Camp That Site: Enjoy BC with the right site the first time

Monck Provincial Park

For the past few years we have headed to Monck Provincial Park with a group of friends. Monck is located just outside of Merritt, BC on Nicola Lake. The campground has great views and a variety of sites to fit any campers needs. Nicola Lake is notorious high winds and has unpredictable May weather. We have now experienced both ends of the weather spectrum. During our first group trip in 2023, we stayed in site 11. We were perched out in the open with no protection from the elements. In 2024 we moved to site 13, which offered more protection and still great views. This year we are booked into site 15, I will update this post once we complete the stay.

It is important to note several algae blooms have been reported on Nicola Lake. This can pose a risk to pets and children. Please refer to the Monck Park web site for updated information.

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In May 2023, hiking and golfing were scheduled early in the day. This was done to avoid the heat. Afternoons were spent crowded around a small bay. We kept our feet in the water trying to stay cool. Fast forward to May 2024 . We wore two layers of clothes, woke to 5 degree mornings and hit snow on the mountain passes during our drive.

What a difference a year makes, but that is spring in BC

Monck is ideally situated between Kamloops, Kelowna and the Lower Mainland. We chose it because it is the perfect meeting place for our group. We book between 6 and 7 campsites and have created traditions of games, food and drinks.

On our first night couples paired up and prepared a drink and appetizer with a Mexican/Spanish theme. This made for an assortment of yummy food and an excess amount of drinks.

The second night was theme night. This year it was ‘Bring a Board’. Whatever you made had to be delivered on a board. The other challenge was working the food around a playoff hockey game. Our NHL team, the Vancouver Canucks, had made the playoffs for the first time in several years. Even the faintest hockey fans were excited to watch the game. We all shared a theme meal while watching.

During both our visits we completed the 5 km hike that is located right at the campground. It is best to start the hike at the upper end, near the park entrance. Once you cross the main road, there are signs for the trail head.

The trail starts steep. Once you make the initial climb, it is a scenic hike across the mountain offering stunning views of the lake. There are a few more up and down climbs but nothing too challenging. The trail has a few bench lookout points. You can catch your breath and take in the scenery before starting down the mountain. Once you reach the main road, you will cross it to rejoin the trail. It then loops down to the lake and back to the campground.

It is important to be aware of ticks during the months of March to June. Wear a hat and light-colored clothing to reduce the chance of picking up a tick. Be sure to check yourself and your pets for ticks once you return.

The other nearby attraction is golf and we love to golf. Both trips we headed into Merritt for a round at the Merritt Golf and Country Club. This is a nice, inexpensive 9 hole course that offers enough challenge to make going around twice worth the trip. There is also a higher end golf course across the lake, Sagebrush Golf Club. We have kayaked across the lake to look at the course from the water but have not had the privilege to golf this course yet.

Recommended Sites:

There are 132 sites in the this campground that are spread over 3 loops. It is hard to give details on all of them but here is a summary.

Loop 1-30

1. Lakefront sites 19, 21, and 23 are all good. The trailers were able to have their awnings out even when the wind picked up. This was because of the angle the trailers were at.
2. Sites 24 and 26 are nice sites but overlook the playground keep that in mind based on your group dynamics
3. Sites 4,5,8,16,18,22,25,29 and 30 all have limited privacy and some are very small
4. Sites 13/14/15 are tier and near the water. They are great sites if you are together. However, they do not offer a lot of privacy if you are alone.
5. Site 6/7 are single sites but run next to each other and would be best booked as a group. There is not much privacy if you are alone.
6. Double sites: 27/28 is very large. However, it lacks privacy because it is open to the playground. Site 9/10 is also very large, but it offers a lot of privacy. This site backs onto a dirt cut out so it is not the most scenic site.
7. Noteworthy:
   • Site 2 has a very sharp turn needed to get your RV around a tree, best for small units or tents
   • Site 3 is a tent/campervan site with the tent pad and table down a few steps but the views are amazing

Center Loop 31-58 and 110-132

1. Lakefront sites in this loop that are good. 41,51,54,56,58
   • 43 has great view, private
   • 49 has lots of greenspace and no one near.
2. Good sites: 37,40,45,112,113
   • 114 is good but very open to other sites at the back
3. Double Sites:
   • 33/34 is huge with great view but very open to the wind
   • 35/36 is small, sloped and not private and 38/39 is small, level and not private
   • 46/47 is a tent/campervan site. It has parking on the pad. The tables and tent pad are a few steps down. There is no privacy.
   • 52/53 is not private at the back but there is no site infront, so this site has a view of the lake and is quite large
4. Sites with poor privacy; 31,32,42.44,48,50
   • Site 121 and 132 both are very sloped up to the pad and 132 has not privacy
   • Double 124/125 are not private and are right next to the path and bathroom
5. Noteworthy
   • 57 is a pull through site that is large and flat. It has a lake view, but it is also across from the playground.
   • 55 is open to the site behind but if you are with friends, have them book 114 and you will have great access between sites and lots of open space

Loop 3 59-108

1. Lakefront sites that are good: 68, 70, 73
   • 66 is large with a nice lake view
   • 71 and 74 are nice but have a small pad with a steep drop off area
2. Good sites 67, 69,85, 86, 88, 89, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 102, 103, 127, 129, 141
   • 76 and 82 is at the end of the row, no views but private and protected from the elements
     91 is a large and flat site
3. Double sites:
   • 59/30 is large, across from the playground, flat and lakefront. A very good site.
   • 60/61 is large and open in the front. There is no one across from you, so the site has great lake views. There is also no one behind. A good site.
   • 77/78 no privacy
   • 100/101 is large and flat. Does have the trail next to it.
   • 104/105 is not a very deep site, no privacy, exposed to the elements and overlooks the playground.
   • 108/109 and 115/116 are smaller doubles but an okay site if you fit
4. Site with poor privacy: 75, 77, 87, 95, 110, 111, 128,
   • 107 has great views but overlooks the playground and is not sheltered from the elements
5. Noteworthy
   • 90 and 92 are nice sites but have steep drop offs from the sites so needs to be considered when booking
   • 99 has a very long driveway for extra vehicles and is large but there are no trees to the road to offer privacy

Campground Pros

• Flush toilets
• Sani-dump
• Amphitheatre for park programs

• Hiking trails within the park
• 2 new playgrounds
• Lots of small private beach bays
• Large public day use area and parking area
• Boat launch
• Gate house with small store and book exchange
• Easy drive to Merritt for supplies

Campground Cons

• Several algae blooms have been reported on Nicola Lake. Use caution and avoid direct contact with the bloom if you see one. Water activities like swimming are discouraged near blooms. If you make contact, rinse your body with clean water.
• Likelihood of high winds
• No power sites

Links

Merritt Golf and Country Club (Review coming)

Sagebrush Golf Course