Park overview
The park is located along the banks of the Kiskatinaw River on the original Alaska Highway, near a historic wooden curved trestle bridge.
From Kiskatinaw Park, visitors can take a stroll to the bridge and reflect upon the unique history of the Alaska Highway. Jump in the river for a refreshing swim or spend the day fishing.
Advisories
Dates of operation
The park is open May 15, 2024 to September 15, 2024
- Facility type
- Frontcountry camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 28
- Main operating season
- 2024: May 15 to September 15
- Winter season
- Not known
- Service note
- Generally open on the Wednesday before the May long weekend to September 11, depending on weather.
Safety info
- There are no developed trails at this park.
Special notes
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
Camping
| 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.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
While campfires are allowed 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 using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
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.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
Activities
There is no marked swimming area at Kiskatinaw. Warm water and slow current make it a popular spot for wading and river tubing.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
There are fishing opportunities in the park. Fishing in the river may have limited success as the Kiskatinaw river is muddy and shallow at the park.
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.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Kiskatinaw 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.
This page is located 28km north of Dawson Creek off Highway 97 (Alaska Highway) on the Old Alaska Highway.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: May 1, 1962
- Size: 58 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Sandstorm North Contracting
For information concerning the Vehicle Accessible Campground:
sandstormnorth@gmail.com
250 843-0092
Nature and culture
Cultural Heritage
Threats of a Japanese invasion of Alaska during the Second World War initiated one of the greatest engineering feats of the century, which is the building of a 1520 mile highway which would connect Alaska to Canada and the United States. Over 11,000 troops endured mosquitoes, black flies, and extreme weather conditions to construct a route over muskeg, mud and river.
At 32 kilometres on the original highway, the Kiskatinaw River posed an early obstacle. The location of the bridge site, near a hairpin turn on the river, forced construction of a curved right-of-way. Engineers developed this near 58 metre wooden bridge with a super elevated (banked) nine degree curve to conform with the bend of the highway.
Contracted by a Canadian company, construction of this engineering marvel took nine months to complete. It was the first curved wooden bridge built in Canada and today, it is the only curved, banked trestle bridge remaining in Western Canada.
Conservation and Wildlife
The park is forested with balsam poplar, white spruce and trembling aspen. Moose and deer may be viewed around the campsite. Squirrels, chipmunks and various songbirds are more common visitors.
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.