Cariboo. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- This park is not regularly patrolled. Visitors should be totally self-sufficient.
- Visitors should ensure they make their presence known if there are signs of bear and food should be properly cached.
- In some locations of the park, you will be several days from any form of help. Bring a good first aid kit and exercise caution.
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the protected area. Water is available from the areas numerous lakes, streams and creeks. Visitors should filter, boil or treat the water prior to consuming.
If you have visited Itcha Ilgachuz Park, we would appreciate if you could please complete an on-line comment form. This will allow park managers to obtain valuable information from those who have experienced the area.
Special notes
Visitor etiquette
We appreciate your feedback. If you have visited Big Creek Park, we ask you to complete an online comment form. This will allow park managers to obtain valuable information from those who have experienced the area. This form is not for providing input to the management planning process.
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
1:50,000 topographic maps of the park are available at most map retailers: 92-O/2, 92-O/3, 92-O/6, and 92-O/7.
Getting there
Although Big Creek Park is located only 100 km south-west of Williams Lake as the crow flies, there is no road access to the park boundary. Two routes link to trails into the park. They follow logging roads, so watch for industrial traffic and use headlights. Roads become very slippery when wet: four-wheel drive, shovel and tire chains are recommended.
Southern route
To access hiking and horse trails at Relay Creek and Tyaughton Creek, drive approximately 69 km on Carpenter Lake Road west of Lillooet. Turn right on Marshall Lake Road. Zero odometer here. Stay left at 3 km. At 11.6 km, stay right on to the Mud Creek Main Road.14.8 km, cross bridge. 17.5 km, stay left. 24.5 km, stay left. 25.6 km, cross bridge. 29.6 km, stay right. 36 km, cross bridge. 36.8 km, stay right. 41.2 km, turn left onto the Mud Creek – Paradise Creek Road. Drive down the hill to 43 km, Tyaughton Creek Forest Recreation Site. Turn right just past the recreation site. Do not take trailers onto this road. This road is not maintained and may be washed out at any point, proceed with caution. 52.7 km, stay left. 54.3 km, stay left. 54.9 km, stay left. 57.2 km, stay left. 57.7 km, cross small creek at the edge of a logging landing. It is not recommended taking two-wheel drive vehicles beyond this point. 64.7 km, stay left. 65 km, drive past the old mining camp. 66.3 km, Relay Creek Forest Service Recreation Site.
Northern route
Few park visitors use this access. However, there is a rough trail that parallels Big Creek, and which is best suited for horseback riding. Follow the logging road (2000 road) that leaves Highway 20 at Riske Creek. Travel to approximately 51 km, turn left onto the 2400 road. Stay on this road until you reach a green gate. Park here, follow the road approximately 2.5km past the gate, turn right and follow the old road/trail to Lorna Lake and the Dil-Dil Plateau.
Camping
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Things to do
Owing to the area’s extensive history of recreational use, there is a large network of unmaintained trails. Hiking and horse trails may be used to access the park via Relay Creek and Tyaughton Creek. Trails are unmarked and usually very wet.
Fish for rainbow trout in Lorna Lake or Big Creek. It is not an exceptional fishery, as the water is cloudy.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
If you must bring your dog to Big Creek Park, it must be under control at all times. It is illegal to allow your dog to harass wildlife or livestock. You are responsible for its behaviour and must dispose of its excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Cycling is permitted in Big Creek Park. Note that there are steep, muddy and or rocky sections on all trails. Mountain bikers must yield to hikers and horses. When meeting horses, dismount and wait on the downhill side of the trail. When catching up to a string of horses, be patient. The riders will pull aside at the first location that has sufficient room to let you by.
Do not be tempted to venture off the trail, as you can cause long-term damage to this unique ecosystem. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Big Creek 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.
Big Creek Park is a popular destination for horseback riding, but because of the park’s remoteness, visitors must be experienced in backcountry travel and completely self-sufficient. Please use only weed-free pelleted feed for horses, since import of weeds is a major concern in the park.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Campfires are permitted. However, no firewood is provided. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite. 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.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
About this park
Indigenous peoples of the Chilcotin and Shuswap Nations still use the Big Creek area for subsistence hunting and food gathering. There is evidence of historic First Nations use within the park; however, more research is needed to identify cultural heritage sites. It is illegal to disturb any such sites, or to remove artefacts.
Today, hikers and horseback riders use trails that follow traditional First Nations routes.
Big Creek Park was designated in 1995 under the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan. Cattle grazing is still permitted under the terms of the land use plan.
Ranching has occurred in forested grasslands and meadows since the late 1800’s. Specifically, the south Chilcotin and Cariboo area has become a foremost region for beef cattle production in BC. There are no permanent ranches located within the park area, although satellite camps and facilities are used during the summer and fall. Five grazing leases have been granted for range operations throughout the entire park.
This wilderness park protects wildlife habitat and fills ecosystem gaps in the protected areas system, most notably the large wetland complexes and associated moose habitat.
Wildlife habitat in the park is varied, ranging from meadows, wetlands, and lush valleys to alpine summits, small glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. With such diversity of habitats comes a diversity of wildlife, including blue-listed California bighorn sheep. The park features a number of unique ecosystems and regionally distinct landscape features: dry alpine tundra, fossil beds at Elbow Mountain, glacier-fed creeks and the milky-blue Lorna Lake.
Large areas of low-lying, poorly drained meadows and marshes provide important moose habitat. Lowland, plateau, and sub-alpine environments within the park protect moose, California bighorn, grizzly bear, black bear, cougar, wolf, mountain goat, mule deer, and a wide variety of small furbearers. Grizzly bears utilize both low elevation meadows and wetlands, and higher elevation sub-alpine and alpine environments, and are particularly sensitive to human encroachment. The park protects significant areas of California bighorn sheep range and migration routes, which are important since the species’ population is critically low. The area also protects mule deer summer range for animals migrating from as far as the Fraser River area. The riparian complexes also support songbirds, waterfowl, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
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
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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