Akamina Kishinena Provincial Park is located in the southeast corner of the province. Along with Waterton Lakes National Park and US Glacier National Park, this wilderness area preserves the Crown of the Continent, the narrowest point of the Rocky Mountains.
High spacious alpine ridges, deep secluded valleys and windswept passes provide habitat and connectivity to the last self-sustaining grizzly bear population in the United States. Exposed alpine ridges, southern latitude and southern exposure provide winter range for goats and big horn sheep.
The trails and passes of the Akamina-Kishinena used today to cross the axis of the continent, were established and used for many years by the early people’s and wildlife travelling between the Flathead Basin and the abundant Great Plains.
Special Notes: National Topographical Series Maps 82G/1 and 82G/2 at a scale of 1:50,000 cover the park area including both accesses.
A backcountry campground, with 10 wilderness sawdust tent pads, outhouse, and food cache is provided at Akamina Creek. This campground is located just off the main trail 0.9 km from Akamina Pass and 2.4 km from the Akamina Pass Trailhead. Register a trip itinerary with friends; check in and check out. Winter camping is available year-round at Akamina Creek sites.
The BC Parks backcountry permit registration service allows you to purchase a backcountry camping permit before leaving home. Although this does not reserve a campsite, it provides the convenience of prepaying for your trip and not having to carry cash. We encourage all visitors to register online so we can reduce the need to collect fees in the field.
Fires in the developed area of the park are restricted to a communal fire ring in the Akamina Creek campground. Fires in the backcountry areas must be kept small, contained and a source of water to extinguish the fire must be readily available. Visitors must check with the Forest Service or at park trailheads to see if fires bans are in effect.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite when staying in the developed area of the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. Be prepared by bringing a portable stove for cooking.
The park offers hiking opportunities for beginners as well as experienced backcountry travellers:
For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. Only experienced hikers with orienteering experience should consider following routes and unmarked trails in the park.
Anglers fish for rainbow trout in Forum and Wall Lakes. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license. BC fishing licenses are no longer available in Waterton. Refer to the ministry website for the nearest vendor.
Mountain biking is permitted on designated trails only. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
For details on e-biking within Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park, see the e-biking section.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
If planning to horseback ride in the park, we recommend you read the Akamina Kishinena Horse Use Policy [PDF]. As horseback riders are required to obtain and carry with them a letter of permission from BC Parks please use our online form to generate/print your letter of permission, no less than seven days before entering the park.
More specific information on using horses in the park can be obtained by contacting the Kootenay BC Parks office at 250 489-8540.
There is no horse use allowed to Forum Lake, and riders travelling to Wall Lake must use the horse trail.
Hunting is only permitted in the park during open hunting seasons. Firearms may be carried by persons with a valid BC hunting licence during an open hunting season. Horse assisted hunting trips are allowed during open seasons, but only with a Letter of Permission.
From Hwy 3 turn south at Pincher Creek onto Hwy 6. It is 48km to Waterton Lakes National Park. From the park gate access the Cameron Lake park road to reach the Akamina Pass trailhead (16 km). A 30 minute, 1.5 km uphill walk reaches the boundary between Alberta and BC and the eastern border of Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park. The closest communities are Waterton Lakes National Park community and Sparwood.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.