Tumbler Ridge & Monkman / Full trip pack
Stone Corral
- Round trip
- 3 km
- Elevation gain
- 230 m Published route measurement
- Walking time
- 2–3 hours
- Difficulty
- Moderate
return
Access and trail reports
Caving equipment hygiene
BC Parks retains a bat-protection notice for caves. Consult its decontamination guidance before entering; equipment previously used east of the Rockies should not be brought into B.C. caves. The advisory is longstanding, not a new 2026 observation.
Reported date not supplied · checked 2026-10-17 · BC Parks
Reports describe the cited dates. An expected reopening date does not establish reopened access.
Interpretive circuit through limestone features, ponds and cliffs; caves and springs are linked points of interest rather than independent hikes.
1. Getting there and parking
Follow the Kinuseo Falls road approach from Tumbler Ridge, keeping left after the Murray River crossing near road kilometre 9. The shared Stone Corral/Lake Joan parking is on the left near kilometre 48, shortly after entering Monkman Park, about 62 km from town. Stone Corral and the Lake Joan/Canary Falls route start on opposite sides of the road.
- Take Highway 52E from Tumbler Ridge for 14 km, then turn right onto Kinuseo Falls Road.
- At road km 9 beyond the Murray River crossing, keep left. Continue to the parking area at road km 48.
Parking: Shared parking with Lake Joan/Canary Falls is at Kinuseo Falls Road km 48, just inside Monkman Park. Stone Corral and Lake Joan leave on different sides of the road.
Road and vehicle: Kinuseo Falls Road has washboard, potholes and rough gravel; BC Parks advises allowing for slow travel.
2. Walking the route
Follow the numbered interpretive stops counterclockwise. The route passes beaver-dammed water and Monkeyflower Creek, climbs through a limestone notch, and winds beside two ponds toward the enclosed Stone Corral basin. From the basin it climbs steps to Chambers Ridge and exposed viewpoints above the cliffs, then continues past cave and sinkhole features. Near the final numbered stop, descend back to the main path before the first pond and turn right toward the trailhead; keep right again at the bridge near the bottom of Monkeyflower Creek. The approximately 3 km circuit has substantial climbing and unguarded cliff edges. A headlamp is needed to look into caves, and entering them requires the park’s current bat-protection and safety guidance; they are optional side features, not necessary to complete the walking loop.
- Follow the Stone Corral interpretive route in the order of its numbered stops, counterclockwise around the loop.
- The route passes Monkeyflower Creek, climbs through a notch in Chambers Ridge, and visits the ponds and Stone Corral.
- Continue on the marked loop over Chambers Ridge and past the viewpoints. Keep to the signed trail near the unguarded cliffs.
- After stop 20, descend to the main path near the first pond and turn right.
The return
At the bridge near the bottom of Monkeyflower Creek, keep right to return by the approach trail. The Lake Joan route across the road is a separate outing.
3. Route map
Mapped trail network
© OpenStreetMap contributors. Route geometry is available under the Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0. · Line source · Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 · Source-line database: https://hikingprincegeorge.com/data/osm-route-lines.geojson
Partial elevation profile
Partial elevation profile
This chart covers only part of the route. It does not establish the full hike or a return journey.
1.98 km along source section 1 of 1, in its mapped direction.
Approximate 90 m terrain model along this mapped section. Separate sections are not joined. This chart does not measure total trail ascent or establish current access; use the guide’s published outing measurements.
Copernicus GLO-90 terrain elevations via Open-Meteo (CC BY4.0); linework: Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0
Copernicus DEM 2021 GLO-90 via Open-Meteo. Linework source: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/13422690. Sampled and rounded for display.
Source: https://open-meteo.com/en/licence
Licence: CC BY4.0 elevation data; Open Database License (ODbL) 1.0 linework · https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Profile source checked: 2026-10-18
Published locations
Numbered points match the map. Use the role beside each point. A summit or park reference point is not a parking location.
| Place and role | Coordinates | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Corral parking | 54.770688 -121.172113 | The WNMS Directions to Trailhead link marks the shared Stone Corral parking lot with explicit place coordinates. https://www.wnms.ca/trail/the-stone-corral |
5. Camping, facilities and seasons
Camping and tenting
Use Kinuseo Falls campground or another authorized site. No designated tent site was verified on the Stone Corral interpretive loop.
Water
BC Parks reports a boil-water advisory in Monkman Park and directs backcountry visitors to boil or filter water.
Season and access
Wet limestone and steps can be slippery, and spring ice may persist around cave entrances. This is a moderately strenuous interpretive circuit rather than a level nature boardwalk. Snow can hide both tread and cliff edges.
Dogs
BC Parks requires pets on a leash and restricts them from park buildings and beach areas. Backcountry travel with pets is discouraged because of wildlife encounters; this is the park rule, not evidence that a difficult route is suitable for a dog.
Practical details checked 2026-10-17.
More maps & trail files
Stone Corral — publisher PDF (PDF)
Published alongside the named trail guide; check the file’s start, endpoint and branches against your selected outing.
http://assets.wnms.ca/brochures/stone-corral-feb-2025.pdf
Wolverine Nordic & Mountain Society · Publisher’s source page · checked 2026-10-17.
Monkman Lake & Cascades — January 2025 guide (PDF)
Corridor guide covering multiple camps, waterfalls and destinations; not one short hiking itinerary.
http://assets.wnms.ca/brochures/monkman-lake-jan-2025.pdf
Wolverine Nordic & Mountain Society · Publisher’s source page · checked 2026-10-17.
These links open files and maps maintained by their publishers. They require an internet connection and are not included in this saved guide.
Additional source maps
Map 1: https://investtumblerridge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TR_Map_insert2018_web.pdf
Your trip notes
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