Overnight campers and avid fishers will find Kinaskan Lake to be the perfect spot to stop and relax. From the campground located at lake’s edge, visitors are afforded sweeping views up the length of the lake with Todagin Mountain to the east and the Klastline Plateau to the west.
Located at the south end of Kinaskan Lake between the Skeena and Coast Mountain Ranges, this park offers spectacular scenery and good rainbow trout fishing. The Iskut River runs through the park to the south, where it enters Natadesleen Lake. The Little Iskut River branches off to the west into Mount Edziza Park.
This park features several trails, canoeing and kayak opportunities, as well as the stunning Cascade Falls.
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.
Accessibility information is available for this park.
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.
The floating wharf and excellent boat ramp make it easy to launch your boat 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 with firewood fees set locally (may vary from park to park). Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented.
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.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
This park has pit toilets only.
The Kinaskan Lake Trail is located on the west side of the campground and is an easy 1km hike that offers great scenery and fishing opportunities.
The Natasdesleen Lake Trailhead is located at a pull-out along Highway 37 approximately 10km south of the Kinaskan Lake campground. This 1km 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 1km 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 11km south of the Kinaskan Lake campground. This 5km round trip trail leads to the top of Cascade Falls.
The Lower Cascade Falls Trail is only accessible by non-power boat, with the trailhead located on the southwest side of Natadesleen Lake. A short 1km 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.
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 10km south of Kinaskan Lake Campground on Highway 37 and is a 1km 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 30cm 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 must have an appropriate licence, and 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.
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.
About 330km north of Kitwanga or 100km south of Dease Lake on Highway 37.
This park proudly operated by:
Alenna Kasner
Alennack@gmail.com
History
Kinaskan Lake Park was established on December 4, 1987.
Conservation
Special features in this park include Cascade Falls, Natadesleen and Kinaskan Lakes, the and Natadesleen and Kinaskan rainbow trout fisheries.
Wildlife
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.
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.