Park overview
Peace River Corridor Park protects a series of islands within the Peace River Canyon as well as some scenic grassland habitats on the Peace River shoreline.
There are three distinct areas:
- Peace River Corridor Island Site: this area, along the south shore of the Peace River, west of Kiskatinaw Creek, provides visitors with good fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, camping and picnicking areas along the river and around Raspberry Island.
- Wak’anaahtaah: translated means a place to look at. On the north shore of the Peace River west of Alces Creek, geological formations called hoodoos have developed.
- Alces River: at this location, there is a scenic viewpoint and picnic site overlooking the Peace River. The area is sparsely treed with grasslands dominating the south facing slopes
Advisories
Safety info
- BC Hydro controls water levels in the Peace River. These levels may increase or decrease without notice. It is suggested to check with BC Hydro before setting out on your trip. Boaters should watch out for gravel bars.
Special notes
- Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are prohibited in this park. ORVs include ATVs, off-road motorcycles, snowmobiles and side-by-sides.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Facilities
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.
Activities
Arctic grayling, mountain whitefish, yellow walleye, burbot, bull trout, rainbow trout, goldeneye, kokanee and northern pike can all be found within the Peace River.
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.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
Peace River Corridor Park is located 40 km southeast of Fort St. John along a section of the Peace River 25 km upstream of the Alberta border. Road access is via Highway 97 and rural roads.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: June 29, 2000
- Size: 2,014 hectares
Nature and culture
History
This area is an historic route of European explorers during the fur trade. Evidence of this history can be seen in the remains of an 1806 fort built by the Northwest Company, the remains of which are located just west of Peace River Corridor Protected Area at the mouth of the Beatton River in Beatton River Provincial Park.
In 1990 the area was designated as a Provincial Recreation Corridor and a draft management plan was prepared. A recreation corridor is a designation that seeks to protect important recreation and heritage values through coordinated management of lands and waters in the corridor.
The area was later proposed as a Goal 2 Protected Area within the Fort St. John and Dawson Creek Land and Resource Management Plans. The Peace River is designated as a Provincial Heritage River.
Cultural Heritage
Peace River Corridor Provincial Park overlaps with the traditional use area of the Blueberry River and Doig River First Nations. It is within Treaty 8 area.
Conservation
Peace River Corridor Provincial Park is located in the Boreal White and Black Spruce Biogeoclimatic zone within the Peace Lowlands ecosection. The open aspen and south facing grassland hillsides provide important wintering habitat for ungulates such as mule and white-tailed deer and the islands provide important moose calving sites in the spring. The area is a prime migratory waterfowl staging area with an abundance of species present in both the spring and fall. Bald eagles and other raptors nest within the large cottonwoods located alongside the Peace River.
Various red and blue-listed species have been identified within the corridor. These species include fennel-leaved desert parsley (Lomatium foeniculaceum var foeniculaceum) and slender penstemon (Penstemon gracelis). Although not a red or blue-listed plant species, prickly pear cactus is abundant throughout the area.
Wildlife
Ungulates, such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, and moose are found throughout the area. Coyotes, fox and other small mammals also can be found in the aspen grassland and wooded habitats.
Waterfowl, including the trumpeter swan, use this river corridor as a staging, migrating and nesting area. Birds of prey, such as bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, and American kestrals, also can be viewed perched or soaring throughout the area.
Arctic grayling, mountain whitefish, yellow walleye, burbot, bull trout, rainbow trout, goldeneye, kokanee and northern pike can all be found within the Peace River.
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.