Park overview
Monkman Park, nestled in the Hart Ranges of the Central Rocky Mountains and Foothills, covers 62,867 hectares of diverse natural landscapes encompassing extensive alpine meadows, jagged mountain peaks, forested valleys, thundering waterfalls and clear alpine lakes. Monkman Park was established in 1981. An additional 22,000 hectares were added in 2001 to protect the Limestone Lakes and Upper Fontiniko Creek Valley areas. This addition protects old-growth spruce forests, unique geological formations and important recreation.
The park has a diverse water system that includes the Murray and Monkman drainages. Scenic rapids, waterfalls, streams and lakes all contribute to the dramatic visual impact of the landscape. The northern section of Monkman Park features Kinuseo Falls, where the Murray River plunges 60 metres over a geological fault to the river bed below. This thunderous cascade of water is higher than Niagara Falls and provides many visitors with the highlight of their trip.
Despite the rugged grandeur of the park, prime areas of it can be easily accessed. There is even a wheelchair-accessible platform affording great views of the Falls and horseshoe pits at the nearby campsite. Activities at Monkman include camping, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing, picnicking, and backcountry camping.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park gate is open May 15, 2023 to October 1, 2023
Current status:
Open
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 20
- Main operating season
- 2023: May 15 to October 1
- Winter note
- No winter access. The road to the park is not plowed and conditions are dangerous in the winter months.
Safety info
- Weather conditions in Monkman Park tend to be unstable year-round. In summer, the weather is usually cool, wet and often windy, as the Rocky Mountains effectively block the westward movement of moist Pacific air. Hikers should be prepared for all weather conditions in this changeable climate.
- Always carry first-aid equipment and extra clothing and food.
- Be aware that there is a boil water advisory in effect at this park. Water sources in the backcountry may carry giardia or other parasites. Boil or filter all water when in the backcountry.
- The Monkman Pass Memorial Hiking Trail, past Monkman Lake, is not maintained and is for experienced hikers only with advanced navigation skills. View the backcountry campgrounds map below for more information about this trail. Please be prepared past this point for wilderness navigation, route finding, and wilderness alpine camping (no wood fuel is available).
Special notes
- Campfire wood is not sold at this park. Firewood can be brought into the park from other locations outside of park boundaries. BC Parks’ policy does not allow cutting (dead or living trees) or the gathering of wood from the forest floor within park boundaries; to cut or gather wood in a park for a campfire is illegal.
- Park visitors are requested to take out garbage and do not leave at the park.
- Special care must be taken in alpine and sub-alpine areas. These are among the most fragile because of the severe conditions and short growing season.
- The Kinuseo Falls Road that leads into Monkman Park is rough to travel although the road has been greatly improved. Visitors can expect to encounter washboard and potholes. Please allow for slow travel.
Camping
The park boasts numerous backcountry camping spots at these locations:
- kilometre 7 (Murray River crossing)
- kilometre 13
- kilometre 20 (Cascades)
- kilometre 22 (Devils Creek)
- kilometre 25 (Monkman Lake)
There are two tent pads at the Murray river Crossing and eight at the Monkman Lake sites. The kilometre 13 campsite provides access to water, a fire pit, a bear cache, and a few tent spots. Each campsite is equipped with a bear cache (to store foodstuffs and gear), a fire ring, and pit toilet. Please use these designated areas.
Camping at backcountry campsites is on a first come, first served basis. Campfires are permitted only in designated backcountry campsites. Firewood is in short supply, so please keep fires small for safety and to conserve firewood for the next hiker. Use of Primus-type campstoves is encouraged.
The southeast section of Monkman Park holds several beautiful aquamarine lakes, which are the source of the Murray River. This area of the park is considered to be prime grizzly bear habitat and extensive human intrusion is not encouraged.
Recently, the southern boundary of Monkman was extended to include areas with high conservation and recreation features, including the upper Fontoniko Creek, the Limestone Lakes area and the rolling plateau to the west. This addition protects old-growth spruce forests, unique geological features, and important recreation aspects of the park’s terrain, wildlife and ecosystems.
Campers are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire giving information as to how many people are in their party, destination, and schedule. Any comments about the park and its amenities are also appreciated.
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. Campsite reservations are not accepted.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $9 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
A cold water hand pump is located in this park. Boil water advisory in effect. The hand pump is shut off during the off-season.
Fire rings are available. Firewood is is not for sale at this park, so you must bring your own.
