Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- Visitors are asked to only enjoy viewing the painted turtles. Because the survival rate of these turtles is low, it is crucial that they be protected in the park and treated with respect by visitors. It is an offence to disturb, abuse, or remove turtles from the park.
- Cabins are available for rent in the park at the Ponderosa Campground and near the Ponderosa Group Site.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
From the east, turn off Hwy 3, 3 km west of Hwy 3/93 junction at Elko, the park entrance is 8 km west. From the west, turn off Hwy 3 at Jaffray, the park is located 16 km south.
Camping
Cabins and huts
Ponderosa Cabins
P1 Cabin is furnished with a double bed with single bunk, and single bunk beds sleeping a total of five persons. Power outlets are available, as well as indoor and outdoor picnic tables. Campers are required to bring their own bedding and cooking apparatus. There is a fire ring at this location. Keys must be picked up from the gatehouse before 8pm.
P6 Larger cabin is furnished with two bunk beds with double beds on the bottom, singles on top sleeping a total of six persons. Power outlets are available, as well as indoor and outdoor picnic tables. Campers are required to bring their own bedding and cooking apparatus. There is a fire ring at this location. Keys must be picked up from the gatehouse before 8pm.
Cabins and huts
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites. Campsite reservations are accepted and first come, first served sites are also available. Ponderosa campsite offers 10 vehicle-accessible campsites with electrical hook-ups. Electrical hook-up sites have been extended in size and now include fire rings.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $35 per party per night |
| Electrified sites | Additional $5 per night (whether power is in use or not) |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $17.50 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Group camping
There are two group campsites at this park.
| Youth group camping fee | $1 per person (6+), with a $50 minimum and $150 maximum. Children under 6 are free! |
| Regular group camping fee | $120 per group site per night, plus $5 per adult (16+, minimum charge for 15 adults), plus $1 per child (6-15). Children under 6 are free! |
For information on the youth group policy see the group camping page.
Groupsites
Things to do
Surveyors Lake offers warm water and sandy beaches.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Kayaking is welcome on Surveyors Lake within Kikomun Creek Park. There are kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and peddle boat rentals available at this park.
Smallmouth bass and rainbow trout can be found in Surveyors Lake and kokanee in Lake Koocanusa.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Find fun summer outdoor learning experiences with Discover Parks Ambassadors here all summer long. For specific dates, along with many more seasonal and year-round activities, visit discoverparks.ca.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Bicycles must keep to roadway and designated bike trails. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Kikomun Creek Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Hunting is allowed in Kikomun Creek Park during a lawful game hunting season. Please check the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for specific details. Hunters are reminded that, it is prohibited to hunt or discharge a firearm or bow in a BC Park within 400 m of either side of the centre line of any park road.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. The exception is for sites with electrical hook-ups, there are no firepits.
We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Ponderosa campsite offers 10 vehicle-accessible campsites with electrical hook-ups. The charge is an extra $5 per night. Electrical hook-up sites have been extended in size and now include fire rings.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
A sani-station and dump is available during the collecting season.
There are hot showers at the Surveyors Lake Campground, Ponderosa Campground and group-use area as well as at the South Pool group-use area.
About this park
Created on May 18, 1972, the park is located on Lake Koocanusa, a 144 km long reservoir created by the Libby Dam on the Kootenay River in Montana.
Because native grasslands are rare to this part of the country, many endangered plants are found throughout the park. An extensive program to restore native grassland is underway in the park. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please do not damage or remove them.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
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| Park operator | This park is operated by EK Parks Ltd. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
