Park overview
Border Lake Park rests in the Unuk River Valley, on the border of Alaska, about 180 km south of the community of Telegraph Creek. The occasional river rafter will enjoy the pristine, wild waters of the Unuk River, flowing through the park and into Misty Fjords National Monument in Alaska.
The highly productive wetland complex surrounding three small lakes included in the park offers habitat for a wide range of vegetation, waterfowl, mammals and fish.
Advisories
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Activities
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Border Lake Park is extremely remote. No road access is available and Border Lake is too small to land float planes. Visitors may reach the upper reaches of the Unuk River by air, then raft down to the park.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: January 25, 2001
- Size: 814 hectares
Nature and culture
History
Designation of Border Lake as a Class A provincial park followed recommendations from the Cassiar Iskut-Stikine Land and Resource Management Plan in 2001.
Cultural Heritage
Border Lake lies within the asserted traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nation.
Conservation
The highly productive lake and wetland complex in Border Lake Park is rich with conservation values. Plant communities include rare species, such as the yellow marsh-marigold, while grizzly bears find critical spring patch habitat in the valuable wetlands. Important fish habitat is provided to lake spawning sockeye salmon, a provincially significant sea-run cutthroat trout population, and an unusual anadromous cutthroat trout.
Wildlife
The remote wilderness of Border Lake Park is home to a wide range of wildlife. Grizzly bears rely on spring habitat within the park, while the wetland complex provides excellent waterfowl nesting and forage habitat. Significant resident and migratory fish populations are found in the waters in the park.
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.