Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Bears have historically been attracted to this site for its fruit trees remaining from the orchards of the early settlers. Keep a clean camp and keep pets on a leash at all times. Free-running pets can anger a bear and provoke an attack. The bears are more active in the fall.
- There is no roped-off swimming area.
- There are no lifeguards on duty.
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
- Park and Campground Map [PDF] (April 9, 2018)
Getting there
Located in the southern interior of BC, a 15 minute drive, 25 km south of Revelstoke on Hwy 23, where Blanket Creek flows into the Columbia River just north of the Upper Arrow Lake.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
The park has one campground situated near the Arrow Lake reservoir. The campground contains 105 vehicle-accessible sites, seven of these are doubles. There are no pull-through sites or tent pads, but tents can be placed on the campsite gravel pad. Many of the sites are considered large and can accommodate extra vehicles. The campground offers a selection of both open, sunny sites or wooded, shaded sites in a mixed smaller forest of white pine, cedar and hemlock.
The park offers services during the peak season from May to September. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. Visitors can select any non-reserved site and staff will come to collect fees. The park has two park gates, one at the park entrance and one before the entrances to the campground or day-use and picnic area.
There are no pay phones in the park. The closest store is in Revelstoke, 25 km north on Highway 23.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $28 per party per night |
|---|---|
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $14 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
This park offers both an RV-accessible group site, and a walk-in style group site for tent camping. Both sites are located adjacent to the day-use area and offer nearby access to the Columbia River. There are pit toilets, garbage cans and a water tap that are shared between the two sites, plus tables and fire rings in each site. For more information and to make a reservation go to the BC Parks reservations system.
| Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
| Regular group camping fee | $120 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the youth group policy see the group camping page.
Groupsites
Things to do
The park is noted for its trail that leads to the foot of the beautiful 12 metre high Sutherland Falls with its one straight drop into a pool. Less than a kilometre long, this trail is an easy two minute walk and is accessed from a small parking lot off the left turn exit before the sani-station.
The other popular hike starts from the south end of the campground is 2 km in length and considered and easy to moderate hike. The start of the trail will lead you through an old cedar forest with huge stumps displaying spring-board notches from early logging activity. It then takes you through dense forest and opens up to a very pretty, fjord looking inlet with deep clean water. The final section of the trail heads to the old homestead. This site still contains a deep rock-lined pond and elaborate rock work fences. Total hiking time is 30 to 45 minutes.
A 10 minute trail winds through the forest to connect the campground with the picnic area and swimming lagoon. The Columbia River trail parallels the river from the south end of the campground and connects to the day-use and group camping areas. There are three short trails leading to the Columbia River. This is a favourite spot for visitors for relaxing and strolling. There is no better vantage point to view the peaks of the Columbia Mountains. The river waterfront is especially enjoyable when the Arrow Lake Reservoir is at low levels, exposing a quality beach.
For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.
The northern portion of the reservoir is less useable given the steep slope of the banks, cold silt water and frequent low water levels.
There is however, a man-made lagoon for swimming and beach use that has helped to artificially provide recreational opportunities. The circular, calm, fresh flowing water lagoon has a diameter of 60 metres and a depth of approximately 2.5 metres in the middle. With its ring of sandy beach and warm water, the lagoon is popular with visitors of all ages.
Please keep in mind that there is no roped-off swimming area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Car top boats, canoes or kayaks are used on the reservoir and may be launched off the beach after a short 200 metre, 10 minute “portage” from the day-use parking lot.
Car top boats, canoes or kayaks are used on the reservoir and may be launched off the beach after a short 200 metre, 10 minute “portage” from the day-use parking lot.
The far north end of the reservoir is shallow, stumpy and not recognized for fishing.
Anglers access the reservoir via the boat launch at Arrow Lakes Park south on Highway 23 near the ferry terminal. From here there is good lake and stream fishing for bull and rainbow trout as well as kokanee salmon. Check the BC Fishing Regulations Synopsis for quotas and restrictions.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There is no viewing platform but there is easy access to the scenic Sutherland Falls.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times in the campground and day-use areas, and are not allowed on most beach areas or in park buildings. There is an off leash area in this park where dogs are allowed to play in the water, but they must be under control at all times. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in B.C.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Blanket Creek 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.
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.
Cold well water is available for cooking and drinking. Seven water taps are located in the campground, with four water taps in the day-use area and one in the group camping area. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
The park has one day-use and picnic area located past the campground, near the reservoir on the north side of the park. A large, 120 vehicle parking lot is available.
This park is unique as it contains a man made lagoon for swimming. 457 metres of sandy beach and a hectare of grass surround the circular lagoon. There are 32 picnic tables are situated mainly around the lagoon in the grassy area. Shady spots are created from the trees on the edge of the grassy ring. An adventure playground set in sand with swing set, monkey bars and slide is nearby.
Other facilities on site include five pit toilets and a water tap. A fire pit is available in the picnic area. A signed dog beach can be found out on the reservoir and is only a 10 minute walk away.
The park campground has eight pit toilets conveniently located in close proximity to campsites.
The day-use and group camping areas have pit toilets. In addition, there are two sets of single unit flush toilets with running water sinks. There is a large flush washroom and shower facility located central to the campground with separate sides as well as a family room with flush toilet, sink and shower.
This facility is disability and wheelchair-accessible.
An adventure playground with swing set, monkey bars and slide is provided near the picnic area and swimming lagoon. The equipment is set in sand.
During the collection season, a sani-station and dump is available near the campground entrance and a fee is charged for the service. This is a full-service sani-station for dumping and fresh water fill.
Sani-station use fee: $5 per discharge in coin or purchased token.
There are hot showers in the flush washrooms. There is no extra charge for showers, however, they are for registered guests, only.
About this park
The park encompasses a farming area known as the old “Domke homestead.” The remnants of this heritage farm and its wide array of trees, both native and imported, are reminders of the pioneer orchardists who first homesteaded the area in the late 1940’s. The park was established in 1982 after the reservoir was made, to provide recreational opportunities for local residents. Blanket Creek Park lies in the Okanagan and Shuswap first nation traditional territories.
Blanket Creek Park is 318 hectares, contains white pine and second growth western hemlock and western cedar. The park protects the scenic qualities of Sutherland Falls, a regionally significant natural feature. There are only a few waterfalls in the Kootenay region as easily accessible to the public. The creation of the Arrow Reservoir reduced Kokanee spawning and ungulate winter range over a large area. Blanket Creek Park is only one of a few small parks along the Arrow Lake Reservoir where these values are protected. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please don’t damage or remove them.
Bears are commonly seen in the fall when they are attracted to the fruit trees remaining from homesteaders’ orchards. Mule deer and hares are occasionally observed. The park is also popular for bird watching. Park users should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment. Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Please view all wildlife from a distance.
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 proudly operated by:
West Kootenay Park Management Inc.
info@westkootenayparks.com