Kakwa Park

There are 12 wilderness campsites with pit toilets. The walk-in wilderness campsites are all available on a first-come, first-serve basis; reservations are not accepted. During the winter season, campers may use the cabins but usage is on a first-come, first-served basis; be prepared for winter conditions and to camp outside.

There are two areas at the south end of Kakwa Lake that have been designated for camping: one is for hiker traffic (West side of Wapumun Creek) and the other is for horse traffic (East side of Wapumum Creek). These sites each have a pit toilet.

There is one public use cabin located at Kakwa Lake (53°59’54.21"N 120°10’34.62"W) that will sleep approximately 10 people; a second rustic public cabin exists at Jarvis Lakes (54° 5’34.19"N 120°13’32.08"W) that sleeps approximately 8-10 people. Both cabins are available on a first-come, first-served basis year-round, but if fully occupied, the public needs to be prepared to camp outside in a tent. Please keep the cabins clean and tidy.

There is also an emergency shelter located North of Buchanan Creek (53°53’49.68"N 120°17’49.30"W).

This park only has pit toilets; no flush toilets.

Open camp fires are not permitted. Bring a portable stove for cooking.

A number of hiking routes exist within Kakwa Provincial Park, but these trails are unmarked and not maintained. 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.

Anglers must consult regulations and limit their catch in order to preserve angling opportunities in years to come. Kakwa and Cecilia Lake are closed to angling November 1 to April 30. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to potential wildlife issues.

Bicycles and Class 1 e-bikes are only permitted on the main hiking trail, which leads from the park boundary to the Kakwa Lake campsite on the BC side. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are classified as motorized vehicles and are not permitted within the park boundary.

• More on Biking in BC Parks
• BC Off-Road Vehicle Act
• BC Motor Vehicle Act

Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Kakwa Provincial Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.

Horseback riding is permitted in Kakwa Provincial Park. There is an area at the south end of Kakwa Lake designated for horse traffic camping (East side of Wapumum Creek)with a pit toilet. The creek is a crucial spawning creek for the Rainbow trout that inhabit Kakwa Lake, and horses crossing along the creek would damage the spawning beds. Do not let horses swim in the lake in front of the cabin as this area is a source of drinking water for park visitors. The park is user-maintained, please pack out what you have packed in. Please cooperate and keep the park pristine for future visitors.

There are free-climbing opportunities within the park. There are no formal routes established and visitors should be well prepared and have previous climbing experience.

Hunting is allowed in the park. Please check the BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.

Firearms are not permitted in the provincial park unless during an open season specified under the Wildlife Act and anyone hunting must have a valid licence and appropriate species licence.

Visitors can backcountry ski and snowshoe along the trails in the park. Visitors should be trained in avalanche awareness.

Kakwa winter use: Snowmobiling is a popular winter recreational use of the park from both B.C. and Alberta, mostly in the Kakwa and Cecilia Lakes areas. Popular snowmobiling areas are the watersheds of Babette, Cecilia and Kakwa Lakes, McGregor Pass, Mt. Ruth, Sheep Pass, Mt. Sir Alexander and there are many open ridges and meadows.

Areas open to snowmobiling are zoned as Nature Recreation Zones and snowmobiling is permitted during snowmobiling season from Dec 1st to April 15/30th each winter.

• Snowmobile Area Map [PDF 7.7MB] 

Overnight snowmobile users are restricted to the cabin at Kakwa Lake and should be aware that cabins are being used by BC Parks staff regularly. Users must supply their own wood for fuel from outside of the park. Snowmobile tent camps are not permitted in Kakwa Provincial Park.

There is no public access road into the park. In B.C., the Walker Creek Forest Road from Highway 16 currently provides access to the Bastille River at km 75, Bastille River is 10 km away from the park boundary. From Grand Prairie, the 112 km Kakwa River Forestry Road leads to the eastern boundary of Alberta’s Kakwa Wildland Park. Both approaches require long trips with no facilities and are only recommended for the most experienced snowmobilers. The role of the Kakwa Management Plan is to ensure that legitimate wilderness recreational snowmobiling occurs.

Avalanche training is strongly recommended for any winter recreational activities in the park. If you plan to snowmobile in Kakwa Provincial Park you need to be prepared with emergency equipment as it is an isolated area and distances are great.