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 Provincial 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.
Please note: This park is being maintained by a local community organization or business. Services and/or facilities may vary from provincial standards.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Open to public access May 11, 2023 to September 8, 2023
Current status:
Open to public access
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 28
- Main camping season dates
- 2023: May 11 to September 8
- Service note
- Operating dates are subject to change, depending on weather.
Safety info
Stay Safe
- 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
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. 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.
Activities
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. All anglers must have a valid licence when fishing.
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 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.
Maps and location
This page is located 28 km 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--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.
Here at mile 20 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 190 foot 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: The park is forested with balsam poplar, white spruce and trembling aspen.
- Wildlife: 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.