Park overview
Beatton River Park protects rich riparian habitat at the confluence of the Beatton and Peace Rivers. Visitors to the area can best access the park by boat.
Enjoy a picnic, watch wildlife or relax on the river’s edge and appreciate the surrounding scenic views.
Advisories
Special notes
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
- This is a user-maintained site. Please work with BC Parks to help manage this important riparian ecosystem by practicing leave-no trace principles and reporting any park violations or ecological damage to BC Parks in Fort St John at 250-787-3411.
Activities
Visitors to the area can best access the park by paddling down the Peace or Beatton Rivers.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
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.
Beatton River Park is located at the confluence of the Beatton and Peace Rivers and is only accessible by boat. The park is approximately 40 km from Fort St. John.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: June 29, 2000
- Size: 185 hectares
Nature and culture
History
Historic site of Fort D’Epinette. The North West Company established the fort in 1806. The fort was originally called the Fort of St. John and was changed to Fort D’Epinette when the Hudson’s Bay Company amalgamated with the North West Company in 1821.
Conservation
Old growth cottonwood with mixed stands of spruce and aspen dominate the area. Lush riparian shrub growth lines the edge of the waterways.
Wildlife
Moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer and black bear frequent the area. Waterfowl including ducks and Canada geese are also common. Keep a sharp eye out for bald eagles, as they nest in several locations within the Peace Canyon.
Numerous fish species reside in both the Beatton and Peace Rivers. A list of species includes: Arctic grayling, brook stickleback, burbot, flathead, chub, goldeye, lake chub, largescale sucker, longnose dace, longnose sucker, mountain whitefish, northern pike, northern redbelly dace, prickly sculpin, redside shiner, slimy sculpin, spoonhead sculpin, spottail shiner, stickleback (general), troutperch, walleye, white sucker.
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.