We’re a family of three – me, my husband, and our 30-year-old son – and on a sunny summer day, we tackled one of the most scenic hikes in BC’s E.C. Manning Provincial Park: Three Brothers Mountain Trail. It’s a long but incredibly rewarding route that takes you through wide-open alpine meadows, over ridgelines with jaw-dropping views, and up to the summit of the First Brother.
Although it’s marked as a hard trail, most people with moderate hiking experience can do it. My AllTrails record says the elevation gain is 853 meters, but that’s cumulative – you’ll go up and down several times.
In this post, I’ll share:
- How to get to the trailhead
- What the hike is actually like (with photos and trail notes)
- Where we camped (Lightning Lake Campground)
- Tips for booking campsites at Manning Park
- What to do on Day 2 (we did a chill loop around Lightning Lake)
- Other awesome trails in the park we’re hoping to try next
Three Brothers Mountain Trail: Quick Intro
This trail starts at the Upper Parking Lot on the north side of Highway 3. The parking lot is already over 2,000 meters in elevation, and you’re pretty much immediately on the Heather Trail, which runs all the way to the Three Brothers area.
I tracked our hike on AllTrails: it was 20.4 km round trip and a total elevation gain of 853 meters. That 4-km descent at the beginning feels easy, but don’t forget – you’ll be climbing that section at the very end when you’re tired.
Step-by-Step: Three Brothers Mountain Trail Report
Trailhead to Buckhorn Campground (0–4 km)
Google Maps will lead you to “Three Brothers Trailhead.” The road is super accessible – paved most of the way, with a scenic pullout where you can see the Cascade Mountains in Washington State. Then it becomes a gravel road, but it’s still very wide and well-maintained compared to other Forest Service Roads we drove, since it’s inside a provincial park.
There are two parking areas with toilets at Three Brothers Mountain trailhead. We arrived around 11am on a Monday after driving from Vernon (left home at 6:30am), stopped in West Kelowna for breakfast, and still found a couple open spots at the parking lot.
From the Viewpoint Loop, which is also our start of the day, you can already catch some great views – even without doing the full trail, this little loop is worth checking out. The elevation at the parking lot is already high enough for some impressive scenery.
Three Brothers Mountain trail is well-marked and easy to follow. It descends gently, then a wooden staircase brings you down to a junction with the Heather Trail. From here, it’s a straight shot until you leave the Heather Trail to climb the First Brother.
Into the Meadows and Buckhorn Campground (4–9 km)
The next section takes you through subalpine forest – not much for views, but the trail is mellow and fast. Around the 4 km mark, we saw a red marker on a tree, and shortly after that we reached Buckhorn Campground, the only formal backcountry campground before First Brother. We passed a few tents tucked into the woods; this area has 24 designated backcountry sites.
After a small bridge near the camp, the Heather Trail starts climbing. You’ll pass in and out of forest until you break out into wide-open alpine meadows. From here, the views just keep getting better with every step.
Heather Trail is actually a multi-day backcountry route – we saw several backpackers with big loads either heading to or returning from places like Kicking Horse Camp. But our goal was the First Brother, and we were doing it as a day hike.
Buckhorn to First Brother Turnoff (9 km)
Eventually you’ll reach a junction with the Bonnevier Trail, but stay on the Heather Trail. As you climb higher, the trail gets a little rockier and more exposed. The eastern views open up wide, and you’ll get your first full look at the Three Brothers ridgeline. The First Brother – our goal – is the tallest point visible.
The trail dips down briefly, curves around a bend, and then brings you to the junction for the First Brother summit trail.
The Final Push: First Brother Summit (9–10 km)
Now it’s time to leave the Heather Trail and take a sharp right uphill. This is where the real climbing begins! It’s a short but steep push to the top.
As you near the summit, the ridge opens up completely. The trail narrows and you’ll need to watch your step. For one short stretch, I used my hands to scramble up a few rocks – not technical, but worth being careful.
My husband jogged down this part on the way back just to show off. Meanwhile, I took my time!
The Summit: 360° Views
Once you’re on top of First Brother, you get an amazing 360-degree view. On the north side, dry valleys. On the south, snow-covered peaks stretching across the border into the U.S. – part of the Cascade Range.
You can walk a little further along the ridge to a slightly lower platform with a different angle of the view. We ate sandwiches that my son packed, took a ton of photos, and soaked in the wind and the sun.
Yes – there’s phone signal on the summit. But you might want to put your phone away and just enjoy the view.
The Way Back: Last 4 km = Uphill!
We headed back down the way we came. The scenery always looks a little different on the return – especially the meadows and ridgelines.
Back at Buckhorn Camp, my son washed his face and changed shirts near the stream (the only one along the entire trail). He knew what was coming: the final 4 km of uphill back to the parking lot. It’s not steep, but after a long day, it does test your patience.
Near the top, we took the wooden staircase route again – it offers great views of the Canada-U.S. border ranges. Worth the detour.
Camping at Lightning Lake Campground
Driving home to Vernon would take nearly 4 hours, and there were some road construction delays. No way we wanted to drive that tired, so we booked a night at Lightning Lake Campground, the most popular frontcountry campground in Manning Park.
This campground is the most family-friendly: it has the best facilities, clean washrooms, hot showers, dishwashing sinks, and a lakeside picnic area. Plus, it’s the quietest because it’s away from the highway – and it’s not far from Manning Park Resort, store and restaurant where there is cell reception!
We’d been checking BC Parks reservation site almost daily and finally grabbed a last-minute Monday opening. There are two loops – Large and Small – and both are great. We ended up in Large Loop, just steps from the lake. After the hike, we dipped into the water, showered, and then pitched our tent.
There’s also a playground, amphitheatre, and tons of families with kids riding bikes, yelling, laughing. Quiet hours start at 10pm, but it was closer to 10:45 before things settled down.
There was a fire ban during our visit, so no campfires – though we saw people using propane setups, which are allowed.
Can’t get a campsite? Try booking a room at Manning Park Resort. It’s the only full-service accommodation inside the park.
Day 2 Recovery Walk: Lightning Lake Loop
The next morning before packing up, we did a short recovery hike: the Lightning Lake Loop. It’s a flat, easy trail that circles the lake with wooden bridges, beaches, shady forest, and lots of birds and fish jumping in the water.
The full loop is around 9 km, but it’s shaped like a figure-8, so you can cut it shorter. It’s a favorite among families, and a great way to wind down after a big hike day.
We even saw some people fishing and kayaking – if you’re into that, bring your gear!
More Trails to Explore in Manning Park
This trip was mainly about Three Brothers and Lightning Lake, but Manning Park has a ton of other amazing hikes, including:
- Frosty Mountain Trail: 11 km one-way, 1000+m elevation gain – a serious alpine challenge. It’s on our fall hiking list.
- Poland Lake / Strawberry Flats: gentler trails with wildflowers and alpine lakes.
- Windy Joe and Skyline Trail: perfect for multi-day backpacking or camping.
Final Tips for Hikers and Campers
- Reservations: Lightning Lake is one of the most competitive campgrounds in BC. Book early – or keep checking for cancellations.
- Campsite facilities: Flush toilets, hot showers, potable water, and even dish sinks make it comfortable.
- Trail prep: No signal on the trail, so download AllTrails offline maps; bring bear spray or a bell, and check our 10 Backcountry Essentials
If this post helped you plan your trip – or gave you some inspiration – feel free to buy me a coffee and help me keep writing more honest, family-friendly BC trail blogs!
