Babine Mountains Provincial Park
- There is no bridge where the Cronin Road/Trail crosses Cronin Creek, approximately 7km from Babine Lake Road (300m before the Higgins Trailhead). Water levels in May through July are quite high and the water is flowing quite quickly. Fording the creek can be dangerous so use caution.
- The Cronin Trail is washed out in a couple places beyond the Higgins Trailhead. These washouts are marked and easy to identify during the day in summer months. Visitors should use extreme caution if using this trail at night or while snowmobiling in winter months.
Know Before You Go
Dogs are not allowed inside the Joe L’Orsa cabin, and must be under control when left outside the cabin.
BC Parks, in consultation with various user groups, has designated certain areas for snowmobiling. View the Babine Mountains Snowmobile Map. Please respect these boundaries. Skiers and snowshoers may travel in the designated snowmobile area if they wish. If you choose to do so, yield to snowmobilers, as you can hear them coming but they can't hear you.
The Onion Mountain, Orange, and Cronin Creek Trails are not entirely within Babine Mountains Provincial Park, but, as a result of direction provided by the Bulkley Valley Land and Resource Management Plan, they are managed by BC Parks under Section 6 of the Park Act. The Onion Mountain and Orange Trails are non-motorized during summer months. The Cronin Creek Trail is non-motorized during summer months from the Higgins Creek Trailhead onwards.
About This Park
This area within the Skeena Mountains ecosection offers some of the finest hiking opportunities in west-central British Columbia. Glacier-fed lakes, rugged peaks and extensive sub-alpine meadows provide day and overnight hiking opportunities. Area habitat supports healthy populations of mountain goat, moose, marmot and many species of birds. Rolling alpine plateaus, rugged mountains and an abundance of snow provides skiers, snowmobilers and snowshoers with experiences for all skill levels.
Park Size: 32,400 hectares
Location and Maps
Access to the west end of the park is off of Old Babine Lake Road, which leaves Highway 16 just east of the Bulkley River bridge. Follow the signs to Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park. The parking lot and information map are located 7km north of Driftwood Canyon. From there, the road is not passable to vehicle traffic. The closest communities, towns and cities are Smithers and Telkwa.
To access the east end of the park, turn onto Babine Lake Road, 4 km east of Smithers on Highway #16. The Little Joe and Cronin Creek trailheads are found at 30.5 km and 32.5 km respectively along the route.
Maps and Brochures
Any maps listed are for information only – they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
Nature and Culture
- Conservation – The vegetation of the Babines includes sub-boreal spruce and alpine tundra. In the lower timbered areas are white spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, trembling aspen, black huckleberry, bunchberry and feather mosses. In general, the soils in the Babines are not particularly rich. The climate restricts vegetative growth - in the lower areas vegetation is much quicker to recover from disturbances and in high elevations the recovery rate is extremely slow. One small area on the northern slopes of Mt. Cronin has been proposed as an Ecological Reserve to conserve the most northern known example of the Whitebark Pine. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park's natural heritage, please don't damage or remove them.
- Wildlife – The most noteworthy
species commonly observed in the area are mountain goats, moose,
black bear, ground squirrels, marmots and deer, as well as a host
of smaller animals. Of the larger animals, only mountain goats make
the area their year-round home. Occasionally grizzly bear, lynx and
wolverine have been observed. Park users
should always be aware of bears and other wildlife in our park environment.
Never feed or approach bears or other wildlife. Get more information
on bear safety.
Wood ticks are most prevalent between March and June. These parasites live in tall grass and low shrubs, and seek out warm-blooded hosts. As potential carriers of disease, they should be avoided. Protect your legs by wearing gaiters, or pants tucked into socks. After any outdoor activities, thoroughly examine yourself, children and pets. If you find a tick embedded in your skin, the best way to remove it is by grasping and pulling it, gently, straight up and out with a small pair of tweezers, and disinfecting the site with rubbing alcohol. You may wish to save the tick in a small plastic or glass container for later inspection by your doctor especially if a fever develops, or the area around the bite appears to be infected. - Culture – Babine Mountains Provincial Park lies within the traditional territories of the Wet’suwet’en and Ned’u’ten peoples, with the Wet’suwet’en occupying the Wetzin’Kwa (Bulkley/Morice River) valley and the Ned’u’ten occupying the Babine Lake area. Both nations have used, and continue to use, the area for spiritual and sustenance activities, including hunting, trapping and fishing. Many of the existing trails within Babine Mountains Provincial Park were originally trails used by the Wet’suwet’en and Ned’u’ten.
