Blanket Creek Provincial Park is located in the southeast corner of British Columbia in an area known as the Kootenay Region. The Kootenay Region encompasses the Columbia Mountains, the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and numerous lakes and rivers fed by glacier and snow melt. The rugged scenery, with its snow-capped mountain peaks juxtaposed with the reflective waterways, creates the idyllic setting for both recreation and relaxation.
RVers visiting Blanket Creek Provincial Park will have no shortage of beautiful scenery. The landscape, combined with the park’s wildlife, is the setting of many nature-lovers’ dreams. Lucky campers may see a grizzly bear, bighorn sheep, caribou, and elk pass through the campground, and as long as you keep a safe distance and follow the park’s wild animal procedures, you should have a wildlife viewing experience that you might never forget.
Because the park is part of bear territory, it is essential that all park guests adhere to the park’s guidelines about staying in bear country. People who bring their dogs must have their dogs leashed at all times. The bears at Blanket Creek often wander through the campground to take fruit from the fruit trees, and you don’t want your pet to get in the way of a hungry bear. Bears also like food and toiletry items, so when you stay at the park, you must keep all of your personal and pet belongings in hard-sided vehicles or bear-resistant containers. Guests who take the precautions to live in harmony with the bears will have an exciting experience should a bear come through the vicinity.
Blanket Creek Provincial Park is located in British Columbia in a mountainous area. When preparing your route, RVers and drivers should be aware of weather conditions as well as potential mountain passes with switchback roads and steep grades.
Revelstoke, British Columbia is the closest town to the park. It is an 18 mile (29 km) drive south. From Kelowna, British Columbia, the drive is 140 miles (224 km) northeast.
Guests arriving in Calgary, Alberta will have a 272 mile (437 km) drive west to get to Blanket Creek Provincial Park.
British Columbia’s provincial parks do not asses daily parking fees, but there may be fees for dump stations, boat launches, and other areas of interest within the park that are additional costs on top of the overnight camping fee.
Please use the park entrance located near the campground and the day use area. Guests arriving early or late to the park should be aware that the entrance gate is locked nightly from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. All of the park’s gates are closed during the off-season.
The Blanket Creek Campground is perfect for RV guests who want a choice between shaded and sunny camping sites. This seasonally operating campground is surrounded by cedar, hemlock, and a white pine forest providing campers with the feeling of backwoods camping within the comforts of a campground. Campsite reservations are accepted during peak season, and any sites that are not reserved are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. All of the driveways are gravel surfaced with many sites accommodating RVs and trailers over 32 feet in length. Some sites permit extra-large rigs or two smaller RVs or trailers. Contact the park for specifics on the site you are interested in for more details on the larger spaces.
The sites are primitive with no electricity, water, or sewer hookups. Whatever space you reserve, you will have a fire ring and a picnic table with close access to drinking water and both vault and flushing toilets. The campground also has trash and recycle bins, a shower, a sanitary dump, and a grey water disposal area. For campers who like to hike or bike, a trail connects to the campground. All campers should secure and lock up food and trash items at all times. Staying in a bear country means you need an extra level of safety for you and the bears! Generator use is permitted in the accessible campsites between the hours of 9:00 am to 11:00 am and again from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
If you’d like to fish during your stay at Blanket Creek, you will have to access the reservoir from the boat launch located at Arrow Lakes Provincial Park. Although Upper Arrow Lake is close to the campground at Blanket Creek, the water near the Blanket Creek’s shoreline is shallow and not fishable. Arrow Lakes Provincial Park is located 17 miles (28 km) south of Blanket Creek. Anglers have a choice to stream fish or lake fish for rainbow and bull trout and kokanee salmon. Before heading to the water, ensure you have the proper freshwater fishing license. For questions relating to fishing limits, regulations, and restrictions, visit the Fishing Regulations Synopsis on the British Columbia Freshwater Fishing website.
Sutherland Falls is one of the Blanket Creek’s most visited attractions. To get to the falls, park in the small parking area located just off the road leading from the day use and campground entrance. The turnoff to the falls is just south of the dump station. Once you get to the parking lot, a short trail will take you to a viewing area where you can see the falls cascade from Blanket Creek into a pool of water. Sutherland Falls is 39 feet (12 meters) high and drops one time. Bring your cameras, because the falls deserve documentation of your visit!
People who enjoy exploring parks will like the different pathways that weave throughout the park’s facilities. The park’s trails are rated from easy to moderate level hikes, and all of the hikes can be completed all under an hour. Depending on how long you want to walk should determine which trail you take. Some of the trails pass through the campground and day use area while other trails wind around the lagoon and through the wooded areas of the park. Before you head out on your walk, be sure you have water and the appropriate clothing for the season. All hikers must stay on the designated hiking trails at all times. Walking off path disrupts the landscape and the fragile plant life.
Although the park is on a lake, the reservoir isn't the ideal place for guests to swim. People interested in swimming should head to the day use area and take advantage of all of the facilities near the swimming beach. The beach is sandy and soft, and it overlooks the freshwater lagoon. The water in the lagoon is often warm and calm, giving swimmers a place to cool off that is free of waves and watercraft. Because there are no lifeguards on duty, all swimmers are encouraged to have someone with them at all times.
The day use area, located close to the campground, is the ideal spot for visitors of all ages and interests to kick back and relax. The day use area has plenty of parking, as well as restrooms, trash receptacles, drinking water, a playground, and a large picnic area overlooking the swimming area. Guests spending time in the day use area will have access to plenty of shade, as well as a large grassy area to sit on. The day use area is a popular starting point for people heading out on the trails or walking their dogs.
Park guests who like to paddle should bring a boat to explore Upper Arrow Lake. Smaller car-top boats such as kayaks and canoes are permitted on the water. The park doesn’t have a rental facility, so if you plan on boating, you will need to come prepared to paddle with your own kayak or canoe. Park your car in the day use area and carry your boat to the sand to launch from the beach area. There isn’t a designated boat launch at Blanket Creek. Expect approximately a ten-minute walk from your car to the water.
