Mount Edziza Provincial Park encompasses over 230,000 hectares of the Tahltan Highlands in northwestern British Columbia. This remote park showcases a spectacular volcanic landscape that includes lava flows, basalt plateaus, cinder fields and cinder cones.
Mount Edziza itself, (peak elevation 2,787 meters) is a composite volcano consisting of thin basalt flows and a central dome of andesite, dacite and rhyolite with a glaciated crater nearly 2,500 meters in diameter. The eruption that built the mountain and its central cone began approximately four million years ago. Successive lava flows raised the dome above the encircling plateau and spread lava over an area 65 km by 25 km. The last basalt flow occurred only 10,000 years ago, at which time it solidified in place and plugged the central vent.
In the years since Mount Edziza became dormant, numerous small eruptions have taken place around it, creating more than 30 cinder cones. Perfectly symmetrical Eve Cone rises 150 meters above the plateau, as do Coffee and Cocoa craters, aptly named for their deep colours. It is estimated that these cones were formed no more than 1,300 years ago and are basically unaltered by erosion.
There are also five lakes of significant size within the park. Mowdade, Mowchilla, Kakiddi and Nuttlude form a chain along the eastern boundary, while Buckley Lake is on the northern border. All the lakes except Mowdade drain north into the Klastline River, a tributary of the Stikine.
To the south, Raspberry Pass separates the Edziza area from the Spectrum Range. Formed from lava flows, these mountains are named for their brilliant red, yellow, white and purple rock. This altered rhyolite resulted from staining by sulphurous mineral waters. Subsequent erosion has resulted in the combination of many hues, giving the landscape the appearance of a vast water colour. There is no vehicle access to Mount Edziza Provincial Park, and there are only a very few basic facilities. This isolated wilderness area, accessible by hiking trails or a float plane, offers wilderness camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, nature study, and wildlife viewing.
Established Date: July 27, 1972
Park Size: 266,180 hectares
Satellite communication devices are recommended when backcountry recreating. A communication device will allow you to alert others to an emergency situation or if you are overdue at your destination. This equipment is an essential part of your survival kit and should be compatible with your activities and location.
Bear-proof containers are recommended for the safe storage of food above the tree line. There are bear-proof metal caches available for public use located at Mowdade and Buckley Lakes. Bear deterrents such as bear spray and or bear bangers should be carried on your person at all times in case an encounter does occur.
Access trails into Mount Edziza Park are not maintained and are overgrown in sections. Creek crossings may not have bridges, so use caution.
Summer is short at Mount Edziza Provincial Park, where snow lingers year-round on Mount Edziza itself. Although temperatures may hit the 30°C range in mid-summer during the day, it can drop below freezing that same night. Snow and freezing rain are possible any day of the year. Generally, weather suitable for backpacking occurs between July 1 and September 15. Be prepared for adverse weather conditions that can include white-outs and high winds. Be sure to factor weather into your trip plans.
Snow packs can obscure the trail on the plateau and cause the creeks to rise suddenly on warm days. Always use extreme caution when crossing creeks.
This is an isolated wilderness area with no facilities and visitors are very much on their own. Suitable clothing offering protection from wind, cold and rain are essential, as well as equipment for outdoor living. Travelers should be equipped with a compass and topographic maps (see above) for the routes they plan to travel. It should be noted, however, that on the plateau, magnetic properties in the rocks may affect the accuracy of your compass.
If you have questions or can provide information about current conditions or hazards within the Stikine Area, please contact the BC Parks Stikine Area office, at 250 771-4591. Thank you for your cooperation.
Wilderness camping is allowed. There are a few basic facilities such as fire rings and “open-air”, backcountry style toilets located at the Buckley Lake and Mowdade Lake campsites. There are bear-proof metal food caches for public use, located at the Buckley Lake and Mowdade Lake campsites.
Check for campfire bans and the fire Danger Rating for the area you are visiting before lighting a fire in the backcountry. To maintain a healthy ecosystem community, please don’t gather firewood from the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and contributes to healthy and fertile soils. For more information on campfires in the backcountry.
Always carry a cooking stove, use fire rings, and only build a fire when necessary. Keep fires limited to locations where they will not cause environmental damage.
There is a hiking trail from Mowdade Lake to Buckley Lake. 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.
Fishing is good at the park’s many lakes. Both Buckley Lake and the Kakiddi Lakes chain are well populated with rainbow trout. Special restrictions apply to fishing in Buckley Lake; check the Freshwater Fishing Synopsis for details, and for other restrictions in the area. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets/domestic animals in the frontcountry must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. Pet owners are responsible for pet behaviour and must dispose of excrement in a manner that is not a public inconvenience or annoyance. In backcountry areas larger than 2,000ha, pets are permitted off leash and under control. Please refer to the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulations (Section 19) for more information.
A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required for visitors who wish to use horses within Mount Edziza Provincial Park. See the Safety info section for details.
Hunting is permitted within Mount Edziza Park. Please note that the hunting of caribou, mountain sheep, and mountain goat in the park is by Limited Entry Hunting Authorization only. Please refer to the current British Columbia Hunting Regulations synopsis and Limited Entry Hunting synopsis for LEH area boundary maps. Please refer to the hunting synopsis for additional information on seasons and bag limits.
Links to the BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis and Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis are available on the BC Parks Fishing and Hunting page.
National Topographic Series Map Sheets 104G/7/8W/9W/1014E/15E/15W and 16W, all at a scale of 1:50,000, cover the Mount Edziza area. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.
Access to Mount Edziza Provincial Park comes via several overland hiking routes or through one of the air charter companies that service the area. Overland routes are not regularly maintained, and knowledge of the area is required to safely use these routes. Contact the Stikine Area BC Parks office at 250 771-4591 for up-to-date information.
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.