Activities Available at this Park
Cycling
Fishing
Hiking
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Horseback Riding
Hunting
Pets on Leash
- Pets/domestic animals should be on a leash and under control at all times. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears. Porcupines are quite common in the park and many dogs get "quilled" each year.
- A trapper operates in the park from November to the middle of February. Dogs not on a leash could get caught in traps.
- Dogs are not allowed inside the Joe L’Orsa cabin. Dogs must be under control when left outside the cabin. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement appropriately.
Winter Recreation
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
CAUTION - Skiers and snowshoers may travel in the designated snowmobile area if they wish. If you choose to do so, yield to snowmobilers as you can hear them coming but they cannot hear you.
NOTICE - In the winter, the Driftwood Road is not plowed to the summer parking lot. It is an additional 4km from the winter parking lot to the summer parking lot, making the ski/snowshoe to the Joe L’Orsa Cabin substantially longer.
SILVER KING BASIN - From the parking area north of Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, the trail follows an old mining road and climbs gradually through the heavily forested valley. Sunny Point is reached at 6 km, and at 12 km skiers reach the sub-alpine and views of the surrounding peaks. Exercise caution: under certain conditions there can be avalanche hazard from 12 km to near the Joe L'Orsa Cabin at approximately 13.5km.
LYON CREEK TRAIL AND HARVEY MOUNTAIN TRAIL - Ski tourers and snowshoers often take the Lyon Creek Trail, which leaves the Driftwood Road about 1.5 km beyond the winter parking lot. A loop can be made by coming back down the Harvey Mountain Trail.
CRONIN CREEK BASIN From the trailhead at 34 km on the Babine Lake Road, follow the Cronin mine road 9 km to the old mining camp at 1100 m elevation. Another 4 km brings you to Hyland Pass at the top end of the basin. A wide variety of ski terrain exists in the Cronin Creek Basin, ranging from easy to difficult. Parties attempting to use this trail in the winter should have the ability to evaluate avalanche hazards.
Snowmobiling:
CAUTION - Rugged terrain in some areas may produce zones of high avalanche hazard. It is recommended you familiarize yourself with such hazards and have at least one member of your party who has experience in evaluating avalanche hazards.
View the Babine Mountains Snowmobile Map
GANOKAWA BASIN AREA - From the parking area at the Old Babine Lake Road junction, follow the Old Babine Lake Road northwest (toward Smithers) about 3 km to the Onion Mountain Road. This road climbs for about 3 km to timberline. The Smithers Snowmobile Club maintains two day-use cabins in the area, the main cabin (out of the park) and the Burdette Cabin. Please contact the Smithers Snowmobile Association for information regarding cabin usage. Please check at the main cabin for a map of the snowmobile area boundaries and the visitors' sign in book.
HARVEY MOUNTAIN VIEWPOINT - The corridor to Harvey Mountain provides access to the viewpoint only. Please stay north of the posted boundary signs.
CRONIN CREEK BASIN AND FOUR LAKES AREA - These two areas are accessible to snowmobiles by special permit only. A limited number of permits are available on an annual basis. For further information, please contact BC Parks in Smithers.
Facilities Available at this Park
Cabins / Huts / Yurts
The cabin will sleep 15-20 people comfortably and is subject to the first-come, first-serve rule. Be prepared to sleep outside if the cabin is full.
The cabin is 9x8.5 meters (log construction), is heated by a wood stove (firewood provided) and is fitted with a gray water disposal system. There is a galvanized steel counter for visitors to operate their camp stoves on and a pit toilet located outside the cabin. There is a creek adjacent to the cabin for water. All water should be treated or filtered prior to drinking. There are sleeping bunks in the cabin but no mattresses or blankets are provided. Visitors are expected to bring their own cooking stoves, pots, and utensils. Please take everything that you bring up to the cabin out with you when you leave.
There is a backcountry fee charge of $5.00 per person per night. It can be paid in advance to BC Parks in Smithers or deposited into a fee vault box located at the cabin. The money generated from the cabin will assist BC Parks with ongoing maintenance of the facility and firewood costs.
The Joe L’Orsa Cabin was named in memory of local resident Joe L’Orsa, who spearheaded the effort to create a park in the Babines. This cabin was made possible through the donations of many local businesses in the area. Access to the cabin is via the Driftwood Road and the Silver King Trail.
Campfires
Pit or Flush Toilets
