Eskers Park | BC Parks

Highlights in this park

Eskers Park is a day-use park located 40km northwest of Prince George. Encompassing 3,979 hectares of gently rolling terrain and many small lakes, the park conserves a portion of the 40km long Stuart River Eskers Complex. These unique land forms, for which the park is named, are long sinuous gravel ridges. They were created when sand and gravel were deposited in the meltwater channels of ancient glaciers that once blanketed this northern region.

Visitors can enjoy walking and hiking, canoeing, fishing, nature study and wildlife viewing. In the winter the summer hiking trails are turned into an excellent network for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing enthusiasts. A 3km beginners loop is located just off the Pine Marsh parking area. For an additional challenge and exercise, skiers can enjoy the 6km trail to Kathie Lake.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Please obey posted speed limits and use extra caution due to rough road surface.
If you go for a hike, ensure you are prepared for inclement weather conditions.
This area is a known bear habitat, for more information see the wildlife safety page.

Special notes

Fires are not permitted in this park.
Snowmobiles and ATVs are not permitted in this park.
Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage. Please don’t damage or remove them.

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

Bathymetric Maps:

Getting there

Eskers Park is located 40km northwest of Prince George. Turn west off highway 97 north onto Chief Lake Road. Continue west for 27km (at km 12 Chief Lake Road turns into Ness Lake Road). At the west end of Ness Lake turn north onto Ness Lake Road North. Follow this road for 1km to the Eskers Park entrance.

Things to do

Hiking

Those who enjoy walking and hiking can explore the rolling topography and diverse landscapes of Eskers Park’s 15km of marked trail linking Pine Marsh, Camp Lake and Kathie 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.

Canoeing

Circle Lake is an ideal location for families to learn flat-water canoeing. The canoe launch provides easy access to the lake. Those willing to carry a canoe into Camp Lake will find several portage trails connecting some of the smaller, more remote lakes between Camp and Kathie Lakes.

Fishing

Camp and Kathie Lakes provide excellent angling opportunities for rainbow trout and brook trout. Camp lake also has a kokanee fishery. Lakeshore casting may produce a brook trout in Bow or Butterfly Lakes.

This park also offers excellent ice fishing during the winter season.

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

Wildlife viewing

There is a viewing platform in this park. The park is a “outdoor classroom” for those who wish to study the array of birds and mammals that make their home in the wetlands among the eskers. The park’s diverse forest and numerous lakes provide excellent habitat for beaver, moose, deer, black bear, squirrels, grouse and abundant waterfowl.

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash 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.

Cycling

Mountain bikes are allowed on all park roads and designated trails. The trails that are designated for cycling enthusiasts are the 2.3km gated service road to Camp Lake. Another 3.2km along a hilly trail will bring you to Kathie Lake. Bicycles are not allowed on any of the other trails within the park. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in BC.

For details on e-biking within Eskers Park, see the e-biking section.

E-Biking

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Eskers Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.

Hunting

Only portions of this park (Taginchil Lake area) are open to hunting. All hunters should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis for regulations and further information.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Winter recreation

All of the hiking and walking trails are excellent for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Cross-country ski tracks are periodically set within Jago’s field, no other tracks are provided within the park. You can also toboggan on the various hills within the park.

Facilities

Accessibility information

Accessibility information is available for this park.

Drinking water

Drinking water is available from the hand pump at the Pine Marsh in summer months only.

Picnic areas

This park has a day-use and picnic area. A picnic shelter with a stove is in the picnic area for use by visitors.

Pit or flush toilets

This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.

About this park

Conservation

The thick layer of soil left in the wake of the glaciers supports a mixed forest of aspen, lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir with some spruce in the southern reaches of the park.

Wildlife

Eskers Park is an ideal “outdoor classroom” for those wishing to study the array of birds and mammals who make their home in the wetlands among the eskers. One of the most prominent residents is the beaver, whose industry is obvious along most of the lakeside trails. The park’s diverse forest and numerous lakes provide excellent habitat for a wide variety of wildlife such as moose, deer, black bear, squirrels, grouse and abundant waterfowl.

General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

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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