Manning Park is a provincial park about three hours from Vancouver with camping, canoeing and hiking in the summer, and a small ski resort in the winter.
E.C. Manning Provincial Park
Manning Park is an impressive provincial park located about three hours from Vancouver, heading east past Hope.
In the summer, visitors to Manning Park can enjoy camping, canoeing and hiking opportunities. In the winter, they can take to the slopes at the park’s good (but small) ski resort.
Manning Park Resort, located within the provincial park, has accommodations for over 450 people. There is a hostel, a hotel, cabins and more (including over 300 campsites spread out over a number of campgrounds).
Click this link for a Map of Manning Park.
The 2024/2025 ski season is coming soon. If you need any winter sports equipment, check out the Vancouver Winter Extreme Ski & Board Swap on October 19th and 20th in 2024. The event takes place at the PNE Forum and features all kinds of used skis, snowboards and other related equipment.
Manning Park in the Winter
Manning Park is a winter wonderland when there’s snow on the ground. There’s a small ski hill with (usually) great snow, a couple of chairlifts and a tubing park. You’ll also find extensive cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing trails.
Accommodations are a short drive away at the Manning Park Resort, although RV sites with hookups are also popular in one of the parking lots not far from the chairlifts.
Downhill Skiing at Manning Park
Ski rates at Manning Park vary depending on your age, when you go and how you purchase your tickets. Tickets last season cost between about $5 and $10 extra when purchased in-person on the day. Weekends were also about $10 to $20 extra.
As of January 2024, weekend rates for the 2023/2024 season were the following when purchased online in advance:
- Adults: $79
- Youth (ages 13 to 18): $59
- Children (ages 7 to 12): $49
- Little Kids (ages 0 to 6): Free
- Seniors (ages 65 to 74): $49
- Super Seniors (ages 75+): $25
As mentioned above, rates on weekdays (Monday to Friday) were up to $20 less per person and tickets purchased on the day, in-person, cost more.
Manning Park in Summer, Spring & Fall
Manning Park is a great to place visit anytime of the year, especially in the summer. It has a number of exceptional campgrounds, including Lightning Lake which is the largest and has hot showers and flush toilets, and a sandy beach.
Canoes, kayaks and even rowboats are available for rent in the summer. Take your fishing rod and license with you when you visit and if you’re lucky you might even catch some trout. Manning Provincial Park is also a good place to take your own boat, but nothing with a motor.
Click this link for a Map of the Lightning Lake Campground.
Click Manning Park hiking trails for information on hiking opportunities in the park, including for the nine-kilometre Lightning Lake Loop.
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your visit to Manning Park.
TIP #1: If driving in winter (and early spring or late fall) you’ll want good winter tires (and maybe even chains just in case). Also, check the weather forecast or highway reports in advance to make sure you don’t find yourself traveling in a blizzard.
TIP #2: During the winter ski season some years, Manning Park offers 2-for-1 Tuesdays, where two can ski downhill and cross-country for half price. Rentals and lessons are also 2-for-1 when the offer is available, which makes it the best ski deal within easy driving distance of Vancouver.
TIP #3: Located in the Cascade Mountains, Manning Park makes a great place to stop over on your way to the south Okanagan. The park is halfway between Vancouver and Penticton (roughly about three hours in good traffic either way).
Other Information
For more information about the ski hill, including maps of the downhill and cross-country ski trails, visit the Manning Park website or see the Manning Park Ski Hill Map.
Click Lower Mainland’s Ski Hills for information on other ski resorts in and around Metro Vancouver (including Grouse, Seymour, Cypress, Whistler and Sasquatch).
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s December, January and February Calendars of Events
- Lower Mainland Ski & Snow Conditions
- Vancouver Activities in Winter
- Outdoor Recreation in the Lower Mainland