Babine River Corridor Park protects the heart of the Babine River watershed, which is a wild river, home to steelhead and salmon and to the bears who feed on them. The river originates in Babine Lake, the longest natural lake entirely within British Columbia. The river-based recreational opportunities offered by Babine River Corridor Park compliment the upland forest and alpine recreation opportunities in Babine Mountains Park.
Along with protecting significant wildlife habitat, Babine River Corridor Park provides outstanding wilderness river recreation opportunities. World-class angling opportunities for steelhead and sockeye salmon attract local and international visitors alike.
Wilderness camping is allowed for park users travelling down-river. No facilities are provided. This is a user maintained park and everything you pack in must be packed out. Do not bury or burn garbage or human waste. Camping is not permitted in the day-use area.
There is a rustic campground 4 km west of the park entrance. There are 10 moderately sized open campsites available. The sites are gravel and have picnic tables and fire rings. Starvation Lake Recreation Site provides overnight camping 13 km to the east of the park entrance. In addition, Fort Babine Lodge offers cabins and camping. It is found 16 km before reaching the Babine River Corridor Park on the Nilkitkwa (4000) Forest Service Road.
There is a paved, single-wide, moderate grade boat launch near the day-use area.
Campfires are permitted in the campground. Fires are not permitted in the day-use area. Firewood is no longer provided. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please do not 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 it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
All float trips are requested to use a fire pan for fires. The creation of rock fire rings and the burning of wood on shore is strongly discouraged.
There is a large gravel parking lot for day-use. It has a picnic shelter, picnic table, and a pit toilet. Campfires are not permitted.
Pit toilets are present at the day-use area on the river and in the campground 4 km to the west of the park.
This park has hiking and walking trails. 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. Please be aware that bears use the trails within the park. To avoid a bear encounter, avoid the trails between dusk and dawn and make noise while hiking.
The Babine River provides internationally significant rafting and kayaking opportunities with 30 km of Class III and IV rapids. The challenges of this white-water should not be underestimated.
Guided trips are available through local rafting companies or individuals may plan private trips. Please note that there are no permits required for private rafting or kayaking trips on the river. Only one commercial trip can launch per day.
It is encouraged that all float trip parties adhere to the following Babine River Corridor Park Best Management Practices:
The Babine River provides internationally significant rafting and kayaking opportunities with 30 km of Class III and IV rapids. The challenges of this white-water should not be underestimated.
Guided trips are available through local rafting companies or individuals may plan private trips. Please note that there are no permits required for private rafting or kayaking trips on the river. Only one commercial trip can launch per day.
It is encouraged that all float trip parties adhere to the following Babine River Corridor Park Best Management Practices:
World-class angling in a classified river for steelhead and fly-fishing for sockeye salmon is available. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Fishing Etiquette
The fishing experience at the Babine River is world class. BC Parks encourages behaviour that will make this experience enjoyable for everyone:
The experience at the Babine River is valued by many. Understand that your actions can have serious impacts on the abilities of others to enjoy this area.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis for more information.
Please note: there is a No Shooting Area around the Babine River Corridor Park south entrance. Please review Map F4 of the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
Babine River Corridor Park hugs the Babine River for 85 km as it flows from the bridge crossing, 2 km downstream of Nilkitkwa Lake, northwest to Kisgegas, a First Nations Reserve, 10 km from the confluence with the Skeena River. Access to the day-use area by road is approximately 130 km from Smithers. Follow Babine Lake Road east, then Nilkitkwa Forest Service Road north for 58 km. The nearest communities are Fort Babine, Smithers and Telkwa.
BC Parks
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History
In 1994, the Babine River Interim Local Resource Use Plan (LRUP) first proposed the Babine River as a “wilderness zone”, recognizing its important wildlife habitat and significant recreation opportunities. The Kispiox Land and Resource Management Plan in 1996 and the Bulkley Land and Resource Management Plan in 1998 both confirmed the LRUP zoning and recommended protection of the corridor in accordance with the Protected Areas Strategy. In 1999, the area was designated a Class A Provincial Park.
Culture
Babine River Corridor Park is within the traditional territories of the Ned’u’ten and Gitx̱san peoples. Both nations have used, and continue to use, the area for sustenance, spiritual and commercial activities. There are trails of First Nations origin along the river and there are culturally modified trees and various other cultural sites within the park. Kisgegas Reserve, a Gitx̱san community near the northwest end of the park, is used as a training/rediscovery site. Here, there are totem poles and old village sites.
Conservation
Babine River Corridor Park is located within the Southern Skeena Mountains and Babine Upland Ecosections. The park was established to protect the wilderness values of the river corridor for fish and the significant grizzly bear population that feeds on them.
Wildlife
Babine River Corridor Park is home to an internationally significant wild steelhead population and a provincially significant sockeye salmon run, as well as populations of chinook, coho and pink salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow and bull trout. The river is a critical seasonal feeding location for a provincially significant grizzly bear population, estimated at about 100 bears. There is also a high seasonal bald eagle population. The park contains habitat for many mammals including bat, black bear, wolf, coyote, otter, mink, wolverine, fisher, marten, beaver, muskrat and moose, and birds including geese, osprey, shorebirds and owls.
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.