Nicolum River Park is eight kilometres east of Hope on Highway 3, near the junction of Highways 3 and 5. BC Parks describes it as a dense-forest park with a small, fast-flowing river and fishing opportunities for Highway 3 travellers.
The Nicolum River Park campground is closed indefinitely, though users can still walk into the park if conditions allow.
Nicolum River is a brief roadside nature and fishing stop rather than an active campground. Rainbow trout fishing is available in the river with the proper licence, and the park provides a forested break on the route from the Lower Mainland to the Interior.
The park also has historical interest. In 1846, Alexander Caulfield Anderson of the Hudson's Bay Company explored the Nicolum and Sumallo River valley while seeking a route to the Cariboo, and camped near what is now the park. The Highway 3 section at the park was once part of the historic Dewdney Trail. The park was designated in 1956.
Walk into the park when weather and conditions permit, fish for rainbow trout with the proper licence, observe river and forest habitat, look for songbirds and fish, and use the stop to learn about the Dewdney Trail corridor.
Do not plan on camping because the campground is closed indefinitely. The river is small and fast, so use caution near banks and water. Pets must be leashed, bicycles must stay on roadways, e-bikes are not allowed on trails, and visitors should pack out waste and check current conditions before stopping.
