E.C. Manning Provincial Park

Fast facts

• Established: 1941
• Size: about 274 square miles (708 km²) in the Cascade Mountains
• Highest point: Frosty Mountain, about 7,900 feet (2,408 m)
• Distinction: the northern end of the Pacific Crest Trail
• Gateway: Hope and Princeton, about three hours from Vancouver
• Managed by: BC Parks

The landscape

Manning spans the Cascade Mountains, where the wet coast forest of the west gives way to drier interior pine in the east. Highway 3 follows the Similkameen and Skagit valleys through the park, and above them rise rounded subalpine ridges famous for wildflowers. Lightning Lake and the chain of lakes beyond it sit in a valley near the park centre. Black bears are common, grizzlies roam the backcountry, and marmots whistle in the meadows.

Best time to go

Most high trails are not snow-free until late June or early July. Wildflowers on the Heather Trail peak from mid-July to mid-August, and the larches on Frosty Mountain turn gold in late September. In winter the park becomes a cross-country and downhill ski area at Manning Park Resort, with snowshoe trails and avalanche terrain up high.

Getting there and around

Highway 3 crosses the park from the west portal, marked by a carved marmot, to the east portal, marked by a carved bear. Most facilities cluster around Manning Park Resort in the park centre, with four drive-in campgrounds nearby. The Gibson Pass Road leads to Lightning Lake, and a gravel road climbs to Blackwall Peak and the start of the Heather Trail.

Things to do

Trails range from 15-minute walks to six-day backcountry routes. The Heather Trail runs through subalpine meadows toward Nicomen Lake, and the Frosty Mountain loop climbs to the park’s high point. The Lightning Lakes chain is ideal for paddling and easy walking. Thru-hikers finish the Pacific Crest Trail here, and in winter there is downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Staying safe

Snow and cold can linger on high routes well into summer, so check trail reports and carry warm layers. Bears are common: carry bear spray, keep food stored and make noise on the trail. Weather in the Cascades changes quickly. There is no cell service in the park, only the phones at the resort, so carry a satellite messenger and leave a trip plan. In winter, check the avalanche forecast before heading off the groomed trails.

Know before you go

Backcountry sites need a reservation or permit registration, and summer campgrounds fill. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm trail conditions, closures and reservations with BC Parks before you go.

Coordinates

49.1763, -120.8981

Magnetic declination

14.9° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

Best seasons

Summer (July to September), Winter (skiing and snowshoeing)

Difficulty

Easy to strenuous

Access / trailheads

Highway 3 (the Crowsnest) runs 36 miles (58 km) through the park. The west entrance is 16 miles (26 km) east of Hope; the core area around Manning Park Resort is about 42 miles (68 km) from both Hope and Princeton.

Water

Streams and lakes; treat all backcountry water.

Cell / satellite coverage

No cell service in the park. Public phones at Manning Park Resort.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Emergencies: 911 from the resort phones or by satellite device.

Permits & regulations

Backcountry camping needs a reservation or permit registration. Front-country campgrounds are reserved through BC Parks; Skyview RV Campground through Manning Park Resort.

Leave No Trace

Camp in designated backcountry sites, stay on trail through the alpine meadows, store food from bears, and pack out all waste.