Burnie-Shea Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Burnie-Shea Park was established in 2008 as a result of the Morice Land and Resource Management Plan.

This 34,536 hectare park consists of a broad subalpine valley with extensive wetlands surrounded by rugged mountains. The dramatic peaks of the Howson Range, much of which is still extensively glaciated, rise to 2,759 metres. These summits make up the western half of the park. Upper and Lower Burnie Lakes lie at the bottom of the deep U-shaped valley at 914 metres elevation, and drain southwest to the Burnie River. Shea Lake lies in a wetland complex just southeast of Lower Burnie Lake within the Telkwa Mountains, and flows southeast to the Morice River. A myriad of wetlands and small sinkhole lakes occupy the Tom George Plateau at the northeast end of the park.

The park provides excellent remote backcountry recreation opportunities including wildlife viewing, hiking, mountaineering, and skiing. Access is generally by helicopter or floatplane.

There is a commercial lodge at the north end of the park near the terminus of the Burnie Glacier.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

This is a remote backcountry park with difficult access and minimal facilities. Visitors need to be self-reliant and well-prepared. Expect to encounter hazards such as:

Avalanches, crevasses, and ice or rock fall in the mountainous and glaciated terrain.
Streams that can have large fluctuations in water levels due to snow and ice-melt on hot days.
Extreme fluctuations in weather conditions (e.g. snow in August).
Wildlife encounters.

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

Burnie Shea Park Map [PDF]

Getting there

There is no road or trail access to Burnie-Shea Park. Access to the area is generally by helicopter, floatplane or on foot. It is a long hike in the summer and a longer ski in the winter. Skiers occasionally access the area via the Copper River Road or the Telkwa River Road. Shea Lake is more accessible, with a road located approximately 4 km east of the lake.

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

Hiking

There are spectacular hiking opportunities in the park, but BC Parks does not yet maintain any trails. A network of trails has been constructed by a commercial lodge operator at the north end of the park. Contact BC Parks in Smithers at 250 847-7320 for further information. Good knowledge of route-finding combined with map and compass experience is essential.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed in the park. Please read the BC Fishing Regulations.

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

Wildlife viewing

There is an opportunity to see black and grizzly bears, caribou, mountain goats, as well as many other animals and birds. Visitors should not approach wildlife.

Climbing

Mountaineering possibilities in the Howson Range of Burnie-Shea Park are extensive.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed in the park. 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.

Winter recreation

There is excellent backcountry skiing in the Howson Range. A commercial ski lodge is located at the north end of the park.

Please refer to the Burnie-Shea Park Management Plan for information on snowmobiling opportunities within the park or contact BC Parks at 250-847-7320.

Caution: Rugged terrain may produce zones of high avalanche hazard. It is recommended that you have experience in evaluating avalanche hazards.

Facilities

Campfires

Campfires are permitted in this park. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using camp stoves instead, especially in alpine and subalpine environments. If you have a fire, please use dead, downed wood. Do not cut live vegetation.

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

Cultural heritage

Burnie-Shea Park lies within the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en people. A long history of Wet’suwet’en use is evidenced by numerous cultural features within the park. Historic trails provided access through this area and a traditional cabin still exists at Shea Lake. The Wet’suwet’en continue to use this area.

History

The Howson Range has a history of mountaineering dating back to the 1950’s, when Rex Gibson, then president of the Alpine Club of Canada, led 3 successive trips to the area. On his fourth trip in 1957, Gibson was attempting to climb Howson Peak with Sterling Hendricks and Don Hubbard. A fall while the party was roped together pulled all three members down the side of the mountain. Gibson died of his injuries before help could arrive.

Conservation

The park also protects whitebark pine communities. Whitebark pine communities are regionally significant because they are at the most northerly extent of their range. Whitebark pine are declining throughout their range due to mountain pine beetle and white pine blister rust. Clark’s Nutcrackers are dependent on whitebark pine seeds for survival. The seeds are also important to other wildlife species, especially grizzly bear.

Wildlife

The wetlands, meadows, and rich avalanche tracks, combined with the absence of substantive human presence, provide good quality grizzly bear habitat. The alpine and subalpine areas on the east side of the park and beyond provide habitat for the recovering population of northern caribou known as the Telkwa herd, while the terrain around the Howson Range is home to a healthy population of mountain goats. Other species known to use the area include black bear, moose, wolverine, and deer. Burnie Lakes support a diverse fish population including kokanee and mountain whitefish.

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.

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