Muncho Lake Provincial Park is a park in the Northern Rockies of British Columbia. With its glacier-fed blue green lakes ringed by mountains, it draws comparisons to its more famous southern neighbours like Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, but without the crowds.

Understand

History

European discovery of the area did not occur until the late 1800s, when trappers, traders and explorers passed through the area. It wasn’t until the building of the Alaska Highway, that the face of Muncho Lake changed dramatically. There are still remnants of the construction features, such as wooden culverts and corduroy roads within the park.

It is believed that the Kaska Athapaskan First Nations camped regularly in the Muncho Lake area.

Landscape

In the southern portion of the park, you will see the very impressive geological formations of Folded Mountain towering above the road.

Flora and fauna

Bountiful wildlife can be seen in this park. Moose frequent the many swamps within the park, also cariboo. There is an excellent chance you will see Stone sheep along the highway. Reduce your speed when animals are on or near the highway and pull well of the traveled surface of the road if you are photographing them.

Get in

The park is along the Highway 97 (Alaska Highway), about 200 km west of Fort Nelson (2½ hours drive).

See

Muncho Lake

• Wildlife - Moose, caribou, Stone sheep and mountains goats, as well as a variety of birds. Bears (grizzly and black), wolves, lynx and beavers also inhabit the park.
• There are several viewpoints with pull-outs along the highway. The Muncho Lake Viewpoint, at the northern end of the lake, provides some stunning views of the 1 Mucho Lake and mountains. Further north on the highway, the Rock Quarry Wildlife Viewing point is considered a good spot to view animals.

Do

• There are many hiking trails
• The lake provides fishing and boating opportunities

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 Double G Service Lodging & Cafe, Mile 456 Alaska Hwy, Muncho Lake, ☏ +1 250-277-6970. Three simple and clean log cabin style rooms. The adjoining cafe is noted for good food and baked goods at reasonable prices (for the Alaska Highway) and there is a gas station if you need to top up the tank. $95. (updated Apr 2017)
• 2 Northern Rockies Lodge, Mile 462 Alaska Hwy, Muncho Lake, ☏ +1 250-776-3481, toll-free: +1 800-663-5269. Log cabin-style hotel with range of accommodation options — rooms in the lodge, cabins, kitchenette cabins and lakeshore cabins. There's also an RV park with electrical hookup and water at each site, as well as a sewer dumping station, coin showers and laundry. All accommodation includes free Wifi. There is a restaurant on site and a gas station. The hotel also offers floatplane tours, fishing trips and a day trip to Virginia Falls in Nahanni National Park. Lodge rooms from $130, cabins from $150 (kitchenette $210, lakeview chalet $280). RV park $42-58. (updated Apr 2017)

Camping

The park maintains two campgrounds that are vehicle accessible and open May through mid-September. Both have 15 sites with pit toilets and garbage facilities but no electrical hookups. Fees are cash only.

• 3 MacDonald Campground. Vehicle and tent sites with a small beach, boat ramp and picnic tables. $20. (updated Apr 2017)
• 4 Strawberry Flats Campground. Vehicle and tent sites with a small beach and picnic tables. $20. (updated Apr 2017)

Nearby

Alpha Pool, Liard River Hot Springs

• 1 Laird River Hot Springs Provincial Park, Mile 497 Alaska Highway, Muncho Lake. Open year-round 24/7. Hot water and boreal forest blend to create what National Geographic has included as one of its 50 Places of a Lifetime in Canada. Admire the orchids or you may catch a glimpse of moose feeding while you relax in water that ranges from 42-52°C. Access is via a well maintained boardwalk (about five minutes from the nearby campground) and there are changerooms on site. The campground has 53 drive-in spots and is very popular in the summer. Day use: $5 (adult), $3 (child). Camping: $26/party in summer, $16 in winter. All fees are cash only and paid at the gatehouse. (updated Apr 2017)

Go next

Routes through Muncho Lake Provincial Park

Whitehorse ← Watson Lake ← becomes ←

N  S

→ Jct → Fort Nelson → Dawson Creek