A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
Rafting Advisory: There is a tree with a couple of branches sticking out plugging the sneak route on river right at Goble’s Gobble. Since the water level is dropping, rafters may have to line with difficulty or carry their boats around if they are unable to run the hole down the centre channel.
Please Help Us Help You
A sustainable fishery at the Babine River is dependant upon a safe environment for both people and bears. To achieve this, BC Parks implements four main regulations at the Babine River.
Food and other attractants are not allowed on shore. All garbage
must be stored within your vehicle, not left on site.
Fish must be returned to a secured location within your vehicle immediately
after capture.
The goal of these first two regulations is to prevent
bears from associating fishermen or their vehicles with the
potential to obtain food. Such a situation may result in aggressive
behaviour by bears towards fishermen or their belongings.
Dogs must be kept on a leash.
This is to prevent dogs from being
injured by bears, to prevent dogs from harassing bears and
to prevent your dog from bringing an angry bear to you.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Aggressive bear behaviour resulting from failure to comply with these
regulations could result in temporary closure of the area to fishing;
this would affect many. Don’t be the one responsible for a park
closure.
Babine River Corridor Park protects the heart of the Babine River watershed - a wild river, home to steelhead and salmon and to the bears who feed on them. The river originates in Babine Lake, the longest natural lake entirely within British Columbia. The river-based recreational opportunities offered by Babine River Corridor Park complement the upland forest and alpine recreation opportunities in Babine Mountains Provincial Park.
Park Size: 14,523 hectares
Special Notes:
Along with protecting significant wildlife habitat, Babine
River Corridor Park provides outstanding wilderness river recreation
opportunities. World-class angling opportunities for steelhead
and sockeye salmon attract local and international visitors alike.
There are also internationally significant rafting and
kayaking opportunities with 30 km of Class III and IV rapids.
Guided trips are available through local rafting companies
or individuals may plan private trips. Please note that there are
no permits required for private rafting or kayaking trips
on the river.
The only restriction is that only one commercial trip can launch per day, and the following dates in 2009 are allocated: August 23, 25 and 31; and Sept. 11. You may wish to avoid launching on these dates. If you do plan to launch on these dates, please contact BC Parks first.
All float trips are requested to pack out what you pack in, inclusive of human faeces; camp fires on fire pans - no fire rings ... basically everything associated with leave no trace and ensuring no habituation of the grizzly bears, of which you will encounter. The bears are wild and respectful, and thus safe as long as you do not surprise them or threaten them.
Always be on the alert of a potential wrapper rock at the bottom of every drop - it is a good rule for the Babine River in general. Immediately past Gail Creek, you begin the class 4 section that takes you down to the Skeena River with 10 serious class 4 rapids and dozens of 3+ boulder drops. Please do not attempt to do this section of river in the absence of an experienced trip leader.
Support boats are recommended when white water boating.
Trip leaders should preferably have previous experience
on this river.
Kayakers should possess the skills to roll their
boats in order to challenge this river.
Fishing Etiquette
The fishing experience at the Babine River is world class. BC Parks encourages behaviour that will make this experience enjoyable for everyone:
Give people space. When someone has a fish on, please reel in and give them room to land their fish. When arriving to fish beside someone, give them room to make safe casts.
Avoid monopolizing good pools for long periods. Give others a chance to get in and try out a productive pool.
Be courteous of others on shore. Be cautious of people behind you when making your back cast.
Observe your quota. Please consult fishing
regulations and DFO. The daily quota for sockeye salmon are posted by DFO
The experience at the Babine River is valued by many. Understand that your actions can have serious impacts on the abilities of others to enjoy this area.
Grizzly Bear Conservation
A significant part of the Babine River experience is the regular presence of Grizzly Bears. Conservation of these bears is a significant factor in the management of the park. Anglers and other park users can assist in the conservation of these animals by:
Following all regulations on posted signs.
Giving bears plenty of room. If a bear approaches while fishing, move off the river and consider returning to the bridge or your vehicle.
Observe the park closure period, which is from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise. This gives bears some time to fish during daylight hours without disturbance by humans.
Keep a clean park. Remove all your garbage to a proper disposal site.
General Visitor Information
Active logging roads surround the park. Exercise extreme caution on the roads and narrow bridges when driving and as a pedestrian. Large numbers of grizzly and black bears frequent the area and use the trails in the park. Please take precautions to avoid a bear encounter.
Babine River Corridor Park hugs the Babine River for 85 km as it flows from the bridge crossing, 2 km downstream of Nilkitkwa Lake, northwest to Kisgegas, a First Nations Reserve, 10 km from the confluence with the Skeena River. Access to the day-use area by road is approximately 130 km from Smithers. Follow Babine Lake Road east, then Nilkitkwa Forest Service Road north for 58 km. The nearest communities, towns and cities are Smithers and Telkwa.
There are internationally significant rafting and kayaking opportunities. Do not underestimate the challenges of this river. It consists of Class III and IV rapids and can be very treacherous.
Fishing
World-class angling in a classified river for steelhead and fly-fishing for sockeye salmon is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
This park has hiking and/or walking trails. 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. Please be aware that bears use the trails within the park. To avoid a bear encounter, avoid the trails between dusk and dawn and make noise while hiking.
There is a paved, single-wide, moderate grade boat launch near the day-use area.
Campfires
Campfires are permitted in the campground. Fires are not permitted in the day-use area. Firewood is no longer provided. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
Picnic Areas
There is a small grassy day-use/picnicking area available. It has a picnic table, a pit toilet and limited parking. Campfires are not permitted.
Pit or Flush Toilets
Pit toilets are present at the day use area on the river and in the campground 4km to the west of the park.
Vehicle Accessible Camping
There is a rustic serviced campground 4 km west of the park entrance. There are 10 moderate sized open campsites available. The sites are gravel and have picnic tables and fire rings. There is a hand pump for water. Starvation Lake Recreation Site provides overnight camping 13 km to the east of the park entrance. In addition, Fort Babine Lodge offers cabins and camping.
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed for park users travelling down-river. No facilities are provided. This is a user maintained park and everything you pack in must be packed out. Do not bury or burn garbage or human waste. Camping is not permitted in the day-use area.
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Babine River Corridor Park protects the heart of the Babine River watershed - a wild river, home to steelhead and salmon and to the bears who feed on them. The river originates in Babine Lake, the longest natural lake entirely within British Columbia. The river-based recreational opportunities offered by Babine River Corridor Park complement the upland forest and alpine recreation opportunities in Babine Mountains Provincial Park.
