E.C. Manning Park sits at the heart of the Cascade Mountains. It is within a three-hour drive of both the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan. An extraordinarily diverse landscape, easy access, and countless recreational opportunities make this one of British Columbia’s most popular parks.
E.C. Manning Park offers four drive-in campgrounds for summer camping. There are also many opportunities for backcountry camping. The park has a large variety of trails, which range from 15-minute walks to six-day backcountry hikes. These provide access to unique floral displays and scenic views.
To learn more about E.C. Manning Park’s campgrounds, see the camping section, below. For information on hiking trails, see activities.
When hiking or walking in E.C. Manning Park, for your own safety, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails.
Trail conditions report [PDF] (September 20, 2023)
Please ensure everyone in your party, including pets, stays on the designated trails. Never step on or pick any flora.
BC Parks accepts reservations for four frontcountry campgrounds in E.C. Manning Park:
All reservations for these campgrounds must be made through the BC Parks reservation service. You can make a reservation online at camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally).
For detailed information on making a reservation at one of these campgrounds, see the frontcountry camping page.
When all reservable campsites are booked, any remaining sites are assigned on a first come, first served basis. See the table below to see the percentage of sites that are reservable at frontcountry campgrounds in E.C. Manning Park.
Campground | Availability |
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Lightning Lake | 100% reservable |
Hampton | 80% reservable |
Coldspring | Approximately 80% reservable |
Mule Deer | Approximately 80% reservable |
Skyview Campground reservations must be made through the Manning Park Resort website. Skyview is 100% reservable. For more information, contact the park operator.
Skyview reservations cannot be made through the BC Parks reservation service.
You must book a reservation to stay at Buckhorn Campground during peak season (June 30 and September 3 in 2023). To learn more, visit the E.C. Manning Park: Buckhorn Campground reservations page.
In all other cases, backcountry reservations are not available for E.C. Manning Park. However, a backcountry permit is required to use any of the backcountry campgrounds. Learn more on the backcountry permit registration page.
You can make a reservation or register for a backcountry permit online at camping.bcparks.ca or by calling 1-800-689-9025 (1-519-858-6161 internationally).
For more information on backcountry camping opportunities, see the E.C. Manning: Backcountry camping page.
There are three group campsites available at E.C. Manning Park. Groupsites can be booked through the BC Parks reservation service. Check the dates of operation, above, for reservable dates. To learn more about booking a groupsite, visit the group camping page.
Hike-in camping is available throughout the backcountry at E.C. Manning Park. There are 10 backcountry campgrounds in the park, offering a total of 55 campsites. All these campgrounds have limited facilities.
Backcountry camping during snow-free season is allowed only at designated campgrounds. Winter backcountry camping is allowed either at designated campgrounds or elsewhere.
To stay anywhere in the backcountry, at any time of the year, you must register for a backcountry permit. To learn more, please visit the backcountry permit registration page.
To camp at Buckhorn Campground in the peak season, you must make a specific reservation. To learn more, see the E.C. Manning Park: Buckhorn Campground reservations page.
For more information on backcountry camping opportunities, see the E.C. Manning: Backcountry camping page.
Please practice Leave No Trace wilderness ethics. For more information, see our backcountry guide. Take extra care when camping away from designated campgrounds during the winter season.
Each designated backcountry campground is close to a water source and has at least one pit toilet. We recommended treating water gathered at the campground before using it.
Campfires are not allowed at Buckhorn and Kicking Horse campgrounds. Elsewhere, campfires are not encouraged, and fire bans may be implemented during hot weather conditions. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
You must book a reservation to stay at Buckhorn Campground during peak season (June 30 and September 3 in 2023). To learn more, visit the E.C. Manning Park: Buckhorn Campground reservations page.
In all other cases, backcountry reservations are not available for E.C. Manning Park. However, you must register for a permit to use any of the backcountry campgrounds. To learn more, see the backcountry permit registration page.
There is a $5 per-person backcountry camping fee. This applies to backcountry permit registration as well as peak-season reservations for Buckhorn Campground. Children under six years of age camp for free.
You can pay for your backcountry permit in advance through the BC Parks reservation service. All Buckhorn Campground reservations must be made through the reservation service.
You can also register for a permit at the park. Register at Manning Park Lodge, Skyview gatehouse, or Lightning Lake gatehouse. Payments can be made by cash, debit, or credit card. There is an ATM at Manning Park Resort.
For more information on backcountry camping opportunities, see the E.C. Manning: Backcountry camping page.
For campground maps, see Park and activity maps.
