Located on Christina Lake and surrounded by the stunning Monashee Mountain range, Gladstone Provincial Park is a very popular RV camping destination for those who love recreation and wilderness opportunities. The history of the park dates back to the First Nations people and many artifacts from their time survive within the park, including three shoreline pictograph sites, a semi-permanent village and a resource utilization site. In 1992, the B.C. government commissioned a report that identified a vision for land and resource use in the Kootenay-Boundary region. Known as the West Kootenay-Boundary Land-Use Plan, it found that a site including the former Ole Johnson and Texas Creek parks should be protected. This was the birth of Gladstone Provincial Park, which later opened in 1995.
Gladstone Provincial Park offers many recreational activities for visitors throughout the year. The swimming and boating opportunities are fantastic and hikers adore the park due to the 30 miles (48 kms) of self-guided hiking trails. The park is also an important wildlife protection area and the blue-listed California bighorn sheep, grizzly bear and the red-listed northern leopard frog are all found in the park. Containing a lakeshore to alpine gradient, a diversity of habitats are found that are like nothing else in the Selkirk Foothills eco-section.
The camping ground at Gladstone Provincial Park is another huge drawcard. Texas Creek Campground is the lone RV-friendly campground and features 62 primitive campsites that are reservable. The campground is very popular in the summertime and the gate is locked to the campground during the off season. Peak season in Gladstone Provincial Park runs from May until September.
Gladstone Provincial Park is located in south-east British Columbia and is only around 12 miles from the United States border. The park has one entry and exit point that is in a easy to reach location directly off Crowsnest Highway.
Services and amenities are also located very close by as the popular tourist destination of Christina Lake is only 10 miles away. Here is where you will find the closest shopping opportunities to the park, so stock up if you need to. Other towns close by include Grand Forks (around 20 miles or 33 kms away), Castlegar (around 45 miles away or 73kms) and Greenwood (around 46 miles or 74kms away). Spokane is the closest major city to the park and can be found 123 miles (198km) to the south.
Accessing the park should be very straightforward as the roads are very well maintained and are very wide. The road into the campground (which is located at the end of the access road) is also kept in very good condition. During the winter the gate to the campground is locked and access to the main road can be very difficult due to the amount of snow and ice. If you do plan on visiting the park during winter make sure you call the park in advance to confirm that it is open.
There is plenty of parking available at Gladstone Provincial Park.
Texas Creek Campground is the main camping area in Gladstone Provincial Park and also the only RV friendly camping option. Most of the sites are large, private and shaded by a mix forest of Douglas fir and cedar, larch and ponderosa pine. In total there are 62 RV campsites with seven double sites included. Please note that all of the campsites in Texas Creek Campground are primitive.
Services available in the campground include a phone, showers, flush toilets a boat launch, picnic tables and water collection points. If you need services or amenities you can pay a visit to Christina Lake which is the closest town to the park.
The campground is also pet friendly and it is known to be a very popular destination during the season. For this reason reservations are highly recommended so that you don't miss out. They can be made online or by calling the park office. The campground is open from May until September.
Although the camping ground may be closed that doesn't mean that the fun stops at Gladstone Provincial Park. Winter recreation is popular within the park and there are many different activities that you can choose from. The lake is great for a spot of ice fishing once the surface is completely frozen, or you can explore the park on foot with snow shoes. The hiking trails also make for great cross country skiing fun for those who love to ski. If you do plan on going to the park in winter make sure that you call ahead to make sure the park is open.
Hiking lovers rejoice! Gladstone Provincial Park is a hiking destination with six different trails and over 30 miles (48 kms) of self-guided hiking trails available for you to explore. The trails vary from being very easy to difficult and they are all open for horseback riding too. If you have the time we recommend taking on the Mt Faith trail. At 11 and a half miles (18km) in length it is the longest trail in the park and will take you from the Lynch Creek trailhead up Morrell Creek to Mt. Faith.
No matter the time of year, fishing is always an activity that proves a hit for visitors to Gladstone Provincial Park. While there are many species that inhabit the lake the most popular species that are caught are kokanee, rainbow trout and small-mouth bass. If you do plan on fishing during your stay you will need a British Columbia fishing licence. Also note that there is no fishing allowed north of a line between Bald Point and Knob Point between April 1 and May 31. Once the ice appears on the lake ice fishing is also very popular depending on winter conditions. The ice levels may not be monitored so take caution.
Unfortunately there are no public transport options available to Gladstone Provincial Park.
Christina Lake day use are is the perfect place for a picnic. More than 40 picnic tables line the largest of the sandy beaches and there are also six BBQs and six benches are available for use too. The day use area also has some great amenities, including a 200 car parking lot, change building, wheelchair access flush toilet and an information board that contains the upcoming events can also be found on the building. The picnic area is non-reservable so make sure you get to the day use area early to avoid disappointment.
The lovely water of Christina Lake is also ideal for boating during your stay. A lot of the best spots are only available via boating, including some of the best picnic spots in the park. There is a boat ramp located at Texas Creek for those with larger boats wanting to head out on the water and motorized boats are permitted. The most popular watercraft on the lake are canoes and kayaks and rentals are available from the marina if you do not have your own.
Gladstone Provincial Park borders the banks of the beautiful Christina Lake. The lake is known for having some of the warmest and clearest waters in Canada so it is perfect for summer visitors wanting to cool off during their stay. There are several different small beaches available to enjoy that are known to be private and quiet. You can reach the beaches via gravel trails that leaves from the campground. Please note there are no lifeguards on duty at any of the beaches so swim to your abilities.
