Kentucky – Alleyne Lakes Provincial Park is found south of Merritt, a few kilometres off Highway 5C.   The lakes sit in a valley between rocky hills and ridges.   There are a series of pothole lakes in the upper Quilchena Creek drainage in a line from Bluey Lake to Pothole Lake.   The lakes are a turquoise color and are popular for fishing and paddling.

A 4km single-track trail goes around Kentucky Lake for a one hour gentle walk.

Trails go through the campground area between the lakes.   A dirt road goes up the west side of Alleyne Lake to the group campsite, adding some more distance.   Some small pothole lakes are found in the grasslands at the northern end of the park.

At the far end of the road is a fenceline and all lands to the north belong to the Douglas Lake Ranch.   All of the lands on the northeast end of Alleyne Lake are also private lands and a loop past Crater Lake is possible, but permission should be obtained to do this.

The area is generally open grasslands with aspen groves and forest on the surrounding ridges providing a contrast of colors and textures.

Bluey Lake is accessed by following a 4km rough and narrow road south to the Bluey Lake Rec Site.   It is high-clearance and two hills are best handled by 4WD.   This road could be hiked out and back to add another 8 km of distance.

The campsite at Kentucky-Alleyne is a nice one, although some of the sites fronting Kentucky Lake are close together and not very private.   In general it is a quiet place and great for families.   There are boat launches for paddling Kentucky Lake (3.8 km) and Alleyne Lake (3.6 km).

We also drove down to Missezula Lake (13 km around) to scout it out for a future day of paddling.   As a base camp for exploration, Kentucky – Alleyne is a great choice for hiking, paddling, mountain biking, and exploring.