Monck Park
118 ha
Area
1951
Established
Class A
Park class
Park
Type
About this Park
Set on the shore of Nicola Lake, Monck Park offers a wide assortment of recreational activities including camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, waterskiing, windsurfing and hiking.
Monck Park is a very popular family-oriented campground in a hot, dry setting. In addition to providing recreational opportunities, Monck protects a Ponderosa pine, bunchgrass ecosystem and a volcanic rock cliff landscape.
Safety information
- Frequent sudden windstorms happen on Nicola Lake, posing a very real danger to small boats.
- The lake bottom drops off suddenly between the swimming area buoys, and close to shore in other areas of the lake. Use caution.
- Extreme hot, dry climate can result in overexposure to the sun. Visitors should wear sunscreen 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. Protect your legs by wearing trousers tucked into socks or gaiters. After outdoor activity, thoroughly examine yourself. Check your pets for ticks as well.
Special notes
- Major credit cards are accepted at the gatehouse and store.
Please obey all park rules and policies to help everyone enjoy their time and stay safe in the park.
- Quiet hours are 10pm to 7am. Music and other loud noises must be silenced completely between these hours.
- Generators are permitted 9 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 8 pm only.
- Hibachis and camp stoves can burn the picnic tables. Please do not use them on the tables.
- Keep valuables hidden and locked up when unattended. Please report all thefts to the park staff as soon as possible.
- 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.
- Alcohol is only permitted in your campsite.
- The speed limit on roads is 10 km/h. Road can be very busy. All road users must obey traffic regulations and rules. Always yield to the slowest mode of travel (for example, cyclists yield to walkers).
- Motorcycles and bicycles are permitted on park roads only. Motorcycles must be properly licensed and must be operated by a licensed driver. Helmets must be worn. Unlicensed ATVs and dirt bikes are not permitted.
- Parking on the side of the road is prohibited. 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.
Location notes
On the western shore of Nicola Lake, 22 km north of Merritt, 12 km off Hwy 5A via narrow paved road.
Activities
- 46: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.
- 46: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.
- 46:Fishing Rainbow trout and kokanee are the most common fish, however there are 26 species of fish in the lake.
- 46:Canoeing Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are available. Extreme caution should be used due to the high winds occurring daily on the lake. These boats should stay close to shore.
- 46:Wildlife viewing Excellent bird-watching spring and fall. There are deer and bear sightings in the fall.
- 46:Pets on leash 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.
- 46: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 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.
- 46:Waterskiing Waterskiing occurs on Nicola Lake.
- 46:Windsurfing Windsurfing is very popular on Nicola Lake due to the daily high winds the area receives.
- 46: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.
Facilities
- 46:Picnic areas The day-use is located next to the lake on a large grassy area. There are 40 picnic tables and 15 of the tables have a roof shelter. A few trees 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.
- 46:Pit or flush toilets There are three flush toilet buildings, five single flush toilets (four with sinks) and seven pit toilets.
- 46:Accessibility information Accessibility information is available for this park.
- 46:Playground There is an adventure playground and horseshoe pitch near the day-use area.
- 46:Boat launch There is a concrete boat launch located next to the day-use area. Waterskiing is popular on the lake.
- 46:Sani-station There is a user pay sani-station near the entrance of the park. Sani-station use fee: $5 per discharge
- 46:Campfires 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.
Location
50.17522, -120.53935 · Thompson Southern Rivers