Cabin rentals are available through Manning Park Resort. For more information, visit the Manning Park Resort website, or contact info@manningpark.com.
Some backcountry campsites, including Frosty Creek, Nicomen Lake, and Poland Lake, have rustic shelters. These are for emergency use only and do not provide a suitable alternative to bringing a tent.
Buckhorn backcountry campground has a large public shelter. This is for cooking only and does not provide a suitable alternative to bringing a tent.
These group campsites are open from May to October (although dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions). Each groupsite includes a shelter complete with picnic tables and wood stove.
Both sites overlook Lightning Lake’s Lone Duck Bay. They are 4km off Highway 3 on Gibson Pass Road. There are several trails close to these sites and it is a very short walk to the Lightning Lake Amphitheatre.
This group campsite is available for large group reservations in the winter. It includes a pit toilet, parking lot, and a large walk-in camping area. Campfires are not allowed. This site has no running water or picnic tables.
This groupsite is available for winter camping by smaller groups. The site features a cooking shelter with a wood stove. It also includes tables, toilets, a fire pit, and several places to set up tents.
Regular group camping fees (per night) | • $20 per groupsite • $5 per adult (16 or older) • $1 per child (6-15 years) • Free for children under 6 • Minimum charge equivalent to fees for 15 adults |
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Youth group camping fees (per night) | • $1 per person • Free for children under 6 • $50 minimum • $150 maximum |
To learn more about groupsites and youth group camping, see the group camping page.
For campground maps, see Park and activity maps.
E.C. Manning Park offers drive-in campgrounds with a total of 450 sites. There are five campgrounds for summer camping as well as three areas set aside for winter camping.
Opening dates are weather-dependent. Snowpack may persist into June. Early season reservations may be affected due to operational requirements or limitations. Contact the park operator to check current campground conditions.
For campground maps, see Park and activity maps.
You can reserve sites at four vehicle-accessible campgrounds in E.C. Manning Park via the BC Parks reservation service. Unreserved sites at these campgrounds are available on a first come, first served basis.
For more information on making a camping reservation for E.C. Manning Park, see reservations, above.
For sites booked through the reservation service, all fees must be paid at the time of booking. For non-reserved sites, you can pay at the visitor centre or campsite gatehouses. We accept cash, debit, or credit cards.
Parking for one vehicle is included in your camping fees. If you wish to park an additional vehicle, there is an additional per-night charge. You can park a maximum of two vehicles at most sites.
Mule Deer Campground | $25 per party per night |
Coldspring and Hampton Campgrounds | $23 per party per night |
Lightning Lakes Campground | $35 per party per night |
Winter frontcountry camping | $13 per party per night |
Skyview Campground summer | $71 per party per night |
Skyview Campground winter | $53 per party per night |
Skyview long-stay (winter only) | $225 per party per week $800 per party per 28 days |
Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. Music, generators, and other sources of noise must be shut off completely between these hours. Generators can only be used from 9am to 11am and 6pm to 8pm.
Dogs are welcome at frontcountry campsites at E.C. Manning Park. They must be leashed, and they are not allowed in beach areas. There is a dog area to the east of the Lightning Lake day-use area.
This area is 4km off Highway 3 on the Gibson Pass Ski Hill Road. It includes a picnic shelter, pit toilets, and a parking area. You can pay your camping fees at the Skyview Campground Gatehouse using cash, debit, or credit card.
This walk-in group camping site includes a shelter complete with picnic tables. The groupsite also offers a fire pit, a parking lot, and pit toilets. You must book this site in advance through the BC Parks reservation service.
A wood stove is available at Lone Duck I and Lone Duck II. Firewood can be purchased at Manning Park Resort.
We offer winter camping at Lightning Lake for campers, trailers, and RVs that have everything needed to be self-sufficient. Camping is restricted to the day-use area parking lot 3.7km off Highway 3 on the Gibson Pass Ski Hill Road.
The pit toilets remain available during this time, but no other facilities are available. Fires are prohibited and no potable water or picnic tables are available. Pitching tents is not allowed.
This reservable group camping area is approximately 5km west of Manning Park Resort. It includes a parking lot, pit toilet, and large walk-in camping area. Campfires are not allowed here.
To learn more about groupsites, see the group camping page.
Winter camping is allowed in the backcountry provided Leave No Trace wilderness ethics are practiced. You must register for a backcountry permit before any overnight stay during the winter.
‘Backcountry’ means an area more than 1km away from any highway or park road. Backcountry campgrounds are not accessible by vehicle and have very limited facilities.
Learn more on the E.C. Manning Park: Backcountry Camping page.
For campground maps, see Park and activity maps.
