The best camping in Mabel Lake Provincial Park, BC

East of Canada’s North Okanagan region, near the town of Lumby, Mabel Lake Provincial Park offers a quieter setting than many BC parks that are closer to the cities. The family-friendly lake itself is 35 kilometres long, with plenty of space for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, plus several swimming areas (but no lifeguards) along sandy beaches. The park has 84 shaded campsites near Mabel Lake in the Monashee and Trinity campgrounds. Neither campground has showers but they do have flush toilets, and there are pit toilets in the day-use area. Kids can romp on the playground, and families can enjoy their meals at the picnic tables overlooking Mabel Lake. On the nature trail near Taylor Creek, you might spot painted turtles.

• Best for families: Trinity Campground
• Best for swimmers seeking solitude: Monashee Campground

1. Book campsites at Mabel Lake Provincial Park in advance through BC Parks’ Discover Camping online reservations site.
2. Reservations are highly recommended between late May and Labour Day in early September, the park’s busiest season.
3. From April to mid-May and again from early September until the park closes for the season in October, some campsites are first-come, first-served only. For these first-come, first-served sites, the park accepts cash payments only.

Mabel Lake Provincial Park is open from April through mid-October, normally closing for the season after the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. The peak season for campers runs from late June through Labour Day, during the summer school holidays. Weather-wise, between spring and fall, there’s really no bad time for campers in the temperate Okanagan region, so if you can travel outside of the summer peak season—or come midweek—you’ll have an easier time securing the campsite you want.

• Mabel Lake Provincial Park is 110 kilometres from Kelowna and 60 kilometres from Vernon, both of which have plenty of places to stock up on groceries and gear. Lumby, the town closest to the park, is still 36 kilometres away, so bring what you need before settling into your campsite. The small park shop, near the boat launch, sells snacks.
• The Mabel Lake campgrounds have no electrical, water, or sewer hookups, but there is a sani-station available for RV campers. The park has no cell phone service.
• If you arrive without a reservation and the campgrounds are full, the park does have a limited overflow area near the boat launch, where campers can stay while waiting for a campsite to open up.