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.
Park Info
St. Mary’s Alpine Park is a wilderness paradise for the experienced backcountry traveller. Numerous lakes and tarns are tucked against rugged granite cliffs and surrounded by tundra and lingering snowfields. Seven creeks drain the lakes, resulting in numerous waterfalls and cataracts, some as much as 150 metres in height. Experienced hikers, willing to expend considerable effort in bushwhacking and route finding should visit this protected area where few if any people will be encountered.
Park Size: 9146 hectares
Stay Safe:
Persons visiting St. Mary’s Alpine Provincial Park are reminded that the park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made beforehand.
Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
Bring a portable stove for cooking. Fires are not allowed except in emergency situations.
All park visitors should wear strong waterproofed, lug-soled boots and carry a daypack with raingear, extra warm clothing and food. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping bag, groundpad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag and lightweight stove are essential. Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and for your safety always yield to industrial traffic.
Public communications are not available at this park.
Between Kimberley and the town of Marysville, take the St. Mary's Lake
Road and follow it west and north to the junction of the Dewar Creek
Road and the St. Mary’s West Fork Road. The Manson Col trailhead
is accessed by an old mining road between the 7 and 8 km off the Dewar
Creek Road ( 4x4 high clearance vehicles only). The Motar and Pestle trailhead
is accessed by a logging road leading east at the 16 km on the Dewar
Creek Road.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Fishing
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
There are hiking areas at this park. 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.
Hunting
Hunting is allowed in the park during hunting season. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current Hunting and Trapping Regulations and Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
Pets on Leash
Dogs in backcountry parks must be 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.
Facilities Available At This Park
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Backcountry camping is allowed in the park. When toilets are not available, bury human waste at least six inches in soil and 30 metres from water. To ensure drinking water is safe, it must be boiled for at least 5 minutes. Register a trip itinerary with friends - check in and check out. When practical use impacted campsites, otherwise practice "NO TRACE" camping ethics. If you have a fire - build it on rocks, or remove sod, have fire, then replace sod.
