Monkman Provincial Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Monkman Provincial Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Monkman Provincial Park Location in British Columbia
Area	62,867 ha (242.73 sq mi)
Established	July 30, 1981
Governing body	BC Parks

Monkman Provincial Park is a special protected area in British Columbia, Canada. It's located southwest of Tumbler Ridge. This park, along with Monkman Lake, Monkman Creek, and Monkman Falls, is named after a person called Alexander Monkman. It's a wonderful place to explore nature, with stunning waterfalls, deep gorges, and peaceful lakes.

History of Monkman Provincial Park

In the early 1960s, many local people wanted to create a national park in this area. They even suggested calling it Canada Centennial Park. A report in 1970 proposed making a large wilderness park. This park would cover about 100 miles long and 30 miles wide.

However, some local groups were against the plan. They worried it would stop them from using the land for things like logging. To protect the land, the government later stopped all off-road vehicles from entering. Monkman Provincial Park was officially created in 1981. It covers a huge area of 62,867 hectares.

In 1991, an old logging road was improved. Before, only special all-terrain vehicles or four-wheel-drive trucks could use it. After the upgrade, regular cars could drive on the new gravel road. A grand opening happened in August 1992, with a new campground that had 42 spots. In 1999, the park grew even bigger. An extra 22,000 hectares were added to protect important areas like Limestone Lakes.

Amazing Features of Monkman Park

Monkman Provincial Park is full of incredible natural sights. Here are some of the most famous ones:

Monkman Pass

The Monkman Pass is a historic route through the mountains. Its discovery is not fully clear. People tried to build a highway through it, but it was very difficult. Today, you can still see parts of the old road or trail. These sections are visible along the Monkman Lake Trail. You can also find them on the Monkman Pass Memorial Trail.

Kinuseo Falls

The Stone Corral

Kinuseo Falls is a magnificent waterfall. It is located near the northern part of the park. This waterfall is 60 meters (197 feet) tall. That makes it slightly taller than Niagara Falls! However, it has much less water flowing over it. You can find it about 2 kilometers north of the park's campground.

The Green Bowl

The Green Bowl is a stunning gorge. A gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls. This gorge is located southeast of Kinuseo Falls. It's also right south of the park's entrance road. You can see it along the Stone Corral Interpretive Hiking Trail.

The Stone Corral

The Stone Corral was discovered in 1999. It's a crystal-clear doline. A doline is like a sinkhole, a natural pit in the ground. It is surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. These cliffs are about 100 meters high. The Stone Corral is just south of the Green Bowl. The hiking trail here is about four kilometers long. Along this trail, you can also find ponds, smaller waterfalls, and caves. These caves have amazing limestone formations inside, like stalactites.

Monkman Lake Trail

The Monkman Lake Trail is a great way to explore the park. It follows the east side of the Murray River for seven kilometers. Then, you cross a suspension bridge. About 10 kilometers further along the trail, you'll find branches that lead to The Cascades.

The Cascades

The Cascades are a series of 10 beautiful waterfalls. They are all along Monkman Creek. Some of these waterfalls include Lower Moore Falls, Upper Falls, Brooks Falls, and Monkman Falls. They are about 4 kilometers before Monkman Lake. Four of these waterfalls are named after the people who first explored the area. Their names were Brooks, Moore, Monkman, and McGinnis.

Monkman Lake

Monkman Lake is located near the center of the northern part of the park. It's the largest body of water you'll find in the park. The lake is very peaceful and is surrounded by steep mountains. The original trail to the lake was about 25 kilometers long.

Monkman Pass Memorial Trail

The Monkman Pass Memorial Trail officially opened on July 17, 2008. It's an extension of the Monkman Lake Trail. This hike is quite long, about 63 kilometers. It usually takes five to six days to complete. The trail follows part of the old road or path. South of Monkman Lake, the trail goes into beautiful subalpine meadows. These meadows have many small mountain lakes called tarns. The trail ends at Hobi’s Cabin. This cabin is at a spot where Fontiniko and Herrick Creeks meet. You can only reach this final destination by boat.