Lakelse Lake Wetlands Park covers 1,214 hectares at the south end of Lakelse Lake, the largest warm water lake in north western British Columbia.
The park contains internationally significant salmon spawning and rearing habitat and regionally important migratory and over-wintering waterfowl and moose winter range. Trumpeter Swans over-winter in the wetlands and Grizzly Bears frequent the area in spring and fall.
Established Date: May 20, 2004
Park Size: 1,214 hectares
Wilderness camping is allowed but not encouraged, and no facilities are provided.
Canoeists and Kayakers may enjoy exploring the wetlands. There is a small area for parking vehicles and launching canoes or kayaks near the northeast corner of the park.
Directions: Turn off Hwy. #37 about 1.3 km south of Mount Layton Hot Springs. Take the single lane dirt road on the west side of Hwy. #37, beside Schulbuckhand (Scully) Creek. Close the metal gate behind you (near the start of the side road) after you have passed through. Continue down the single lane dirt road for about 1.4 km and turn left into the grassy parking lot and canoe launch area beside Lakelse Lake. Fires and overnight camping are not allowed in this day-use area.
It is possible to catch trout, char and Coho salmon in Andalas and Clearwater Creeks. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
This park is open to hunting. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
There are cross-country skiing opportunities in the park. Cross-country skiing is possible on old logging roads on the east side of the park. Developed facilities are located a few kilometres south of the park.
There are snowshoeing opportunities in the park. Snowshoeing is possible on old logging roads on the east side of the park.
Please note: Listed maps are for information only – they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation. Lakelse Lake Wetlands Provincial Park is located at the south end of Lakelse Lake approximately 18 km south of Terrace and 40 km north of Kitimat on Highway 37. Access is by boat from Lakelse Lake or hiking via the old logging roads. Use NTS Map Sheet #103 I/7 (Lakelse Lake).
Conservation: Lakelse Lake Wetlands Park protects a biologically exceptional and Provincially significant warm-water wetland complex. Warm water springs in the Lakelse Lake Wetlands drain into Lakelse Lake, the largest warm water lake in northwestern BC. Clearwater and Andalas Creeks have open water throughout the winter. The streams are fed by warm water springs along an escarpment above the creeks.
The bog ecosystem in the Lakelse Lake Wetlands is regionally significant. It contains scattered and stunted Lodgepole Pine, Western Redcedar, and Western Hemlock. In addition to water loving shrubs and herbs, the bogs contain specialized plants such as sundews, tall white bog orchids and bog club-moss. Accumulations of moss and organic material are often greater than 100cm and water tables are within 20cm of the surface.
The south end of Lakelse Lake contains the most extensive cover of emergent and submerged aquatic plants remaining in Lakelse Lake. Dominant plants include Swamp horsetail in water to 1m and reeds in water to 4m in depth. The band of vegetation extends from Schulbuckhand Creek, on the east side of the park, to the outlet of the Lakelse River in the west. The aquatic vegetation has established on shallows built up by sediments from inflowing streams (Schulbuckhand, Clearwater, Andalas, and Ena Creeks). The aquatic vegetation is stabilized by the constant replenishment of sediments and nutrients that are carried in the streams.
The park also contains regionally significant valley bottom old growth stands. Valley bottom old growth in the Kitimat Valley is relatively rare and a special feature. Several small stands are located in the northwest corner, between Andalas and Clearwater Creek and on the southeast boundary of the park. Mature and old-growth forests commonly found on higher ground in the Lakelse Lake – Lakelse River area are very productive and contain Western hemlock, Sitka Spruce (largest trees in stand), and Western redcedar. Shrub cover is dense and is dominated by Devil’s Club, Salmonberry, and Oval-leaf huckleberry. Herbs are well developed, but the moss layer is thin.
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.