Claud Elliott Lake Park

Highlights in this park

Claud Elliott Lake Park is one of three protected areas nestled along the upper Tsitika watershed. The area is part of a river system ranked among the 10 most important fish streams on Vancouver Island.

Adjacent to the park along its western boundary is Claud Elliott Creek Ecological Reserve, which protects representative montane forest communities and critical deer and Roosevelt elk winter range. Two kilometers to the east is Mount Elliott Ecological Reserve, featuring a small, self contained subalpine drainage and hanging valley.

The park contains two lakes, Claud Elliott Lake and Fickle Lake. Both popular destinations for sport fishing and nature appreciation.

This remote, undeveloped park has provincially significant conservation and recreational values that typify old-growth valley bottom forest and wetlands. The park contains some interesting geological features related to an adjacent basalt pillar reserve. Large boulders and remnants of a large rock slide can be found at the northern end of the park, downstream of Fickle Lake.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Access to this park is by active logging roads. The chance of encountering loaded logging trucks while traveling these roads is highly likely. Logging trucks have the right of way at all times. Drivers should use caution and yield to logging trucks, using pullouts whenever possible.
Bring your own water, as potable water is not available in the park. All surface water must be boiled, filtered or treated prior to consumption.

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

Getting there

Claud Elliott Lake on northeastern Vancouver Island is located 8 km north of the Woss Camp turnoff, south of the community of Woss, and 50 km southeast of Port McNeill. The park is accessed via a well maintained gravel road connecting Canadian Forest Products Lukwa Main logging road and Highway 19. The chances of encountering loaded logging trucks while traveling the Lukwa Main and Elliott Main is highly likely. Vehicles may park just off Claude Elliott Main near the park boundary sign. From there, a 150 meter deactivated road leads to the Claude Elliott Lake trailhead. Drivers should be very cautious. Logging trucks have the right of way.

Camping

Wilderness camping

There are no maintained campsites at this park, however wilderness camping is allowed. No facilities are provided and there is no fee.

When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.

Winter camping

This park is open year-round and there is no fee for winter camping.

Things to do

Hiking

This park has a short, maintained access trail leading visitors down to Claud Elliott Lake, with an average walking time of 10 minutes. This trail is suitable for transporting canoes, kayaks or float tubes down to the lake.

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.

Swimming

There is no designated swimming area at this park, however Claud Elliott Lake is suitable for swimming.

There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.

Canoeing

The 1 km long Claud Elliott Lake, provides an ideal location for canoeing and kayaking. A short length of deactivated road and a short trail (walking time approximately 10 minutes) provides canoe, kayak and float tube access to the lake.

Kayaking

Fishing

Both Claud Elliott Lake and Fickle Lake are known for high quality recreational angling. Lakes contain coho salmon, cutthroat, Dolly Varden, kokanee, rainbow trout and steelhead.

The most easily accessible of these lakes is Claud Elliott Lake. More adventurous fishers can go to Fickle Lake, further downstream in the valley. This lake is harder to access and will require lining canoes or kayaks back upstream to Claud Elliott Lake.

All anglers should check the current regulations issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to fishing.

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

Wildlife viewing

Claud Elliott Lake Park offers good opportunities to view wildlife, such as black tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, black bears, bald eagles and a variety of birdlife.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash and under control at all times. 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.

Hunting

Portions of this park are open to hunting for specific species. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current 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

While fires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using stoves instead. If you must use a campfire, please practice “Leave No Trace” camping ethics.

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

Claud Elliott Lake Park lies with the traditional territory of the Tlowitsis and the Mumtagila First Nations. It was established as a park in 1995.

Conservation

The park preserves and protects a wetland ecosystem within the ecological landscape of the Tsitika Valley. Claud Elliott Park contributes to representation of the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic variant gap in the Northern Island Mountain Ecosection. This area is part of a river system ranked among the 10 most important fish streams on Vancouver Island, providing protection for anadromous fish habitat.

Wildlife

This park protects key fish and wildlife habitat for a variety of species associated with old-growth valley bottom lakes and wetlands. These include salmon, steelhead and a variety of trout. It is also an important habitat for black-tailed deer, Roosevelt elk, wolves, cougars, black bears and waterfowl.

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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