Kentucky Alleyne Lake BC
Kentucky Alleyne Lake near Merritt BC is one of my favorite lakes in British Columbia.
On our way to Arrow Lakes in BC one summer we decided to break the drive up by camping along the way. Our campsite of choice was in Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park in BC and it was such a treat to wake up here and enjoy a few hours by the lake on our paddleboards and swimming, before continuing on our road trip.
I’d seen photos of Kentucky Alleyne Lake and it looked beautiful!
On a par with Johnson Lake BC, Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park is home to two Lakes: Kentucky Lake and Alleyne Lake, and both are beautiful.
I’d highly recommend stopping off here on your way to Eastern BC or spending the entire weekend at this beautiful BC Provincial Park.
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About Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park
Situated in the countryside outside of Merritt, Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park is made up of four lakes or ponds. There’s Kentucky Lake, Alleyne Lake, and then the West and East ponds.
There’s a hiking trail that connects the lakes together so you can explore too.
How to get to Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park
A visit to Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park is perfect for people travelling along the Coquihalla past Merritt since it’s just a short detour from the highway.
These lakes are 38 km south of Merritt and 11 km east of the Coquihalla Highway along the paved 97C highway.
Kentucky Lake Camping
In all, there are 58 vehicle/tent campsites, divided between Kentucky Lake, the West Pond, and Alleyne Lake.
Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park camping costs $18 per night. There are pit toilets but no shower or flushing toilets which are pretty typical of BC campgrounds.
The campground is open from April to October and spots can be reserved online via camping.bcparks.ca
You can see a map of the campgrounds at Kentucky Alleyne here which can help you pick the Kentucky Alleyne best campsites for you and your group.
We ended up camping at Kentucky Lake and had a beautiful morning paddleboard with the lake to ourselves before continuing on our road trip to Arrow Lake. There’s also Alleyne lake camping just across the quiet road that separates the two lakes.
The Kentucky Lake campground has some spots with lake views, but most are a (very) short walk from the lake itself.
What to know about Kentucky Alleyne Camping
Before you go, here are some things to know about Kentucky Alleyne Provincial Park, BC
- Drinking water is available throughout the campground.
- Campfires are allowed in the fire pits (provided there isn’t a seasonal fire ban). Wood can be purchased from the park manager.
- Boats are allowed on the lake with a horsepower restriction.
- Pets are allowed but must be kept on leash
Final thoughts on Kentucky Lake BC
Visiting Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park was one of my favorite BC summer trips that year. This beautiful lake was even better than some of the more well-known lakes such as Bluey Lake and Johnson Lake nearer Kamloops.
It’s the perfect place to stop off at on a road trip to the Okanagan since Kentucky Lake Merritt is about half way if you’re coming from Vancouver and the Coastal BC region.
If you’re looking for more beautiful lakes in BC, be sure to check out this guide to the best lakes near Vancouver as well as this guide to Jones Lake Chilliwack and Lillooet Lake near Pemberton BC. I’ve also got a guide to the best lakes near Whistler too.
Last Updated on November 17, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
