Babine Lake Marine Park: Smithers Landing Site

Highlights in this site

Babine Lake Marine Park – Smithers Landing Site is one of 6 sites that comprises Babine Lake Marine Park. These sites all lie along the shores of Babine Lake and include Pendleton Bay, Hook (Deep) Bay, Pinkut Creek, Pierre Creek, and Sandpoint sites.

Campsites nestled along the lakeshore make this a scenic camping spot. This park is ideal for those wanting a slower pace. A great area for fishing and boating.

See also Babine Lake Marine: Pendleton Bay Site
See also Babine Lake Marine: Pinkut Creek Site

Conservation

Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage, please don’t damage or remove them.

Wildlife

Wood ticks are most prevalent between March and June. These parasites live in tall grass and low shrubs, and seek out warm-blooded hosts. As potential carriers of disease, they should be avoided. Protect your legs by wearing gaiters, or pants tucked into socks. After any outdoor activities, thoroughly examine yourself, children and pets. If you find a tick embedded in your skin, the best way to remove it is by grasping and pulling it, gently, straight up and out with a small pair of tweezers, and disinfecting the site with rubbing alcohol. You may wish to save the tick in a small plastic or glass container for later inspection by your doctor especially if a fever develops, or the area around the bite appears to be infected.

Many different species of birds can be seen along the lakeshore and in the surrounding forest. Bald eagles are quite common in the fall when the salmon start spawning. Moose and bear may be seen travelling the opposite shore of the lake.

Know before you go

Advisories

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

Park is 66 km northeast of Smithers on Babine Lake Road. The closest communities are Smithers and Telkwa.

Camping

Frontcountry camping

This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis; campsite reservations are not accepted. Eight small, rustic and shaded campsites are available at this park. No camping fee is charged at this park. Please pack out what you pack in.

Things to do

Swimming

Swimming is possible here, but there are no buoyed swimming areas, so use caution.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.

Fishing

This is a great area for fishing. There are burbot and a variety of trout species available to catch.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Pets on leash

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.

Cycling

Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Babine Lake Marine Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

Facilities

Boat launch

This park has a rough, gravel boat launch.

Campfires

Campfires are permitted in this park. Visitors must supply their own wood.

To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and adds organic matter to the soil.

You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small or using a portable stove.

Picnic areas

There is an area for picnicking but limited facilities.

Pit or flush toilets

This park has pit toilets; no flush toilets.