Kokanee Creek Provincial Park
Nelson, Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is one of the more popular campground and day use parks near the community of Nelson, BC in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The 260 hectare park is located on the shores of the west arm of Kootenay Lake where the Kokanee Creek empties into the lake.

The park was established in 1955. It is situated at the foot of the Slocan Range and the Selkirk Mountains. The park's location falls within the englemann spruce/subalpine fir and the interior cedar/hemlock biogeoclimatic zones. Prior to becoming a park, the land was once part of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket and Sinixt First Nations traditional lands.

The park consists of sandy beaches, a large delta, a spawning channel, a visitors centre with a wildlife museum, miles of hiking trails, two campgrounds and day use facilities surrounded by forests of fir, hemlock and pine trees. Most popular attractions are the sandy beaches, spawning channel and the hiking trails.

The Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is a popular destination for many activities including camping, fishing, boating, hiking, sightseeing, wind surfing, canoeing, water skiing and birdwatching. Biking and cycling are activities also enjoyed in the area, but not on any of the provincial park hiking paths. Bikes must stay on the paved road while in the park. Some cyclists traveling BC highways near Nelson, BC select this park as their overnight destination.

The park includes many amenities popular with visitors drawing many day trippers and campers to the two campgrounds and two day use areas in the park - Redfish and Sandspit. Each campsite includes picnic tables and fire pits. The two campgrounds and two day use areas each have a sandy beach and connect, via paved roads and hiking trails, to the many services and activities in the park.

The Kokanee Creek Provincial Park includes a very large adventure playground surrounded by fields of grass, picnic tables and forests of trees. There is also a dog beach located within the park and a marina (located not far from the park ).

Kootenay Lake is best accessed from the day use areas or via the boat launch located at the far end of Sandspit Beach. The paved boat launch is accompanied by a floating wharf to assist loading and unloading canoes and boats. Many arrive at the boat launch ready to fish for kokanee and rainbow.

Sightseeing and hiking in the Kokanee Creek Park provides many great opportunities to experience and learn about nature. Many start exploring the trails in the park from the visitors centre which includes a wildlife museum, information boards, a meeting room and tours.

In total there are 9.5 kilometres of well maintained, easy-going hiking trails in the park. Some of the trails include interpretive signs explaining the eco system around you. Most of the trails have sitting benches. Some trails follow a gravel path and some follow a boardwalk path. Some follow both. The hiking trails in the park include the Canyon, Grassland, Darkwoods, Thicket, Pine and Woodland Trails.

Not far from the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. There are over 100 kilometres of hiking trails to explore in the park leading to alpine peaks, alpine meadows and glacier fed rivers. And the park is located only 16 kilometres away from the Kokanee Creek Park.

How to Get to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park

Travel to the community of Nelson, BC. Once in Nelson continue traveling 19 kilometres on Highway #3a northeast towards the park. If arriving from the east travel west to the Kootenay Lake Ferry which connects Crawford Bay to Balfour. From Balfour travel Hwy #3a west for 15 kilometres to the park gates.