Stikine River Park
257,177 ha
Area
1987
Established
Class A
Park class
Park
Type
About this Park
Stikine River Park contains and protects a geological feature unparalleled in Canada. Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon” of the north, eighty kilometers 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 its confluence with the Tanzilla River.
Stikine River Park also creates a protected corridor between Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park to the east and Mount Edziza Park to the west.
Safety information
- 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 always supervise your children. For your safety and the preservation of the park, please obey posted signs and keep to designated trails.
- The Stikine River Canyon, downstream from the Highway 37 bridge crossing and boat launch, is unnavigable by all watercraft. Do not attempt to navigate this section of the Stikine River.
Special notes
- Only permitted air charter companies are authorized to fly into Stikine River Park. The permitted Air Charter Companies for Stikine River Park are:
- Alpine Lakes Air Ltd.
250 846-9488 - BC Yukon Air
250 771-3232
- Alpine Lakes Air Ltd.
- Motorized boat operators should be very aware and cautious of non-motorized (kayak, canoe, raft etc.) traffic coming downstream. Please be sure to give appropriate right-of-way, carry all mandatory safe boating equipment and boat safely!
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited in the park, including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
- Purchase a fishing licence in advance. Any visitors wishing to fish or angle in BC Parks on the Highway 37 corridor should strongly consider obtaining a BC Freshwater Fishing Licence while they have access to internet and a printer. There are very limited opportunities to obtain a fishing licence on the Highway 37 corridor.
Location notes
Stikine River Park can be accessed via Highway 37 or along the scenic Telegraph Creek Road which leads southwest 110 km from Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek. Visitors should note that this road is steep and narrow in some places. The main canyon is located between the Highway 37 bridge and the Telegraph Creek townsite.
Activities
- 347:Hiking As you enter the park (approximately 60 km west of 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. 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.
- 347:Canoeing Canoeing and kayaking are permitted on the upper Stikine River. Please obey the signs as your own safety is at risk if they are disregarded. Caution: Downstream of the Stikine River, Hwy 37 bridge is unnavigable by any watercraft.
- 347:Fishing 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.
- 347:Pets on leash Pets and domestic animals must always be on a leash and are not permitted on beach areas or in park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
- 347:Horseback riding A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required for visitors who wish to use horses within Stikine River Park. To obtain an LOA, please contact the BC Parks Stikine Area Staff at 250-771-4591. If there is no answer, please leave a detailed message stating your request for an LOA, your name, contact information and the date you wish to visit the park.There is a mandatory “weed-free feed” requirement for any horses entering the northern parks, meaning that horses must be fed certified weed-free pellets for 72 hours prior to entering the park and throughout the duration of their stay within the park. The primary reason for the weed-free feed requirement is the growing concern of introducing invasive plant species (either through non-permitted feed or horse droppings) into a natural and pristine ecosystem in the park.
- 347:Hunting Hunting is permitted within Stikine River Park, though many species are authorized under Limited Entry Hunting only. Hunting for moose and mountain goat, east of the Hwy 37 bridge, is restricted to Limited Entry Hunting only. Mountain goat hunting, west of the Hwy 37 bridge, is also restricted to Limited Entry Hunting only. The discharge and carrying of firearms is permitted in this park for the purposes of hunting during open season. Please consult the BC Government Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information. Contact BC Parks at parkinfo@gov.bc.ca with any specific questions.
Facilities
- 347:Pit or flush toilets This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There are pit toilets available at the following sites: Fountain Rapids, Chapea Rapids, Beggerlay Canyon, Highway 37 bridge, and Highway 37 pull-out.
- 347:Boat launch A primitive boat launch is available on the west side of the Highway 37 bridge.
- 347:Campfires No firewood is 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 and use it for most if not all of your cooking needs. Only build a fire when it is safe and will not cause further damage or deplete wood supplies. 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.
Location
57.98084, -129.18229 · Stikine
