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Park Contact
BC Parks
250-847-7260


Babine River Corridor Provincial Park
Attention Visitors – Important Notice!
- This area is regularly used by Grizzly Bears
BC Parks does not manage this site in a manner that guarantees public safety. We would like visitors to be aware that the chance of a dangerous bear encounter here is very high. Serious injury or death from a mauling is a possibility. We require visitors to follow park rules and become familiar with the bear safety information provided: Detailed information about bear safety [PDF 1.53MB]. Doing so may reduce your risk of a bear encounter. Park Rangers are not always on site to monitor visitor and bear behaviour or to protect visitors from dangerous situations.
Please strictly adhere to these park rules:.
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Activity along the river is permitted only during the following times:
August 1 to 15 07:00 to 20:30 August 16 to 31 07:30 to 20:00 September 1 to 15 08:00 to 19:00 September 16 to 30 08:30 to 18:30 - When cleaning fish, be sure to dispose of all fish entrails in deep fast flowing water.
- Secure fish in your vehicle away from the river.
- Please store all food and packs in your vehicle.
- To ensure visitor safety please leave the river to a place of safety when a bear is on the river. You may return to angling when the bear is gone.
- All pets must be on a leash. Keep children and pets close at hand.
People not following these rules will be evicted from the park. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Activity along the river is permitted only during the following times:
About This Park
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.
Established Date: June 29, 1999
Park Size: 15,359 hectares
Know Before You Go
Stay Safe
- 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.
Location and Maps
Maps and Brochures
Nature and Culture
- History: In 1994, the Babine River Interim Local Resource Use Plan (LRUP) first proposed the Babine River as a “wilderness zone”, recognizing its important wildlife habitat and significant recreation opportunities. The Kispiox Land and Resource Management Plan in 1996 and the Bulkley Land and Resource Management Plan in 1998 both confirmed the LRUP zoning and recommended protection of the corridor in accordance with the Protected Areas Strategy. In 1999, the area was designated a Class A Provincial Park.
- Culture: Babine River Corridor Park is within the traditional territories of the Ned’u’ten and Gitxsan peoples. Both nations have used, and continue to use, the area for sustenance, spiritual and commercial activities. There are trails of First Nations origin along the river and there are culturally modified trees and various other cultural sites within the park. Kisgegas Reserve, a Gitxsan community near the northwest end of the park, is used as a training/rediscovery site. Here, there are totem poles and old village sites.
- Conservation: Babine River Corridor Park is located within the Southern Skeena Mountains and Babine Upland Ecosections. The park was established to protect the wilderness values of the river corridor for fish and the significant grizzly bear population that feeds on them.
- Wildlife: Babine River Corridor Park is home to an internationally significant wild steelhead population and a provincially significant sockeye salmon run, as well as populations of chinook, coho and pink salmon, dolly varden and rainbow and bull trout. The river is a critical seasonal feeding location for a provincially significant grizzly bear population, estimated at about 100 bears. There is also a high seasonal bald eagle population. The park contains habitat for many mammals including bat, black bear, wolf, coyote, otter, mink, wolverine, fisher, marten, beaver, muskrat and moose, and birds including geese, osprey, shorebirds and owls.
Management Planning
- Management Planning Information
- Approved Babine River Corridor Provincial Park Management Direction Statement [PDF 1.67MB]. Here is a backgrounder [PDF 348.33KB] on this Statement.
Activities Available at this Park

Canoeing
The Babine River provides internationally significant rafting and kayaking opportunities with 30 km of Class III and IV rapids. The challenges of this white-water should not be underestimated.
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. Private groups may wish to avoid launching on these dates: July 29th, August 14th, August 21st, and August 23rd.
Babine River Corridor Park Best Management Practices for Float Trips
It is encouraged that all float trip parties adhere to the following Babine River Corridor Park Best Management Practices:
Leave No Trace
Pack out what you pack in.
Use some form of portable toilet bucket to remove all human wastes from the park. Intensive use of confined campsites creates unsanitary conditions for park visitors.Bear/People Conflict Prevention
Bear proof containers must be used for the transportation and storage of all food and garbage.
Report all aggressive or unusual bear behaviour and close bear-human interactions (e.g., a bear in camp, bluff charge, etc.) to the Babine Area Supervisor, 250-847-7565, as soon as possible.Fires
All float trips are requested to use a fire pan. The creation of rock fire rings and the burning of wood on shore is strongly discouraged.
All surplus or charred firewood/residual ash should be carried out of the park or deposited in the river. No firewood should be left on shore.Wildlife
- Any viewing of wildlife should be carried out in a discreet manner and from a distance that will not disturb the animal(s) being viewed.
- Adhere to the Wildlife Guidlines when carrying out activities, except where an alternative strategy has been proposed.
- Limit bear viewing at Grizzly Drop to 30 minutes above the rapid and 10 minutes below the rapid.
Safety Information
- Always be on the alert for 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.
- 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
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 to others on shore. Be aware of people behind you when making your back cast.
- Observe your quota. Please consult fishing regulations and DFO. The daily quota for sockeye salmon is posted by DFO.

Hiking

Hunting
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis for more information.
Please note: there is a No Shooting Area around the Babine River Corridor Park south entrance. Please review Map F4 of the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
Facilities Available at this Park

Boat Launch

Campfires
All float trips are requested to use a fire pan for fires. The creation of rock fire rings and the burning of wood on shore is strongly discouraged.

Picnic Areas

Pit or Flush Toilets

Vehicle Accessible Camping
