Wide open spaces, great fishing, wildlife, old west history and a quiet camping spot can all be yours in less than a 90-minute drive from the central Okanagan. In the heart of cattle country, rolling grasslands and dry open forest 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.
Once known only to local fishers and their friends, the park is being discovered as a weekend destination from the coast and from the Okanagan. The Coquihalla Highway and the Highway 97C Connector have made the access easier to these beautiful fishing lakes.
This is also an excellent spot for viewing small mammals and large bird species.
Please obey all park rules and policies to help everyone enjoy their time and stay safe in the park.
The western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), a species listed as Special Concern in Canada and on Schedule 1 of the federal Species at Risk Act, reside in the park. The communal breeding site, in the West Pond between Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake, is the starting point of the annual migration for tens of thousands of juvenile toads on their journey into the surrounding forest.
Please respect temporary closures and abide by toad-specific requests during the migration period.
Please respect this short event (usually over a two-week period) by respecting the temporary trail closure (on a portion of trail around the West Pond), occasional campsite(s) closures (typically sites 1 to 3), staying away from the toads, and abiding by any toad-specific requests from the park operators and park rangers.
For more information on western toads, please visit the Nicola Naturalist Society website.
All campsite reservations must be made through the camping reservations website. When reservations are not available all campsites are first come, first served. Campsite reservations are accepted at this park and first come, first served sites are also available.
This park has a group campsite that accepts reservations for groups with 10 or more people. All reservations must be made through the camping reservations website. Find out more about making a group camping reservation.
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.
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.
This park offers 58 vehicle-accessible campsites including five double, eight pull-through, and one group campsite.
The campground is quite spread out and divided between:
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.
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.
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.
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There are water taps located throughout the campgrounds and one hand-pump at the group campsite.
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. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. 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.
This park has 11 pit toilets conveniently located throughout the various campground loops. There are no flush toilets.
A 4km walking trail circling Kentucky Lake provides viewing and access to the lakeshore where the swimming is great. The trail is well defined, 2–3ft 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 at provincial 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 or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
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.
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.
Any maps listed are for information only. They may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250-320-9305
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.
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.