Highlights in this park
Off the beaten track, you’ll find tree-bordered Allison Lake. This is a desirable spot for swimmers and those who love to fish. The park is known for its spectacular stands of aspen that burst into golden colours in the fall.
Allison Lake Park is a great overnight spot when travelling between Merritt and Princeton.
Know before you go
Advisories
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
Getting there
This park is located 28 km north of Princeton, along Highway 5A. The closest community is Princeton.
Dates of operation
The park is open June 7, 2024 to September 16, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 22
- Double sites: 1
- Main operating season
- 2024: June 7 to September 16
- Winter season
- No services
- Booking required
- 2024: June 7 to September 15
- Winter season note
- The gate is closed during the winter season.
- Booking note
- Sites 12-22 are reservable
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted for sites 12 to 22 and the rest are available on a first come, first served basis.
For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle-accessible campsites (with the exception of group sites) must be reserved through the BC Parks reservations system.
This park has gravel sites, one of which is a double. There are no pull-through sites or tent pads. The sites are shaded by mature Douglas fir trees and are available on a first come, first served basis.
A self-registration vault is present for payment when staff are not available. Reservations are accepted for sites 12 to 22 and the rest are available on a first come, first served basis.
The closest store is in Princeton, 28 km south of the campground, and there is no phone in the park.
Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $18 per party per night |
BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $9 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Things to do
The relatively small size of Allison Lake allows for safe, enjoyable paddling, canoeing and kayaking. There are no rentals in or near the park.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Allison Lake Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Allison Lake is stocked with 15,000 blackwater rainbow trout raised at the Summerland trout hatchery. There are no special restrictions on the lake.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and 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.
Swimming opportunities are available at the park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There is potential for waterskiing on Allison Lake.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Two cold water taps are located in the campground. Taps are shut off during the off-season. Please review the advisories section for any boil water notices.
The day-use area is found on the southern shore of Allison Lake, across Highway 5A from the campground. There are 10 tables spread out on the non-irrigated lawns. Two pit toilets and one tap are found there. The beach is fine white sand and varies in size with the fluctuating lake levels. When water levels are low, motor vehicles are prohibited from driving on the exposed beach.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There are two pit toilets in the campground and two in the day-use area.
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
This park is proudly operated by:
Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
camping@campokanagan.ca
236-970-7815
- This is not a campsite reservations number.
- Please specify the park name when leaving a message.