Monck Park | BC Parks

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Photo of lake shore with rolling hills in the background.

Vacant front-country campground with scattered trees.

Vacant campsite with lake and grassy rolling hills view.

Park overview

Set on the shore of Nicola Lake, Monck Provincial Park offers a wide assortment of recreational activities including camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, water-skiing, wind-surfing and hiking.

A very popular family-oriented campground in a hot, dry setting this park has very high use during the summer season.

In addition to providing recreational opportunities, Monck protects a ponderosa pine, bunchgrass ecosystem and a volcanic rock cliff landscape.

Established Date: September 28, 1951
Park Size: 118 hectares

Advisories

Dates of operation

All dates are subject to change without notice.

Open to public access April 28, 2023 to September 29, 2023

Current status:Open to public access

Be sure to check advisories above before visiting

Monck Campground

Facility type

Vehicle-accessible camping

Number of campsites

Reservable frontcountry sites: 131
Vehicle-accessible sites: 132
Double sites: 17

Main camping season dates

2023: April 28 to September 29

Reservable dates

2023: May 12 to September 10

Winter note

Park gate is open to boat launch and Loop 1 campsites, no fees, no services until Oct 31, reopens April 1.

Safety info

Stay Safe

Nicola Lake is subject to frequent sudden windstorms, posing a very real danger to small boats.
The swimming area is buoyed off from boat traffic. The lake bottom drops off sharply between the buoys and close to the shore in other areas of the lake. Use caution.
The extreme hot, dry climate can result in overexposure to the sun. Everyone in your party should wear sunscreen of at least 15 SPF and a hat with a brim.
Wood ticks are most prevalent between March and June. These parasites reside in tall grass and low shrubbery and seek out warm-blooded hosts. Although they are potential carriers of disease, they are a natural part of the environment and can be easily avoided. Your legs should be protected by wearing trousers tucked into socks or gaiters. After outdoor activity, thoroughly examine yourself. Check your pets for ticks as well.
Valuables, when left unattended or at night, should be stored out of sight and locked up at all times. Please report all thefts to the Park Staff as soon as possible.

Special Notes

Major credit cards are accepted at the gatehouse and store.
There is a pay telephone at the gate office near the entrance to the park.

Campground Guidelines

Quiet Hours are 10 pm to 7 am. Music, generators, etc. must be shut off completely between these hours.
Hibachis and campstoves can burn the picnic tables. Please do not use them on the tables.
Pets must be on leash (no longer than 2 metres) at all times while in the park. They are not allowed on beaches or in day-use areas. Owners must clean up after their pets.
Consumption of alcohol is prohibited except in your campsite.

Parking and Traffic Safety

Roadways can be very busy. All road users must obey traffic regulations and rules. The speed limit within the park is 10 km/hour or less. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel; e.g., cyclists yield to walkers.
Motorcycles and bicycles are permitted on park roads only and must travel in the same direction & speed as the signage indicates. Motorcycles must be properly licenced and must be operated by a licenced driver only. Helmets must be worn. Unlicenced ATVs or dirt bikes are not permitted.
Parking is prohibited on the side of the road. Please park on the gravelled portion of your campsite or in designated parking spaces. Vehicles parked in day-use areas after 11 pm may be ticketed or towed.

Camping

Reservations

All campsite reservations must be made the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first-come, first-served.

Campsite Reservations

Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.

Vehicle-accessible camping

Monck provides 132 vehicle-accessible campsites, including 17 double sites. Sites are sunny, but each receives some shade throughout the day. Most sites can accommodate larger units. Five of the sites also have a tent pad. Campsites are located in three loops and provide close and easy access to the lake. Campsite reservations are accepted.

Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $23.00 per party/night

BC Senior’s Rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only): $11.50 per senior party/night. Read the User Fees Policy for information on Senior Camping Discounts.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Picnic areas

The day-use is located next to the lake on a large grassy area. There are 40 picnic tables; 15 of the tables have a roof shelter. There are a few ponderosa pine trees to provide some shade. There is a large parking area adjacent to the day-use. No campfires are allowed in the day-use area. Please ensure that all barbeques or campstoves are used on the ground and not set on picnic tables.

Pit or flush toilets

There are 3 flush toilet buildings, 5 single flush toilets (four with sinks) and 7 pit toilets.

Drinking water

There are potable water posts located throughout the campground.

Playground

There is an adventure playground and horseshoe pitch near the day-use area.

Boat launch

There is a concrete boat launch located next to the day-use area. Water skiing is popular on the lake.

Sani-station

There is a user pay sani-station near the entrance of the park.

Sani-station Use Fee: $5.00 per discharge

Campfires

While 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. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. 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.

Activities

Hiking

There is a 5 km self-guided interpretive hiking trail that loops around the park. In 2005, the Park added 1.3 km of trail to the east of the existing upper trails. The loop is best walked from the upper end. Sections of this trail are steep and require caution. 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.

Swimming

Swimming is very popular at the sandy beach. There are marker buoys sectioning off the swimming area. The beach shelves quickly to deep water, so swimmers need to use caution. There are two change houses.

Canoeing

Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are available; however, extreme caution should be used due to the high winds occurring daily on the lake. These boats should stay close to shore.

Fishing

Rainbow trout and kokanee are the most common fish, however there are 26 species of fish in the lake. A valid BC angling licence is required and must be carried with you when fishing.

Interpretive programs

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that teaches basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the Park Operator for more information.

Wildlife viewing

Excellent bird-watching spring and fall. There are deer and bear sightings in the fall.

Pets on leash

Pets/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.

Cycling

Bicycling is allowed only on paved roads and designated trails in this park. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Monck Provincial 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.

Waterskiing

Waterskiing occurs on Nicola Lake.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is very popular on Nicola Lake due to the daily high winds the area receives.

Maps and location

View a more detailed map.

On the western shore of Nicola Lake, 22 km north of Merritt, 12 km off Hwy 5A via narrow paved road.

Park and activity maps

Park Map [PDF] (February 27, 2020)
Brochure [PDF]

Learn more about this park

Park details

Date established: September 28, 1951
Size: 118 hectares

Park contact

This park proudly operated by:
Shuswap Adams Parks Ltd.
parkinquiries@telus.net
250-320-9305

Nature and culture

History: Established in 1951. The original land was donated and was the site of an old homestead. There are archaeological sites including two First Nations pit house depressions in the day-use area.
Wildlife: There are 26 species of fish in Nicola Lake.
- General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

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.