Ministry of Environment - Stikine River

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Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

As of April 11, 2008:
- The Ealue Lake Road and Klappan Rail Grade are open to public access. During the spring of 2007, several areas were washed out which restricted access to Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park. During the winter of 2007/08, the Ealue Lake Road and Klappan Rail Grade washouts were repaired. As construction continues and road repairs will be on-going, please expect some minor delays and travel with caution.

Park Info:

Existing in the Stikine River Provincial Park is a geological feature unparalleled in Canada. Eighty kilometres of steep-walled canyon, composed of sedimentary and volcanic rock, has been carved through eons of river erosion. In the bottom of this sometimes 300 m deep chasm flows the wild and unnavigable Stikine River, which varies in width from 200 m to as little as 2 m at a point near the Tanzilla and Stikine confluence.

Park Size: 217,000 hectares

Special Notes:

There are no camping facilities on Park land in the Stikine Provincial Park. Camping is allowed, but please keep the area as you found it. Garbage can be deposited in any of the highway collection barrels located throughout the Provincial Park. The land in the valley bottom of the Tahltan River is an Indian Reserve. Remember that this is private land and permission is needed to camp there.
A Letter of Permission is required for individuals or groups who wish to use horses within Stikine River Provincial Park. To obtain a Letter of Permission, please contact the BC Parks Stikine Area Office at (250) 771-4591. If there is no answer, please leave a detailed message stating your request for a letter of Permission, your name, contact information and the date you wish to visit the park. BC Parks will return the call as soon as possible.
Hunting is permitted within Stikine River Provincial Park. Please refer to current BC Hunting Regulations for seasons and bag limits. Please note: big game hunting upstream of the Hwy 37 bridge is authorized under Limited Entry Hunting.
Only permitted air charter companies are authorized to fly into Stikine River Provincial Park.
Permitted Air Charter Companies for Stikine River Provincial Park:
North Pacific Seaplanes
Float plane base located on Tatogga Lake near Iskut, BC (250) 234-3525 or call Tatogga Lake Resort at (250) 234-3526
Canadian Helicopters Ltd. Smithers, BC (250) 847-9444

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Location:

Location Map

Lying west of Highway #37, access is along the scenic Telegraph Creek Road which leads 110 km from Dease Lake. Visitors should note that this road is steep and narrow in some places. The main canyon on the Stikine runs from just west of the highway #37 bridge to Telegraph Creek townsite.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

There are no digital maps or brochures for this park
Location Map

Nature & Culture:

History - The Tahltan First Nation were the original settlers in this area. The Tahltans lived at various seasonal locations along the Stikine River, trading with both the Cascas of the high interior and the Tlingits of the Pacific coast. Today, the Tahltans live in the communities of Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut.

In the mid 1860’s, the need for communications link to Europe initiated a survey of the Stikine for development of the Collins Overland Telegraph Trail. This project introduced the use of sternwheelers on the river, which brought telegraph wire and other construction materials to what is known as Telegraph Creek. This telegraph route was abandoned after cable was successfully laid across the Atlantic, linking North America with Europe.

Cultural Heritage - There are numerous Tahltan native sites in the park.

Conservation - The Stikine River Recreation Area consists of two ecosections, the Southern Boreal Plateau and Stikine Plateau. Special features of the area include the internationally significant Grand Canyon.

Wildlife - A resident population of more than 300 mountain goats reside in the canyon. Many other species frequent the area, including the black and grizzly bears, Stone sheep, moose, caribou, wolf, coyotes, salmon, and numerous bird species.

Visitor Safety:

Sharp drop-offs border the entire Grand Canyon. These, combined with broken rock prevalent in the area, make it extremely dangerous to approach the canyon rim. Please be cautious and supervise your children at all times.
The Grand Canyon, downstream from Highway #37 bridge crossing, is unnavigable by all watercraft. Do not attempt to navigate this section of the Stikine River.

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

	No vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. Rustic campsites with fire rings, picnic tables, tenting areas, and pit toilets are available at Fountain Rapids, Chapea Rapids, Beggerlay Canyon (all 3 are portage trails), and at canoe pull-out at the Highway 37 bridge.
	There are no group campsites at this park.
	No day-use or picnic facilities.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
	This park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets. There are pit toilets available at the following sites: Fountain Rapids, Chapea Rapids, Beggerlay Canyon, Hwy 37 bridge, Hwy 37 pull-out, and Tuya View Point.
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	No firewood available. If you have to make a fire, keep it minimal, make sure it is extinguished, please spread ashes and rocks about. Fires should be used sparingly, as they are among the most serious visual impacts in the backcountry. Always carry a stove; use it for most if not all of your cooking needs and only build a fire when it is safe and will not cause further damage or deplete wood supplies. Please check for campfire bans and the Fire Danger Rating for the area you are visiting before igniting a fire in the backcountry. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. For more information on campfires in the backcountry, click here.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	As you enter the Recreational Area (going west from Dease Lake), you will notice a pullout parking area on the right. From here, a short trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuya River Valley. A pit toilet is available here. A second historic trail starts from the height of land just west of the Tuya River and leads to the valley bottom, and on to the Tuya and Stikine River confluence. 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.
	This park does not have a playground.
	No swimming.
	Canoeing and kayaking are permitted on the upper Stikine River. Please obey the signs for your own safety is at risk if they are disregarded. Please click here for more information on canoeing within the park. Caution: Downstream of the Stikine River – Hwy 37 bridge is unnavigable by any watercraft.
	A primitive boat launch is available on the west side of the highway #37 bridge.
	Fish year-round for a variety of native species including Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling and rainbow trout, or try for Chinook salmon or steelhead (downstream of the grand canyon) during the late summer and fall. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
	Cycling is not permitted.
	Horseback riding is permitted in this park, but a letter of permission must first be obtained. To obtain a Letter of Permission, please contact the BC Parks Stikine Area Office at (250) 771-4591. If there is no answer, please leave a detailed message stating your request for a letter of Permission, your name, contact information and the date you wish to visit the park. BC Parks will return the call as soon as possible.
	Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	Hunting is permitted within Stikine River Provincial Park. Please refer to current BC Hunting Regulations for seasons and bag limits. Please note: big game hunting upstream of the Hwy 37 bridge is authorized under Limited Entry Hunting.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.