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
There are taps and hand pumps throughout the frontcountry drive-in campgrounds and the Lightning Lake day-use area. However, you should carry water with you when hiking in E.C. Manning Park.
All backcountry campgrounds are close to natural water sources. Some creeks may dry up during a hot summer. We recommend that you treat any water gathered from natural sources in the park before using it.
There is a playground beside site 15 and the Spruce Bay Beach access trail in Lighting Lake Campground. Playgrounds are also available in Hampton, Mule Deer, and Skyview campgrounds.
A hand-launch is available next to the boat rental building at the Lightning Lake day-use area. No motorized boats are permitted on the lakes within E.C. Manning Park, including those with electric motors.
A sani-station is available during the summer season. It is 1km east of Manning Park Lodge, at the visitor centre. Opening and closing dates vary depending on weather conditions.
Campfires are not allowed at Buckhorn and Kicking Horse backcountry campgrounds. We do not encourage campfires anywhere else in the E.C. Manning Park’s backcountry. Bring a portable stove for cooking.
If you do light a campfire anywhere in the park, please keep it small to preserve air quality. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. Always bring a portable stove for cooking.
To conserve vegetation and ground cover, do not gather firewood from anywhere in the park. Dead wood is important for many plants and animals, and it adds valuable organic matter to the soil.
Bans and other restrictions may apply. Check with BC Wildfire Service and local or Indigenous governments for other restrictions and assess conditions before lighting a fire.
There are picnic areas at:
Flush toilets and pit toilets are available at campgrounds throughout the frontcountry of E.C. Manning Park. Campgrounds in the backcountry have pit toilets only.
Showers are available for campers staying at Lightning Lake Campground, Lone Duck I and II groupsites, Skyview Campground, and Hampton Campground.
The hiking season at E.C. Manning Park is dependent on snow levels. Most high-elevation trails are not snow-free until late June or early July. During the winter season, hiking trails are under snow.
At any time of year, trail conditions can change quickly. Use the resources below and watch out for advisories to check that conditions are suitable before you head out:
Lighting Lake is a great spot for a dip, but often remains cool well into the summer.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are canoeing and kayaking opportunities on Lightning Lake. Canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals are seasonally available at Lightning Lake day-use area.
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting page.
Lightning Lakes chain offers easily accessible fishing opportunities for rainbow trout. For the hardy hiker, Poland Lake and Nicomen Lake also offer good fishing for rainbow trout.
Motorized boats, including boats with electric motors, are not allowed on any lakes within E.C. Manning Park.
Interpretive programs at E.C. Manning Park run from late June through early September at Lightning Lake Amphitheatre. Interpretive nature walks are available at Alpine Meadows, Rein Orchid Trail, and other locations.
Additional special events run occasionally, including the Lightning Lake Lantern Festival and programs in conjunction with Jerry’s Rangers. Programs run rain or shine, so please dress appropriately.
Join the park naturalist on an interpretive tour of one of Manning’s many trails. Themes vary but the walks are suitable for all ages, and everyone is welcome.
A summer program for kids and families. Get an official Jerry’s Rangers certificate and earn stickers, pins, and badges.
Evenings of educational fun for all ages at the Lightning Lake Amphitheatre. Everyone is welcome. Parking is available at the Spruce Bay Beach parking lot.
Visit the Manning Park Resort website, email camping@manningpark.com, or call the visitor centre (summer only) at 604-668-5953 for more information.
There are excellent opportunities to view wildlife throughout E.C. Manning Park. Animal life includes squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, pika, coyotes, beaver, muskrat, deer, bears, and moose. Over 200 bird species have been spotted.
The best locations for wildlife viewing include Beaver Pond, Rein Orchid, Lightning Lake day-use area, and the Similkameen Trail. Animals are most easily spotted during the early morning.
Dogs and other domestic animals must be leashed and are not allowed in most beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for your pets’ behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
There is a designated pet area to the east side of the restaurant at Manning Park Resort.
Bicycles are allowed on signed or designated trails within E.C. Manning Park. Cyclists must yield to hikers and horses. For details on e-biking, see the e-biking section, below.
The following trails are suitable for mountain bikes:
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Bicycles are allowed on signed or designated trails within E.C. Manning Park. E-bikes are allowed on these trails if they meet the criteria for e-bike use outlined on the cycling page.
Horses are allowed on designated trails only. These include:
Skagit Bluffs Trail is closed to horses.
If you are on a multi-day ride, please camp only in designated areas. Horse camping is available at the Headwaters Corral in Manning Park Resort. Backcountry horse camps are available on the Dewdney and Hope Pass trails.