The picnic area is located two kilometres from the the campsite. At this location, there are picnic tables and pit toilets.
This park has only pit toilets, no flush toilets.
Activities
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.
Day hikes and backcountry hikes
Monkman Park offers a small but attractive selection of short hiking trails, including routes to viewpoints of Kinuseo Falls and the Murray River. There is a 3km trail from the main campground to Kinuseo Falls, and the route around the perimeter of a beaver pond. Day hikers wanting more of a stretch can walk the Monkman Lake Trail as far as the Murray River Crossing, an easy hike that is 7km one way. The Murray River Crossing boasts a suspension bridge, which can lead more serious explorers into the park's interior.
Kinuseo Falls
Considered one of the great natural wonders of the province, Kinuseo Falls are a highlight of Monkman Park. A 42-site campground and day-use area are located nearby in the park. Above the falls, the folding and faulting which occurred with the uplift of the Rockies millions of years ago can be seen as an “S” curve on the far wall.
Visitors to Kinuseo Falls will find recreational opportunities such as hiking short trails to viewpoints, as well as many chances to admire the diverse scenery, take photographs, and engage in rewarding nature studies. The campground also provides an ideal base for hikers and campers interested in backcountry adventures.
Monkman Lake Trail
To the south of the Kinuseo Falls campground lies the main body of Monkman Park. Access is via the 63km Monkman Lake Trail, which winds through this portion of the park and provides backpackers and hikers with an opportunity to experience the unspoiled splendor of the area.
As beautiful as the trail to Monkman Lake is, it passes the most spectacular feature of the park, the Monkman Cascades. These are a series of ten stunning waterfalls along Monkman Creek that thunder over rock ledges separated by placid pools. The trail, which follows the historic Monkman Pass route, ends at Hobies cabin on the Herrick River 10km beyond the southern boundary of the park.
The Monkman Pass Memorial Hiking Trail, past Monkman Lake, is for experienced hikers only with advanced navigation skills. At this point it becomes a wilderness route and climbs into the sub-alpine where there is no trail maintenance. Please be prepared past this point for wilderness navigation, route finding and wilderness alpine camping (no wood fuel is available).
The lakes and rivers within Monkman Park contain fish species such as trout, char, grayling and whitefish. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Monkman Park supports grizzly and black bear. Visitors might see mountain goats, caribou and moose. During the warmer seasons, deer, mountain sheep, gray wolves, fishers, martens, wolverines, marmots, hares, and red squirrels are joined by numerous bird species. Keep in mind that most of the larger animals tend to seek a more hospitable range during the winter months.
Pets and 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 the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Mountain biking is only allowed up to km 12 along the Monkman Trail.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Monkman 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.
Horses are allowed along the Monkman Trail and within backcountry areas zoned “Wilderness Recreation”. These areas cover the upper Monkman Creek watershed including the latter half of the Monkman Trail. Horse users are required to carry feed for their horses.
There are opportunities to spelunk on the Stone Corral Trail. Small caves can be found in the limestone outcrops.
At the far end of the Stone Corral, beneath the steepest cliffs, lies the large entrance to Corral Cave. Although this cave is only 20 metres deep, it contains a number of fascinating features. The walls are smooth and vertical and the ceiling is high, making for an easy walk-in cave.
The floor is rock-strewn, and there are a number of large perpetual drips. In spring and early summer the floor of the cave is a dramatic collection of large icicles. On the left wall, about halfway in, there is a small round hole. This is a typical phreatic tube. The initial dissolution process that widens the cracks underground occurs below the water table. Because of the very slow movement of the water and because it completely fills the crack, the result is a perfectly round tube.
Later in the history of a cave when the water-table drops and air enters, if water is still passing through the crack it will selectively erode the bottom portion. The resulting V-shape is known as vadose, as opposed to the round phreatic features.
At the end of the cave, if a flashlight is shone up into the top corner, there are a few tiny stalactites. Beyond these is a long descending tongue of a softer white substance, moonsmilk, an organic form of calcite. It is gooey when wet, with a texture like cottage cheese, but crumbly and powdery when dry. The origin of the name is traced to Europe, where the exact translation means “gnome’s milk”. It was used in medieval times as a wound dressing and recent research has shown the appropriateness of this remedy, as moonsmilk contains a number of substances with antibacterial properties. Overhead and along the wall there are also some beautiful calcite flowstone walls, as well as another attractive collection of small stalactites at the drip sites.
