Monashee Provincial Park protects substantial stands of old growth cedar, spruce and hemlock. Lush green forests grace the valley bottoms and, in the spring, alpine meadows blossom with a colourful array of wildflowers. The park is also known for some of the oldest rock formations in western Canada.
Peters and Margie Lakes sparkle beneath 2,697 metre high Mount Fosthall, the highest peak in the park and part of the rugged Monashee Range of snow-capped peaks that surround the park. Lucky visitors may get a glimpse of the rare mountain caribou or wolverine or the much more common mule deer, ground squirrels and pikas. This undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure for both experienced, backcountry hikers and willing beginners alike.
Established Date: June 1, 1962
Park Size: 22,722 hectares
Campers must be prepared for extreme weather changes while camping and hiking in the sub-alpine areas of the park. Subzero temperatures are common.
Wilderness camping is permitted in other areas of the park without a backcountry permit. Campers must practice no-trace ethics. The park is open year-round, if accessible.
This undeveloped mountain wilderness is a wonderful adventure for experienced, backcountry hikers. There are also trails for the willing beginner.
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.
Distance 6 km; 2 hours; easy
This is the most common access. The trail surface has been improved, widened to three feet and hardpacked for most of its length. There are well maintained boardwalks and bridges across streams and wet areas. It passes through a mixed forest of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, birch and some cedar and hemlock. Mountain bikes are not permitted.
Distance 5 km; 3-4 hours; difficult
This is the most difficult section of trail in the park. It winds its way up out of the Spectrum Lake basin gaining elevation rapidly through steep switchbacks. The trail is narrow and passes through sections of very rocky terrain found in avalanche chutes that are thick with alder. These sections can be slippery when wet and require caution. The climb does allow for some great views back down to Spectrum Lake and of the Chute, which is the outlet for Peters Lake that forms a waterfall as it cascades down the headwall towards Spectrum Lake far below.
Elevation change 800 m; distance 9 km; 4-5 hours; difficult
This is a continuation of the Little Peters Trail to the camping area at the other end of Peters Lake. The bulk of the elevation has been gained upon reaching Little Peters Lake and the remainder of the trail follows the rolling sub-alpine terrain through patches Engelmann spruce/sub-alpine fir forest on the southeast side of Big Peters Lake.
These routes for experienced hikers are not always well defined. Map reading skills are an asset.
Visitors can enjoy fishing for rainbow trout. Peters Lake has numerous fish though they are generally smaller than those found in Spectrum Lake. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
111 km north of Vernon. Take hwy #97 to Vernon, then go east on Hwy #6 from Vernon for 47 km, through Lumby to Cherryville. Turn north onto Sugar Lake Road and proceed 46 km until you reach the turnoff (km marker #22) to the park. Proceed on Spectrum Creek Road for 16 km to the park.
An alternative access to the Park is from the Arrow Lakes side. Follow highway 23 south from Revelstoke to Shelter Bay Forest Service Road (FSR) and turn right. This active logging road is steep and narrow in sections. Follow the Sol Mountain Lodge signs. At kilometre 35 turn right onto North Fosthall Creek FSR, keeping right, for approximately 17 kilometres. The North Fosthall Creek trail starts at the end of the road. The trail may not be well defined and is not regularly maintained. This access should be attempted by experienced backcountry travelers only. The majority of this road access is maintained by Sol Mountain Lodge.
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.