Park overview
Kleanza Creek Park is located amongst the forests and rock canyons in the Coast Mountains. Occupying frontage on the Skeena River and on both sides of Kleanza Creek, the park is of historical significance. Kleanza means gold in the Gitxsan language and it was this metal that influenced the early history of the park site. Placer mining for gold was first carried out in the creek in the late 1890s.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Park status:
Open
The park gate is open May 8, 2023 to September 18, 2023
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Reservable frontcountry sites: 10
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 34
- Main operating season
- 2023: May 8 to September 18
- Winter season
- No services
- Booking required
- 2023: May 8 to September 17
Safety info
- There is a 24 metre deep box canyon on Kleanza Creek at the end of a 1km long trail. All who use this trail should exercise extreme caution. There are no restraining barriers. A responsible adult should accompany children.
- For safety reasons, firearms are prohibited.
- Information on Wildlife Safety
Special notes
- Motor vehicles, including motorcycles, ATVs and similar vehicles are restricted to vehicle roads and parking areas.
- In the interests of protecting the park’s ecology, rock hunting and collecting are not permitted.
- The nearest sani-station facilities can be found in Terrace, approximately 15km west of the park.
Camping
Campsite reservations are accepted at this park and first come, first served sites are also available.
All campsite reservations must be made through the BC Parks reservations system. When reservations are not available all campsites function as first come, first served.
This park offers 34 vehicle-accessible shaded and treed campsites. The campsites are on a first come, first served basis and campsite reservations are accepted. There are two double sites and two tent sites. The campsites can accommodate RVs. Parking is available for extra vehicles.
There is a gate and it is locked from 11pm to 7am. Pay phones are not available. The nearest store is approximately 15km away in Terrace.
| 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.
One hand pump is available in the park and can be found near the parking lot. Water is shut off during the off-season.
Firewood can be purchased from the park operator for a fee. Visitors may bring their own wood. Campfires are allowed in the campsites and day use area fire rings.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small.
Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
This park has a day-use and picnic area. Facilities include parking area, grassy areas, fire rings, benches, gravel beach, pit toilets, picnic tables, and a horseshoe pit. There are no pay phones and the gate is locked from 11pm to 7am during the camping and off-seasons.
This park has pit toilets located in the campground and day-use area.
Activities
A 1km easy trail leads to a 24 metre deep box canyon on Kleanza Creek. All who use this trail should exercise extreme caution. There are no restraining barriers. A responsible adult should accompany children.
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 whitewater kayaking opportunities in Kleanza Creek. There are no rentals available at this time. Please use caution.
There is a viewing area located above Kleanza Canyon. For your safety, do not climb over the chain link fence to get closer to the edge of the canyon. The fence is there to protect visitors from serious injury or death.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in day-use, beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
You and your pets can access Kleanza Creek for your enjoyment along the Kleanza Creek-side Trail which can be accessed at the downstream side of the day-use and beach area or from trailhead near site #1. Thank you for your cooperation.
Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Visitors can snowshoe in the park during the winter season.
This park is located 15km east of Terrace’s Hwy 16 and Hwy 37 junction.
Park and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF] (Updated 2018)
- Campground Map [PDF]
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 16, 1956
- Size: 220 hectares
Park contact
This park operated by:
Wilderness Recreation Services Ltd.
jason@wildernessparks.ca
Nature and culture
History
Kleanza means gold in the Gitxsan language and it was this metal that influenced the early history of the park site. Placer mining for gold was first carried out on the creek in the late 1890s when men shoveled gravel from the bars into sluice boxes. This process proved unsatisfactory because there was too much water in the creek and the bedrock was too deep for handwork. Remains of the Cassiar Hydraulic Mining Company operations can be found above the beautiful rock canyon.
Conservation
The park protects the Kleanza Creek Canyon and important salmon spawning habitat in the area.
Wildlife
Migrating pink (humpback) salmon may be seen each fall as they spawn in the creek completing their life cycle that began two years previously in the same spot.
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.