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Mabel
Lake
Mabel Lake Provincial Park is located 37 km (23 miles) north of
Lumby
on the Lumby Mabel Lake Road.
Travelling
Here
To get to Mabel Lake Provincial Park either, travel 110 km (69 miles)
west from Needles
or 28 km (17.5 miles) east from Vernon
on Hwy 6 to Lumby.
Once you're at Lumby,
travel north 32 km (20 miles) on the paved Lumby Mabel Lake Road
to a point where the Shuswap River enters the lake from the south,
then continue an additional 5 km (3 miles) on the now gravel Mabel
Lake Road to the park gate.
Park
Highlights
The main highlights of Mabel Lake Provincial Park revolve on a much
quieter setting than those found in the more bustling Okanagan Valley.
Mabel Lake is a fairly good-sized lake, 35 km (22 miles) long that
is very clean, deep and features excellent fishing opportunities
especially if you enjoy angling for various species of trout and
Spring salmon. The air temperature also tends to be still as hot
during the day as the Okanagan Valley but the evenings tend to be
much cooler allowing for a more comfortable sleeping environment.
Campground
The camping at Mabel Lake Provincial Park is divided into seven
mini-campgrounds between two separate areas called Monashee and
Trinity for a total of 81 vehicle-accessible campsites. The individual
campsites are fairly large and private,, allowing larger groups,
most travel trailers and bigger RV's. The campground features include
pit-toilets for each mini-campground as well a large number of other
pit-toilets found throughout the park, cold-water taps supplied
from a decent well system, campfire-rings, a kids' playground area,
wood for sale and a sani-station.
Overload
Camping
If campground is full which it tends to be during the summer season
there is an overload staging area where you can camp next to the
lake. Names are posted on a notice board in the order of when you
arrived. Every morning the park attendants arrange with the overload
people for available sites that day. The usual wait is no more than
two days waiting to get a campsite.
Gravel
Beach
Mabel Lake Provincial Park is an excellent place for families to
enjoy especially with all the activities geared towards kids and
enjoying the lazy days of summer. The park sits next to the lakeshore
with quick access to Mabel Lake. The day-use area also features
a grass area, picnic tables, a gravel beach with lots of places
to swim, fish and play on a grass field. Just remember there are
no lifeguards present, the lake drops-off quickly into the water,
so watch non-swimmers and children plus there are areas dedicated
to boaters so respect this.
Concrete
Boat Launch
If you are boating, there is a good boat launch at the provincial
park located next to the day-use area and the overload area. Here
you can find a large concrete ramp with dock lining one side of
the launch where you can launch boats of all different sizes. There
is a large parking lot located here for vehicle and boat trailer
storage.
South
Mabel Marina
Situated right next to the boat launch is the South Mabel Marina.
The marina sells fuel, has fishing gear, bait and ice, plus has
a small general store selling limited provisions including convenience
items including ice-cream cones, a real favourite with the kids.
There is a short trail located next to the boat launch for easy
access from between the beach and the campground in the provincial
park to the South Mabel Marina.
Taylor
Creek Nature Trail
For walkers there is Taylor Creek Nature Trail which starts near
the parking area for the boat launch and meanders throughout the
thick forest of birch, hemlock and red cedar between the campground
and the provincial park service depot coming out at the beach at
the campsite for large groups. The trail follows Taylor Creek, a
place where there is a chance to spot various kinds of wildlife
that inhabits the park including a variety of birds, deer and squirrels.
Group
Campsite
There is an excellent group campsite located at Mabel Lake Provincial
Park. The campsite features a small private beach, pit-toilets,
easy access to the Taylor Creek Nature Trail and an area to hang
out. The group campsite is very popular and needs to be booked quite
early in advance to avoid being disappointed.
Kingfisher
Forest Service Road (FSR)
For backroad enthusiasts there is also 67 km (42 miles) of a gravel
road route to Mabel Lake Provincial Park from Hwy 1 about 20 km
(12.5 miles) west of Revelstoke.
The route starts near Three Valley Gap on the gravel Kingfisher
Forest Service Road (FSR) then the Mabel Lake FSR. Unfortunately
both roads are restricted, have active logging on them and are required
to be radio-assisted traffic controlled. Both FSR's can also be
narrow in places and if you are hauling a trailer not recommended,
but for dual-sport motorcycles, 4x4's and for those familiar with
travelling on an FSR, it is very scenic and offers a number of recreation
sites along the way at Wap Lake, Cottonwood Bay and Cascade South.
Lumby
Supplies and services found at the small community of Lumby
which is approximately 30-45 minutes away by vehicle. Here you can
find the Visitor Info Centre, gas station, large grocery store and
liquor store. If you enjoy exploring there are a number of adventure
routes you can do from Lumby one is taking Aberdeen Philpott FSR
to Hwy 33 east of Rutland going south or travelling north back towards
Mabel Lake and taking the Trinity Valley Road to Ashton Creek and
Enderby.
For trout-fishing opportunities you can travel south-east from Lumby
on the Creighton Valley Road to Echo
Lake Provincial Park.
BC
Parks
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