Kootenay. 
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 in the southern interior of B.C. on the east and west shores of the Upper Arrow Lake, 10 km south of Nakusp on Highway 6. The park facilities are only in the eastern section of the park.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
Upon entering the park, turn right to access the campground. The campground has a two-way, paved road at the edge of the forest. A Park Office is located near the campground entrance, and along the road you will find turnarounds at different intervals. There are 112 vehicle-accessible sites in the park including seven doubles and 18 sites with electrical hookups. A few of the sites have tent pads. There are three pull-through sites, and the campground has an even mix of small to large sites and can accommodate large recreational vehicles.
There are many lakefront sites, with some offering access to the beach but are not considered to have lake views. All sites are shady, set in a mixed forest of pine and larch. Extra vehicles that have been paid for can use the day-use for overnight parking.
A park gate is located at the park entrance. The closet phone and store is in Nakusp, a 15 minute drive 12 km north on Highway 6.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $30 per party per night |
| Electrified sites | Additional $7 per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $15 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
As the park is on the Arrow Lake reservoir, the water does fluctuate. In the spring during low water, the shoreline is muddy and not considered attractive to swimmers.
However at peak season, during July and August when the water is high, the beach is sandy and is popular for sunbathing, swimming and beach combing. The combined shoreline on the east and west encompasses over 6km and is complemented with natural sandbars and coves.
The eastern shore, where all the day-use facilities are concentrated is the most popular. The western shore although equally as sandy is less used as logging roads or boats are required to accesses it. The water can be described as refreshing to cool.
There is no roped-off swimming area.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. Users access the lake from either the boat launch or the waterfront sites.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. Users access the lake from either the boat launch or the waterfront sites.
There are kokanee salmon, as well as bull and rainbow trout angling opportunities at this park. Check the BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for restrictions and quotas.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
During the spawning season, you can see kokanee salmon.
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 British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within McDonald 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.
There are excellent waterskiing and jet skiing opportunities on Arrow Lakes.
Windsurfing opportunities are available on Arrow Lakes.
Hunting is permitted in this park.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
The boat launch is located at the south end of the park, accessed by turning turn left at the park entrance. This concrete plank, singlewide ramp is only useable during high water. A nearby 25 vehicle parking lot is available for overnight parking. There is no wharf but boats are beached during the day. Both car top and power boats can be seen on the lake.
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 water is available for cooking and drinking. The park has chlorinated, treated water pumped from the reservoir. There are eleven drinking water taps located throughout the campground and day-use area. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
Sites 1 to 18 have either 30amp or 50amp electrical service. An additional service charge of $7 per night, applies to these sites regardless of whether electrical service is used. Electrified campsites have fire rings.
One day-use and picnic area is located before the campground on a sandy, grassed bench. This area has six tables, one pit toilet and a water tap.
During high water the beach is sandy with the tables 50 metres from the waters edge. Although this area is recognized as the main day-use and picnic site, many visitors do picnic along its entire 800 metre shoreline.
This area has limited facilities and contains no change house or barbeque stands. A day-use parking area is nearby.
There are over fifteen accessible pit toilets located throughout the campground and within the day-use area. One pit toilet is at the boat launch. There are flush toilets located in the shower building.
The playground is located adjacent to the day-use beach and is accessible from the day-use parking lot. The playground is suitable for ages five and older. Surrounding the playground are picnic tables, a potable water stand pipe, shared fire ring and toilet facilities.
The park has a sani-station.
Sani-station use fee: $5 per discharge in coin or purchased token.
The shower building is located near the entrance to the campground by the day-use parking lot. The shower building has three showers in each of the men’s and women’s washrooms in addition to a flush toilet. There is also a fully accessible washroom complete with a shower and toilet. There are no extra charges for showers and they are for registered guests only.
About this park
This area was originally leered for homesteading. Several remnant structures from the historic homesteads can still be found.
The park now supports a second-growth forest of mostly pine and larch. It was established in 1982 as a holiday destination to offer recreational opportunities for the local community and tourists along the travel corridor.
The east side of the park contains McDonald Creek, its namesake. It is located in the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket, Okanagan and Shuswap first nation traditional territories.
McDonald Creek Park encompasses 468 hectares. The Arrow reservoir bisects the park and creates two distinct portions of protected area. The East Side protects lakeshore riparian habitat and kokanee spawning habitat associated with an alluvial fan and creek, a somewhat rare feature for interior lakes.
The west side with its forested upland habitat provides critical winter range for ungulates, primarily deer and elk. Conifers of pine and larch are the primary trees found in the park. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please do not damage or remove them. Mushroom harvesting is not allowed.
This park supports a diverse population of small mammals such as squirrels, chipmunks and porcupines. In late August and mid September the spawning kokanee are a point of interest to park visitors. With its critical winter habitat, elk and deer are commonly observed during the off season.
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
| 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 West Kootenay Park Management Inc. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
