Skeena East. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- All recreational hunting is prohibited in Kinaskan Lake Park. This applies to all areas of the park including the campground, trail, Natadesleen Lake, and the section of the Iskut River within the park boundary. Please ensure you are familiar with the location of park boundaries before hunting in the vicinity of the park.
- Licenced motor vehicles, including motorcycles, are restricted to vehicle roads and parking areas. Please keep vehicles and equipment on the camp pads or driveways. Unlicenced vehicles, including off-road vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, are not permitted in the park.
- The closest medical and emergency services can be found in Dease Lake or Stewart.
- There is no service available in Kinaskan.
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
About 330km north of Kitwanga or 100km south of Dease Lake on Highway 37.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis. Campsite reservations are not accepted.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Frontcountry campgrounds
Things to do
The Kinaskan Lake Trail is located on the west side of the campground and is an easy 1 km hike that offers great scenery and fishing opportunities.
The Natasdesleen Lake Trailhead is located at a pull-out along Highway 37 approximately 10 km south of the Kinaskan Lake campground. This 1 km trail leads to the shore of the Natadesleen Lake. The adventurous can portage a canoe along this trail and paddle to the southwest side of the lake. From here, the Lower Cascade Falls Trail leads 1 km down the river to Cascade Falls, a unique volcanic formation on the Iskut River.
The Upper Cascade Falls Trailhead is located at a pull-out along Highway 37 approximately 11 km south of the Kinaskan Lake campground. This 5 km round trip trail leads to the top of Cascade Falls.
The Lower Cascade Falls Trail is only accessible by non-powerboat, with the trailhead located on the southwest side of Natadesleen Lake. A short 1 km hike will take you to the base of Cascade Falls
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.
There are swimming opportunities in this park.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Kinaskan Lake Park offers non-motorized paddling opportunities on Kinaskan Lake, Natadesleen Lake, and the Iskut River. Please ensure you have the required mandatory safe boating equipment on board.
Kinaskan Lake: Launch your canoe or kayak from your campsite or the boat launch at Kinaskan Lake campground.
Natadesleen Lake: Easily accessed by the Natadesleen Lake Trail. The trailhead is located approximately 10 km south of Kinaskan Lake Campground on Highway 37 and is a 1 km portage to the lake. After upgrades in 2018, the trail and boardwalk can accommodate canoe carts up to 32 inches wide. Natadesleen Lake offers fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. Lower Cascade Falls Trail is only accessible by non-powerboat, via a trailhead located on the southwest side of Natadesleen Lake. A short 1km hike will take you to the base of Cascade Falls, a unique waterfall formed by volcanic activity from Mount Edziza.
Kinaskan Lake to Natadesleen Lake via the Iskut River: For more experienced paddlers, the Iskut River connects the two lakes and offers rainbow trout fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. The average round trip is approximately two to four hours. To complete this trip, you must have a vehicle at the Natadesleen Lake Trail pullout along Highway 37, or arrange with the park operator for a shuttle.
From the Kinaskan Lake boat launch, paddle west along the shoreline until you reach the Iskut River. Navigate the Iskut River downstream until you reach Natadesleen Lake. Once you reach Natadesleen Lake, you may choose to access the Lower Cascade Falls Trail or take out at the Natadesleen Lake Trail and portage your vessel to Highway 37.
To access the Lower Cascade Falls Trail, continue paddling to the southwest side of the lake and look for the Lower Cascade Falls trailhead.
To access the Natadesleen Lake Trail (take out), paddle to the south east side of Natadesleen Lake and find the Natadesleen Lake Trail. See Kinaskan Lake Trail and Paddling Route Map. From there, it is a 1km portage along the Natesdesleen Lake Tail back to Highway 37.
Rainbow trout are abundant in Kinaskan and Natadesleen Lakes, averaging half a kilogram in weight and 30 cm in length. Fish from shore or boat, fly fish, cast, or troll with just about any lure. The hard-fighting rainbow are waiting!
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia should consult the current BC Sport Fishing Regulations to be familiar with the regulations specific to Kinaskan Lake, the Iskut River and Natadesleen Lake.
Please be aware that there are very limited opportunities to obtain a fishing licence on the Highway 37 corridor. It is a requirement to carry a physical copy on your person while fishing.
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.
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not permitted on the trails within Kinaskan Lake Park. E-bikes and bicycles are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. See BC Parks e-bike guidelines for more detail.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
There is a gravel slope for the boat launch at the day-use area near the main campground.
Campfires are permitted and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and instead use camp stoves. Firewood is available for purchase at the campground.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
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.
Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season. Water must be boiled for at least one minute or otherwise disinfected before using for drinking, brushing teeth or for food preparation that will not be cooked.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
This park has pit toilets only.
About this park
Kinaskan Lake Park was established on December 4, 1987.
Special features in this park include Cascade Falls, Natadesleen and Kinaskan Lakes, the and Natadesleen and Kinaskan rainbow trout fisheries.
A diversity of wildlife is present including moose, black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, mink, American marten, snowshoe hare, spruce grouse and squirrels. Mountain goats and Stone’s sheep can also be seen high in the nearby mountains.
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
| Park operator | This park is operated by Alenna Kasner. |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
