Day 3: Hope to EC Manning Park Lightning Lake
Allison Pass
Today’s ride is the most physically demanding of the entire trip. When you conquer Allison Pass, you will know you have the physical and mental strength to complete any day on this tour.
Your destination is Lightning Lake Campground in E.C. Manning Provincial Park.
Known to locals as Manning Park, this 7082 kilometre park is a legendary test to cyclists. Manning Park has diverse geography that includes wet coastal mountains, snow capped peaks, alpine meadows, chains of small lakes and flowing riverbeds. This protected area provides diverse habitat for the park’s wildlife, which includes grizzly bear, wolverine, mountain beaver as well as 206 species of birds.
Stock up on groceries before you leave Hope as there are no grocery stores until you reach Princeton, 134 kilometres away. Leave Hope on HWY 3, the Crowsnest Highway. Expect temperatures to soar while climbing these unnerving, steep hills.
Climb for 18 kilometres out of Hope and be amazed at the devastation caused by the Hope Slide. During the morning hours of January 9,1965, a small earthquake triggered the rockslide in which four people perished under an estimated 46 million cubic metres of debris.
After leaving Hope Slide you will cycle through the Sunshine Valley, a residential area with no stores. The residents are friendly and will fill your water bottles. Watch out for bears in this area!
Allison Pass is in the middle of Manning Park and separates the Skagit and Similkameen river drainages to the east and west respectably. The climb to the summit seems to go on forever. Don’t rush up this beast. Take frequent short breaks to keep your morale high and legs fresh. Stop and take a picture at the summit and get ready for an exhilarating downhill towards Manning Lodge, which is next to the turnoff to Lightning Lake Campground.
Lightning Lake is 4 kilometres south of HWY 3 and is only open from early June until early October. It is the only campground in Manning Park with showers. Manning Lodge offers hostel type accommodations at a reasonable rate for the solo traveler, especially during spring and fall which is the off-peak season in this area. Use of the hot tub is included.
Contact Discover Camping at 1-800-689-9025 to book campsites in any British Columbia Provincial Park especially on weekends during July and August.
