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.
Please avoid the use of powerboats in the park during Trumpeter Swan breeding season (April to the end of July). Noise from powerboats can cause Trumpeter swans to abandon their nests
Park Info
Lakelse Lake Wetlands Park covers 1214 ha at the south end of Lakelse Lake, the largest warm water lake in north western British Columbia. The park contains internationally significant salmon spawning and rearing habitat and regionally important migratory and over-wintering waterfowl and moose winter range. Trumpeter Swans over-winter, breed and nest in the wetlands and Grizzly Bears frequent the area in spring and fall.
Park Size: 1214 ha
Special Notes:
Please avoid the use of powerboats in the park during Trumpeter Swan breeding season (April to the end of July). Noise from powerboats can cause Trumpeter swans to abandon their nests.
The bog system is very susceptible to disturbance. Organic soils and dwarf shrubs can be severely damaged by vehicles and trampling. Re-growth after damage is slow.
Lakelse Lake Wetlands Provincial Park is located at the south end of Lakelse Lake approximately 18 km south of Terrace and 40 km north of Kitimat on Highway 37. Access is by boat from Lakelse Lake or hiking via the old logging roads. Use NTS Map Sheet #103 I/7 (Lakelse Lake).
Visitor Information Centre:
Kitimat Visitor Information Centre
PO Box 214
2109 Forest Avenue
Kitimat, BC, Canada V8C 2G7 http://www.tourismkitimat.ca/
e-mail: info@tourismkitimat.ca
ph: 250 632-6294 or 1-800-664-6554
Nature & Culture
History - Lakelse Lake Wetlands Provincial Park was designated as a Park on May 20, 2004, following recommendations from the Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan.
Conservation - Lakelse Lake Wetlands Park protects a biologically exceptional and Provincially significant warm-water wetland complex. Warm water springs in the Lakelse Lake Wetlands drain into Lakelse Lake, the largest warm water lake in northwestern BC. Clearwater and Andalas Creeks have open water throughout the winter. The streams are fed by warm water springs along an escarpment above the creeks.
The bog ecosystem in the Lakelse Lake Wetlands is the largest in the region. It contains scattered and stunted Lodgepole Pine, Western Redcedar, and Western Hemlock. In addition to water loving shrubs and herbs, the bogs contain specialized plants such as sundews, tall white bog orchids and bog club-moss. Accumulations of moss and organic material are often greater than 100-cm and water tables are within 20-cm of the surface.
The south end of Lakelse Lake contains the most extensive cover of emergent and submerged aquatic plants remaining in Lakelse Lake.
Dominant plants include Swamp horsetail in water to 1-m and reeds in water to 4-m in depth. The band of vegetation extends from Schulbuckhand Creek, on the east side of the Park, to the outlet of the Lakelse River in the west. The aquatic vegetation has established on shallows built up by sediments from inflowing streams (Schulbuckhand, Clearwater, Andalas, and Ena Creeks). The aquatic vegetation is stabilized by the constant replenishment of sediments and nutrients that are carried in the streatms.
The park also contains regionally significant old growth stands, which are rare in the Kitimat Ranges Ecosection. Several small stands are located in the northwest corner, between Andalas and Clearwater Creek and on the southeast boundary of the park. Mature and old-growth forests commonly found on higher ground in the Lakelse Lake – Lakelse River area are very productive and contain Western hemlock, Sitka Spruce (largest trees in stand), and Western redcedar. Shrub cover is dense and is dominated by Devil’s Club, Salmonberry, and Oval-leaf huckleberry. Herbs are well developed, but the moss layer is thin.
Wildlife - Lakelse Lake Wetlands Park contains internationally significant salmon spawning and rearing habitat and critical habitat for over-wintering steelhead. The large reed beds around the southern shoreline of Lakelse Lake and the streams that run through the alluvial fans and wetlands provide prime fish habitat. Steelhead over-winter in the reed beds. The warm water of Clearwater Creek support a late fall Coho run. The quality of water that drains through the wetlands is critical to the Lakelse River fishery. The water drains into the lake through the wetlands and out the Lakelse River, which drains from the southwest corner of the lake, approximately 0.5 km from the northern boundary of the park.
The wetlands also contain regionally significant waterfowl habitat that is of great importance to migratory and over-wintering waterfowl. Trumpeter Swan (a provincially blue-listed/threatened species) over-winter and nest in the wetlands. There are reports of more than 100 swans wintering in the wetlands. Swans stay in the area from early winter to spring and breeding occurs in the wetlands. Geese and ducks feed and rest in the wetlands and in the reed beds at the south end of the lake.
Grizzly and Black Bears use the corridor from Clearwater Lakes along Clearwater Creek to the wetlands. Grizzlies use the east side of the park in the spring (to feed on shrubs) and fall (to feed on salmon). One of the regions highest seasonal (fall) concentrations of Grizzlies is found along Clearwater Creek. Grizzly Bear density varies with the size of the salmon run. Historically there was a large seasonal population of Grizzly Bears in the wetland. Grizzlies were known to stay in the area until December, feeding on the late Coho runs in Coldwater Creek. Occasionally, after the late feeding, Grizzlies denned in the wetlands because snow accumulations prevented them from getting to their usual denning areas. The Cecil Creek drainage, west of the park, is a crossing zone for Grizzlies from four different populations. The Grizzly Bears breed in this area and cubs are often reared in the wetland.
The wetlands are also an important seasonal habitat for Black Bear, Wolf, Beaver and other small furbearers. Some of the Black Bears in the area are subspecies Ursus americanus kermodei, (white phase). Black Bear use of the area is very high. The bears forage on Pacific Crab-apple and salmon.
Canoeists and Kayakers may enjoy exploring the wetlands.
Fishing
It is possible to catch trout, char and Coho salmon in Andalas and Clearwater Creeks. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
Access into the wetlands can be made via the old logging roads leading into the park from the east side of Highway 37, between Schulbuckhand Creek and Onion Lake. These roads are not maintained and can be narrow and overgrown.
Cross-country Skiing:
There are cross-country skiing opportunities in the park. Cross-country skiing is possible on old logging roads on the east side of the park.
Snowshoeing:
There are snowshoeing opportunities in the park. Snowshoeing is possible on old logging roads on the east side of the park.
Facilities Available At This Park
Campfires
Campfires are permitted. Firewood is not provided. If you must have a fire, please burn only dead and down wood, and be sure to extinguish the fire fully. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil so please use it conservatively, if at all. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using camp stoves instead. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented.
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