We advise carrying a backpacking stove as an alternative to lighting campfires. Horse camps generally include a toilet, a fire ring, access to water, a hitching rail, and grazing opportunities.
Hunting at E.C. Manning Park is only allowed in the MU 2-17 area (the former Cascade Recreation Area). This area is only open to the discharge of firearms, bows, and crossbows from September 10 to June 15. Please check the fishing and hunting guide for more information.
E.C. Manning Park features backcountry trails for ski-touring and snowshoeing, as well as groomed cross-country ski trails. For more information, check the current trail conditions report before heading out.
Visit the Manning Park Resort website for information on alpine and nordic skiing opportunities.
Bisected by highway three, the park stretches for 58km from portal to portal. The western portal, marked by the carving of a marmot, is 26km east of Hope. The eastern portal, marked by a carving of a bear, is 52km west of Princeton. The core area of the park is located 68km east of Hope and 68km west of Princeton.
The weather forecast for E.C. Manning Park can be found through the Weather Network.
For a detailed digital or hardcopy map of E.C. Manning Park, please visit Clark Geomatics.
Any maps provided on this page are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
The visitor centre is 1km east of Manning Park Lodge. It offers a picnic area, bathroom, and sani-station. It also provides maps and information on camping and other activities.
Visitor centre hours and contact details:
Frontcountry campgrounds, day-use areas, Buckhorn Campground, and the visitor centre are operated by Sunshine Valley Recreation Inc.
Manning Park Lodge, cabins and Skyview campground are operated by Manning Park Resort.
E.C. Manning Park’s backcountry campgrounds and trails are maintained by BC Parks.
For information on reservations, call the BC Parks reservation service at 1-800-689-9025 toll free from Canada and the US or 1-519-858-6161 internationally. For information on skiing and related activities, please visit the Manning Park Resort website.
Established in 1941, this park was named in memory of Ernest C. Manning, chief forester of British Columbia from 1936 to 1941. During his time as chief forester, Manning championed setting land aside for future generations to enjoy.
Before the park as we know it today was established, the area was known as the Three Brothers Preserve. The preserve was established in 1931, to save the alpine meadows from overgrazing by sheep.
This was a 6,440-hectare area that is part of what we now know as Sub-Alpine Meadow. The preserve was doubled in size in 1936 and the Three Brothers Wildlife Reserve was formed.
In 1941, the current class-A park was established. Since then, there have been several revisions to the boundaries. The most recent was in October 1999, increasing the size to 70,844 hectares.
In 1949, the Hope Princeton Highway was completed, making Manning Park accessible to motor vehicles. In 1957, British Columbia’s first nature house was built in the park.
The area now known as E.C. Manning Park encompasses the traditional territory of over 20 Indigenous bands and three nations. Indigenous trading routes ran throughout the area. The western part of the park includes traditional Indigenous fishing and hunting areas.
Historic trails in the park include the Dewdney Trail, Hope Pass, Whatcom Trail, Engineers Road, Skyline Trail, and Blackeye’s Trail. Historic features include the remains of ranches, trapping cabins, mine shafts, and Buckhorn mining camp. There are historic fire lookout buildings at Windy Joe and Monument 83.
E. C. Manning Park is bordered to the east by Skagit Valley Park and to the north by Cascade Recreation Area. To the south, across the U.S. border, it connects with the North Cascades National Park. Together, these four areas create an internationally significant tract of protected lands.
E.C. Manning Park itself has considerable ecological values. Joining wet coastal mountain ranges with dry interior plateau, the park’s geography and ecology are varied and dramatic. Manning features snow-capped peaks, alpine wildflower meadows, a chain of lakes, and broad riverbeds.
It is also home to a diverse range of plants and animals. Many rare and endangered species depend on the park’s protected habitats. While E.C. Manning is one of B.C.’s most popular destinations, it is also vital to the conservation of our natural heritage.
E.C. Manning Park is home to a wide variety of birds and animals. There are 206 separate species of birds and 63 species of mammals. Many are common species, like the Columbian ground squirrel and the pika. But the rarer mountain beaver, wolverine, and the Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel are also found here.
E.C. Manning Park and the Cascade Recreation Area are also central in efforts to recover the threatened grizzly bear population of the North Cascades. These areas form part of the core habitat area essential to the conservation of this small but significant population.
Rare spotted owls are sometimes seen in E.C. Manning Park. These owls are at risk in B.C. and a plan to protect them in the Manning and Skagit Valley areas is underway. They are at risk because much of their habitat has been impacted by logging or lost to land development.
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.