| Kikomun Creek Provincial Park | |
|---|---|
_location_map.svg)  Location ofKikomun Creek Park inBritish Columbia | |
 Interactive map of Kikomun Creek Provincial Park | |
| Location | East Kootenay,British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Fernie |
| Coordinates | 49°14′34″N115°15′08″W / 49.24270°N 115.25233°W /49.24270; -115.25233 |
| Area | 0.68 square kilometres (0.26 sq mi)[2] |
| Established | May 18, 1972[2] |
| Visitors | 140,723 (in 2017-18)[3] |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
Kikomun Creek Provincial Park is aprovincial park inBritish Columbia,Canada.
Kikomun Creek Provincial Park has a campground with five lakes, an abundance of the endangeredpainted turtles, many mountain bike trails throughout, two beautiful sandy beaches among its attractions.
Kikomun Creek is situated in the southern region of theRocky Mountain Trench, on the eastern shores of a man-made reservoir along theKootenay River. This 685-hectare park provides recreational access toLake Koocanusa, whose name is supposedly a combination ofKootenay,Canada and United States.The park encompasses large open grasslands,ponderosa pine forests and many small lakes. The grasslands in the area were used historically as grazing areas for the horses of theKtunaxa people and the cattle of early settlers. Throughout the park, evidence of glacial activity thousands of years ago is evident in the form of ridges, valleys and water-filled depressions.
Kikomun Creek Provincial Park is located 20 miles (32 km) southwest ofFernie and 41 miles (65 km) southeast ofCranbrook in theCanadian Rockies region of British Columbia.
Kikomun Creek Provincial Park is home to one of the British Columbia's largest populations ofwestern painted turtles, which are named for their distinctive red and yellow markings on their undersides. These turtles are often seen sunbathing on logs on Hidden Lake and Surveyors’ Lake. The park's wetlands provide habitat forbeaver,muskrat, long-toed salamanders,blue herons andmallards. Other wildlife in the area includesbadgers,elk,black bears,coyotes,cougars anddeer. For birdwatchers, the park is also home toosprey,owls,bald eagles,red-tailed hawks andAmerican kestrels. As for plant life, the park includes many endangered plant species due to its geographic location. A program has been established to restore many of these native grasslands to the park.[4]
For those interested in fishing, Hidden, Surveyors’, Engineers, Muskrat, Skunk and Fisher Lakes containsmallmouth bass,brook andrainbow trout. Koocanusa Lake containsbull,rainbow andwestslope cutthroat trout,kokanee, andmountain whitefish. Watercraft are permitted on the lakes, however powerboats are restricted to Koocanusa Lake, which also has the only boat launch. During the summer months, educational interpretive programs are offered and include such events as guided walks, slide shows and children's programs.
The park provides camping, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and fishing, making it one of the most popular outdoor destinations in theEast Kootenays. Surveyors’ Lake has sandy beaches, picnic areas and change houses. There are also some easyhiking trails that circle Hidden and Surveyors’ Lakes. Throughout the park, there are many old roads and railway beds that are perfect formountain biking that lead to some interesting geological features.
There are 105 vehicle accessiblecampsites and two group campsites. The campsites vary in size and can accommodate everything from a large RV to a single tent. Park is open May 1 to September 30; campground gate is closed but gate for boat launch access is open during off-season. This campground is also wheelchair accessible. There are two yurts available approximately 2 km from the campground and can be reserved by phone only through Discover Camping.
Media related toKikomun Creek Provincial Park at Wikimedia Commons