E.C. Manning Provincial Park
Provincial park in Manning Park
$23–$51 nightly
Campgrounds open in stages from mid-May (Lightning Lake June 5 to Oct 12 in 2026); snow can linger into June. Skyview RV and winter camping at the Lightning Lake day-use lot stay open all year.
2026 rate at Coldspring and Hampton; Lightning Lake $35 shoulder, $51 peak. Non-B.C. residents add $20 per stay.
Lightning Lake, alpine meadows and dark skies.
A big mountain park on Highway 3, about 2.5 hours east of Vancouver, with 450 drive-in sites in five campgrounds. Lightning Lake is the pick: lakeside loops, showers, swimming, and a no-motor lake with canoe and kayak rentals. Drive up to the Cascade Lookout and the Heather Trail meadows, and stay up late for some of the darkest skies within reach of the coast.
At a glance
- Sites
- 450 in 5 campgrounds
- Lightning Lake
- 143 sites, showers
- Hookups
- 92 power sites at Skyview, 62 full
- Backcountry
- 10 campgrounds, 55 sites
- Reservations
- 3 months ahead, 7 am PT; Skyview through the resort
- Nightly
- $23–$51
What’s here
- Tent sites
- RV hookups
- Cabins
- Showers
- Lake or riverfront
- Swimming beach
- Pets allowed
- Backcountry
- Open in winter
- Dark skies
Weather this week
Loading the live forecast for E.C. Manning Provincial Park…
Gear, rentals and guides
- Manning Park Resort
Runs the Lightning Lake boathouse (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) and rents telescopes at the lodge.
- Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning
Charity that leads guided hikes and interpretive programs in Manning Park.
Events
“Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.
- FestivalEarly August (Aug 1 in 2026)UsuallyLantern Festival
Build a lantern at a workshop, then float it across Lightning Lake at dusk.
- FestivalEarly September (Sept 5 in 2026)UsuallyKite Festival
Bring or build a kite for an afternoon of colour over the park.
Where to stay
- lodgeManning Park Resort lodge
Lodge rooms on Highway 3 with dining and a country store.
- cabinManning Park Resort cabins and chalets
Renovated cabins with kitchens and fireplaces, and chalets for up to 14.
Nearby
- Cascade Lookout and Heather Trail · 20 min drive
Drive Blackwall Road to a viewpoint, then walk into subalpine wildflower meadows.
- Othello Tunnels · 1 hr drive
Flat walk through old railway tunnels above the Coquihalla River canyon near Hope.
4.7 on Google
read Oct 3, 2026Getting there
- Abbotsford International (YXX) · about 1 hr 45 min drive
- Vancouver · about 2.5 hr
- Seattle · about 4 hr
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Photo credits
mmmmngai@rogers.com (CC BY-SA 2.0) · mmmmngai@rogers.com (CC BY-SA 2.0) · mmmmngai@rogers.com (CC BY-SA 2.0).