Peace. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Visitors to this extremely remote area must be self-sufficient and highly experienced in the outdoors.
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
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
Dune Za Keyih Park is located in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountain Trench between Denetiah Park to the northwest and Kwadacha Wilderness Park to the southeast. The park encompasses portions of the 250 kilometre Kechika River. It also includes two of its major tributaries: the Frog River, flowing from the Cassiar Mountains on the west side, and the Gataga River, merging from the northern Rockies to the east.
Access to the area is best accomplished via floatplane or helicopter. Jet boats can navigate up-river. However, jet boats are not allowed past log jam rapids on the Gataga River.
Camping
Cabins and huts
No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use. There are private accommodations available for this park. View the Northern Rockies Lodge’s webpage for more information.
Things to do
There are hiking opportunities at this park. For your own safety and preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroy plant life and soil structure.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. The Frog River is for experienced paddlers only. The Gataga River is an excellent seven day trip from the forks of the Upper Gataga to Terminus Mountain in Denetiah Park. There are private excursions into this park. View the Northern Rockies Lodge’s webpage for more information.
There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park. The Frog River is for experienced paddlers only. The Gataga River is an excellent seven day trip from the forks of the Upper Gataga to Terminus Mountain in Denetiah Park. There are private excursions into this park. View the Northern Rockies Lodge’s webpage for more information.
There are private excursions into this park. View Northern Rockies Lodge’s webpage for more information.
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.
Horses and horseback riding are permitted.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more details and information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Facilities
Keep backcountry campfires small.
About this park
Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park is within the traditional territory of the Kaska Dena people.
Established in 2000 as the Frog-Gataga, this wilderness park's name was translated into the Kaska Dena language and is now recognized as Dune Za Keyih. Gataga is a Sikanni aboriginal word meaning “white water”, which refers to the glacial rock that turns the river a silty light gray. The Gataga and Kechika confluence is marked by the historic section of Altse Dene Tunna (Davie Trail) named after “Old Davie”, a highly regarded native prophet. Davie was able to understand and translate the European’s language when they first arrived. The Davie Trail became the main travel route to the Klondike - a cattle drive of 500-600 head was even attempted along the Davie Trail from Vanderhoof to the Klondike (ca. 1900). The Kechika River was also used to transport furs to Lower Post. Today, the Davie Trail links the Kaska Dena reserves of Fort Ware and Lower Post.
Dune Za Keyih Provincial Park consists of sections of three major undisturbed northern river valleys and the large confluence area of the three in the Rocky Mountain Trench. The rivers and their associated lakes are:
- 90 km of the Gataga River Valley
- 40 km of the Frog River Valley
- 35 km of the Kechika River Valley
- 12 km of the South Gataga Lakes chain
- 30 km of the South Gataga River
This area represents three biogeoclimatic zones:
- Alpine Tundra
- Boreal White and Black Spruce
- Sub-boreal White and Black Spruce
The area contains one of North America’s most diverse and abundant wildlife populations with an intact predator-prey system. Extensive low elevation wildlife habitat is protected within the river valleys, which results in high populations of species such as moose, wolf, grizzly bear and black bear. Stone sheep, mountain goat, elk, caribou, mule deer, and wolverine are just some of the other species found throughout the region - the wildlife viewing in a pristine wilderness setting is unsurpassed.
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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