spaces. Vehicles parked in day-use areas after 11 pm may be ticketed or towed.
- Boats are restricted to 7.5kW (10hp) on both Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake.
- No sani-station is available for use. The nearest sani-station is 25 km north of the park in the town of Merritt. Water standpipes are available throughout the campground but there is no capacity to fill RV water tanks on site.
Western toad breeding annually in July to early August
The Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), a species listed as Special Concern in Canada and on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act, call the park home. The communal breeding site is in West Pond between Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake. This is the starting point of the annual migration for tens of thousands of juvenile toads on their journey into the surrounding forest.
Help us protect the young Western toads by respecting temporary trail and campsite closures, and any requests from staff during the migration period.
This short event (usually two weeks) makes it necessary to temporarily close a portion of the trail hear West Pond, and occasionally campsites 1 to 3. Please keep your distance from the toads, and respect any toad-specific requests from the park operators and park rangers.
For more information on Western toads, please visit the Nicola Naturalist Society website.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Any maps listed are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Getting there
The park is 38km south of Merritt and 11km south of Aspen Grove, just off Highway 5A. From the east, the park is 11km from the Coquihalla Highway 97C on paved access. The closest communities, towns, and cities are Aspen Grove, Merritt, Princeton, and Elkhart Lodge.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle accessible campsites. Reservation are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available.
The campground is quite spread out and divided between:
- Kentucky Lake, sites 1 to 35
- West Pond, sites 36 to 41
- Alleyne Lake, sites F1 to F33
The sites along Kentucky Lake are spacious and open allowing for lots of sunshine and fantastic views of the lake. Most of the sites are right on the lake. The sites are gravel and have a picnic table on a cement pad and a fire ring.
The sites above the West Pond are also open and situated on a narrow terrace overlooking the water. These sites are pull-through and there is a small turn-around area past the sites to make entering and leaving easier.
There is a variety of site types on Alleyne Lake. The access road winds past multiple levels of sites. Some are right on the lake while others overlook it. Most of the sites are open, separated by natural grasses, with great views and lots of sunshine. One small loop of four sites is located amidst the Douglas fir forest.
Campsites on the West Pond and Alleyne Lake are open year-round. Services are available mid-May to October, annually. The gate to Kentucky Lake is closed annually after the Canadian Thanksgiving. All sites in these areas are first come, first served and campsite reservations are not accepted.
Reservations and fees
Campsite reservations are accepted for the West Pond and Kentucky Lake area. Some sites are set aside as first come, first served in all areas.
- Vehicle-accessible camping fee: $18 per party per night
- BC senior’s rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $9 per senior party per night. See the camping fees page for more information on camping discounts for seniors.
During the camping season, overnight visitors may pay at the campground with a self-registration system, using cash only. Deposit cash in the envelope (change will be provided when attendant arrives if you do not have correct amount). Fill out the information form and place in the vault provided at the information kiosk. Please detach the receipt portion and attach it to the campsite number post. You may also pre-pay for firewood with your campsite self-registration.
There are no phones in the park and the closest store is at the Elkhart Lodge on the Coquihalla Connector or in Merritt, 38km north of the park.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
The group site is located on the north end of Alleyne Lake and can be accessed via a narrow 2.5km gravel road. The group site requires a minimum booking of 10 people. There are picnic tables, fire rings, pit toilets, potable water, and the site is located lakeside for good fishing and boating opportunities. Find out more about reserving a group campsite.
Group camping fees
Youth groups: $1 per person (6+) per night, with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum.
Regular groups: The base rate is $80 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults) per night, plus $1 per child (6–15) per night. There is no fee for children under 6.
See the camping fees page for more information.
Groupsites
Things to do
A four kilometre walking trail circling Kentucky Lake provides viewing and access to the lakeshore where the swimming is great. The trail is well defined, two to three ft wide, and the surface is hard-packed dirt. It is an easy walk with minimal elevation change that takes approximately one hour. It follows the lakeshore through large Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine tree groves. At the south end of the lake, a spur trail leads 20 metres to another small quiet pond. The other trails in the park serve only to link the various camping loops.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Although you can swim here, the clean turquoise water is cold and there are no buoys to designate a swimming area. There are no beaches and most of the lakeshore by the campgrounds is a natural marsh with lots of rushes. Though it makes for poor swimming, the area is good for waterfowl.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are paddling, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities at this park due to the engine restriction on motorboats.
There are paddling, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities at this park due to the engine restriction on motorboats.
This area is very popular for fishing and even features a children-only fishery to foster interest in the sport among youth. The ponds between Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake are open only to those under the age of 16. The lakes and ponds are stocked with rainbow trout from the Summerland Trout Hatchery.
Boats are restricted to 7.5kW (10hp) on both Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake.
Depending on temperatures, there are ice fishing opportunities in the park. Access may be difficult depending on road conditions.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that will teach basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old.
Pets and all domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Depending on temperatures, there are ice fishing opportunities in the park. Access may be difficult depending on road conditions. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
The small gravel boat launch on Kentucky Lake is accessed by a single lane gravel road past site 4. There is a small wooden dock and a turn-around area with no parking. Another small gravel boat launch is found on Alleyne Lake between sites 53 and 54. They are best suited to small, light boats. There is a horsepower restriction.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. You may pre-pay for firewood with your campsite self registration.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking. Please ensure that all barbeques or campstoves are used on the ground and not set on picnic tables.
There are water taps located throughout the campgrounds and the group campsite.
This park has 11 pit toilets conveniently located throughout the various campground loops. There are no flush toilets.
About this park
The park was established March 5, 1981 and is set in the heart of British Columbia’s cattle country. Surrounding the park is land belonging to the Douglas Lake Ranch, Canada’s largest cattle ranch with a rich, 115 year history.
Several kettle lakes, eskers, and fluvial outwash deposits are solid evidence of the glacial activity that formed the landscape. Rolling grasslands and dry open forest with some large, mature Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine surround the sparkling turquoise waters of Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake. The scenery is spectacular from early April to late October with springs’ palette of soft pastels slowly changing to the vibrant golds of autumn.
The lakes and ponds draw a variety of waterfowl such as goldeneye, mallards, teal, and grebe. A variety of hawks and falcons can often be seen aflight searching the grasslands for a meal. The blue-listed sharptail grouse as well as jack rabbits and ground squirrels can be found under cover in the stands of aspen and scrub juniper.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
