Skeena West. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
Explore with care as lava rock may be sharp and unstable, and surfaces may be thin, especially along lake and stream edges.
Special notes
Mushroom harvesting is not permitted within the park. Check with Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government for licensing requirements for harvesting mushrooms on Nisg̱a’a Lands.
The Lava Cone is accessible by guided tour only. See the hiking section for details.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
The easiest way to access the park is to take Highway 16 to Terrace, then north for 100 km on the Nisg̱a’a Highway. The alternate route is through Kitwanga on Highway 16. From Kitwanga, head north for 78 km on paved Highway 37 to the Cranberry River. Here the unpaved Nass Forest Service Road leads west to Gitlax̱t'aamiks (New Aiyansh), a distance of 86 km.
Just outside of the park are the four Nisg̱a’a villages of Gitlax̱t'aamiks (New Aiyansh), Ging̱olx (Kincolith), Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City), and Lax̱g̱altsʼap (Greenville). All communities are road accessible from the park. They all offer amenities like grocery stores, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, gift shops, gas stations and health services.
Things to do
Lava Cone Trail
The Lava Cone is accessible by guided tour only.
Guided volcanic tours offer a chance to hike through the scenic old growth forest, and past a variety of volcanic features, to a viewpoint overlooking the crater.
Tours depart from the base of the Cone Trail access road, 1.4 km north of Lava Lake picnic site. The tour is a 6 km, 4 hr hike, and the trail is moderately difficult. There are some steep stairs. Bring sturdy footwear, water, snacks, and bug spray.
For tour dates, times, and prices, visit the Nisga’a Visitor Centre, or contact:
Nass Valley Tours
- Tours available by reservation with Nass Valley Tours
- 250-641-4400
- nass113.com
- nassvalleytours@gmail.com
Self-guided trails
Five short interpretive trails provide easy access to several of the park’s special features:
- Crater Creek
- Beaupre Falls
- Tree Mould Trail
- Vetter Creek Trail
- Fish Wheel Trail
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.
For a trail map, see maps and location. Stop by the Nisga’a Visitor Centre for more information.
Some lava flow features are very delicate and need protection. Lichens cover the majority of lava flow, and a single footprint can set back hundreds of years of lichen growth. Please stay on the trails.
There is swimming available at Lava Lake. The beaches are a mixture of sand and rock.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are canoeing opportunities on Lava Lake. See the boat launch section for launching information.
There are kayaking opportunities on Lava Lake. See the boat launch section for launching information.
There are excellent fishing opportunities for salmon on the Tseax River.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Hiking
Interpretive hiking trails and tours are available. See the hiking section for details.
Self-guided auto tour
An auto tour brochure is available on the Nisga’a Lisims Government website. Printed copies are also available at the Nisga’a Visitor Centre, the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government Office in Gitlaxt'aamiks, and the Terrace visitor centre.
Nisga’a Visitor Centre
The Nisga’a Visitor Centre offers opportunities to learn about Nisga’a culture and the local landscape. See the information section for details.
The park is home to moose, goats, marmots, bears and many other species of wildlife.
When visiting the Vetter Falls viewpoint, visitors might get a chance to catch a glimpse of a “phantom” steelhead.
Learn more about wildlife safety.
Dogs and other domestic animals must be leashed and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You must always be in control of your pets and dispose of their excrement in the wastebins provided.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Corridor Protected Area. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception is for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
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. Hunting is permitted within the park. Please refer to the current hunting regulations.
Nisga’a citizens must check with Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government for licensing requirements for harvesting wildlife on Nisg̱a’a Lands.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Snowmobiling is permitted in the Sterling Moutain snowmobile area. Access the area by the Sterling Mountain Parking Lot, operated by Recreation Sites and Trails BC. Most of the snowmobiling area is outside the park boundary but some portions or trail are within the park. Stay within the designated snowmobiling area marked by signs.
About this park
The history of the region is tied to legends handed down from past generations. The Nisg̱a’a house system is composed of four main families, Wolf, Raven, Killer Whale, and Eagle. Each family owns stories and passes them on to the next generation.
One of the most well-known stories is about the genesis of the volcano. Legend has it that children had shown disrespect to the life-giving salmon by putting stones and burning sticks into their backs and watching them swim. The elders warned the children repeatedly to stop but they did not listen. Soon the ground began to rumble. The volcano and the lava flow then covered the valley bottom, redirected the mighty Nass River and destroyed two villages. This resulted in 2000 Nisg̱a’a people perishing.
This park has important volcanic features like the lava flows. As the lava spilled from the crater an estimated 250 years ago, it followed a creek bed downslope to Lava Lake and down the Tseax Valley to the Nass River. The lava travelled at different speeds depending on the steepness of the slope. Some types of lava flow and interesting features include:
Tree casts formed by burned out tree trunks leaving holes in the lava
Lava tubes formed as the top layer hardened and the lava flowed out underneath
Pahoehoe lava that often has a smooth surface or ropey form
ʻAʻā lava that is rough and jagged
Blocky lava whose surface consists of large chunks
Some lava flow features are very delicate and need protection. Lichens cover the majority of lava flow, and a single footprint can set back hundreds of years of lichen growth. Please stay on the trails.
If you plan on exploring the Nass Mountain Range, you will be in the company of moose, goats, marmots, bears and many other species of wildlife. Always use good judgement when in the presence of wildlife.
When visiting the Vetter Falls viewpoint, visitors might get a chance to catch a glimpse of a “phantom” steelhead.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
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.
Contact
| Park operator | This park is proudly operated by K‘Alii Aks Timber Corporation. |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