Another cave can be found along the trail as it leads away from the cliff-edge and crosses a gully. There is a tiny sinkhole with a small opening in the rock-face, this is one of the entrances of Porcupine Cave. Do not enter this opening! Instead, proceed and enter a second sinkhole just over the ridge, as the entrance to the cave from this aspect is larger.
Porcupine Cave is 10 metres long, and joins the two sinkholes. It is a classic solutional feature created by the dissolving of limestone by slowly moving water. It is fairly narrow at either end but opens up into a chamber in the middle with standing room.
There are fine coral fossils on the ceiling in this chamber. There is also cave popcorn, which is recognized by its knob-like shape, resulting from concentric layering of tiny calcite crystals. The floor of this cave is covered with old porcupine droppings, hence the name.
Caves are fragile environments that need to be treated with the greatest respect. Under no circumstances should you touch the walls, take anything or leave anything.
Part of the park is closed to hunting. Please consult the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for hunting information.
Monkman Park is located on the Kinuseo Falls Road, 60km south of Tumbler Ridge. Several roads provide access to this community. Turn south off highway 97 at Chetwynd onto highway 29, or turn south off of highway 97 onto highway 52 approximately 17km west of Dawson Creek. Visitors travelling on highway 2 to or from Dawson Creek can also turn south on highway 52, near the BC/Alberta border.
National Topographic Series Maps 93I/11 and 93I/14 at a scale of 1:50,000 cover the Monkman Lake Trail. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.
GPS Navigation
Ground-Level Views
Park and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF]
- Vehicle-Accessible Campground Map [PDF]
- Backcountry Campgrounds Map [PDF]
- Park Brochure [PDF]
- Lake Joan and Canary Falls Hiking Trails [PDF] – produced in partnership with local hiking society .
- Stone Corral Interpretative Hiking Trail [PDF] – produced in partnership with local hiking society.
- Visiting Kinuseo Falls [PDF] – produced in partnership with local hiking society .
- Monkman Cascades and Monkman Lake Hiking Route [PDF] – produced in partnership with local hiking society .
- Monkman Pass Memorial Trail – Driving Route [PDF] – produced in partnership with local hiking society.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 30, 1981
- Size: 63,119 hectares
Nature and culture
History
Monkman Park was named after Alex Monkman, an individual who expended a considerable amount of effort attempting to build a transportation route from the Peace River farming country down to the Pacific ports. In 1922, he and a group of fur trappers discovered what is now known as Monkman Pass. It was this pass that provided him with his vision for a railroad, a direct and economical route south.
Failing to get government support for his venture, Monkman focused on the alternative, building a highway. The Monkman Pass Highway Association was formed in 1936, and over the next three years, many determined volunteers laboured to blaze this new trail. Limited funding, harsh conditions, and the outbreak of the Second World War eventually brought the project to a halt. A railway was later built to the northwest over the Pine Pass, and Monkman’s “highway” slowly faded into historical obscurity.
Today, only a few sections are visible along the Monkman Lake Trail, a route that follows parts of the original road. The Brooks Falls in Monkman Park, was named after Carl Brooks, one of the volunteers who worked along with Alex Monkman and the Highway Association. A cairn marking overlooking the falls has been placed in his honour.
Conservation
Lower elevations in the park are dominated by mature sub-alpine fir, white spruce and lodgepole pine. The higher elevations support growths of Englemann spruce. Above the treeline, only plants adapted to the conditions are to be found.
Monkman Park conserves representative areas of the Central Rocky Mountains and Foothills. Alpine meadows of heathers, grasses and wildflowers, such as white rhododendron, arctic lupine, glacier lily and Indian paintbrush cover large areas and are intermixed with shrubs.
Wildlife
The diverse range of habitat in Monkman Park supports grizzly and black bear, mountain goats, caribou and moose. During the warmer seasons, deer, mountain sheep, gray wolves, fishers, martens, wolverines, marmots, hares, and red squirrels are joined by numerous bird species that include owls, ptarmigan, grouse, geese and loons. Because of the fierce winter climate, most of the larger animals tend to seek a more hospitable range during the winter months.
Kinuseo Falls presents an impassable obstacle to migrating fish, so fish habitat is not the same above and below the falls. Larger fish are able to follow the Murray River drainage from lower elevations to the falls. Above the falls, only small char, trout, grayling and whitefish inhabit the Murray River and upper Monkman Creek.
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.