Between mid-July and September, canoeing is the most popular activity in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. Routes on the Spatsizi and Stikine rivers are suitable mainly for advanced paddlers. They provide access to remote backcountry hikes, rustic campgrounds, and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities.
Look on this page to learn about:
Planning your trip
Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park is a remote backcountry area with challenging canoe routes. Any visit requires careful planning. Look below for information on:
Safety
Watch out for powerboats, which operate on the Stikine River, especially during hunting season.
Many sections of the canoe routes in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park are challenging throughout canoeing season. None are suitable for beginners. For details, see canoe routes, below.
Heavy storms and long periods of rain can create a significant increase of water volume in the park’s rivers. This brings additional hazards such as swifter currents, less time to avoid hazards, and fewer places to land your canoe.
Make a detailed trip plan, including your full route and planned return date. Leave it with a friend or relative who you trust. This will help rescue teams find your party if you run into trouble.
For information on staying safe in remote areas, see our backcountry guide. For information on water safety, see our marine visitor guide.
Canoeing season
Prime canoeing season on the Spatsizi and Stikine Rivers typically begins around the middle of July. Before then, ice melting on Tuaton and Laslui Lakes causes high water levels on the rivers, which makes canoeing difficult.
Most years, the lakes are ice-free by mid-June and river levels are ideal for canoeing by mid-July. The most reliable weather is usually during July and August, while the best time to see wildlife is during September.
If you plan to fish, get a licence (for more information, see the fishing section of our fishing and hunting guide).
Campgrounds
You can use three rustic campgrounds on the Upper Stikine Canoe Route. These are at Tuaton Lake, Fountain Rapids Portage, and Chapea Portage. A fourth campground is at Beggarly Canyon Portage, just below where the Upper Stikine Canoe Route joins the Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route.
For detailed information on the Upper Stikine Canoe Route and the Spatsizi Stikine Canoe Route, see the canoe routes section.
When you choose a campsite, make preventing environmental damage your number one priority. One easy way to avoid damaging the local environment is by camping on a sandbar. This allows the river to cover your site during high water, reducing damage to vegetation.
For more advice on responsible recreation in remote parts of BC Parks, see our backcountry guide.
Maps
Topographic maps of the area are essential for any canoeing trip in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. The park is covered by map sheets 104H and 94E at a scale of 1:250 000. If you would like larger-scaled maps (1:50 000) or plan to do some hiking, the maps you will need are:
- 94E 12
- 94E 15
- 104H
- 7 104H
- 104H 9
- 104H 10
- 104H 13
- 104H 14
- 104H 15
- 104H 16
- 104I 4
Canoe routes
There are two popular canoe routes in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park:
- Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route
- Upper-Stikine Canoe Route
Both start at the park’s south end, the first on the Spatsizi River, the second on the Stikine. They move generally north towards the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence. Here, they meet and continue along the Stikine until they reach the Highway 37 bridge.
North of the Highway 37 bridge, the river is not navigable. You must pull out here. It is not possible to pull out at the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence.
The Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route has traditionally been the more popular of the two routes. As this route has become harder to access, the more challenging Upper-Stikine Canoe Route is increasingly popular.
It should take between seven and ten days to complete either of these routes. There are guide outfitter camps and lodges along both canoe routes. These are private property and are not managed by BC Parks.
Below, we provide detailed directions for:
- Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route up to the Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence
- Upper-Stikine Canoe Route up to the Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence
- Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence to the Highway 37 bridge
Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route up to the Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence
The Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route is historically the most popular canoe route in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park. It joins with the Upper-Stikine Canoe Route at the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence and both routes continue to the Highway 37 bridge.
The first half of this route is recommended for intermediate to advanced canoeists. The second half is recommended only for advanced canoeists. For details of that section, see Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence to the Highway 37 bridge.
It is not possible to pull out at the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence. If you travel that far, you must be able to tackle the more advanced second section. If you plan to pull out before the confluence, you must arrange to be picked up by a floatplane.
The Spatsizi River is rated grade I, but you will encounter many hazards on the upper Spatsizi. Sweepers (trees that have fallen out over the river with branches hanging down into the water) are particularly common.
To learn about the grading system for canoe routes, see the federal government’s information on the International River Classification System.
The start of this route was previously at the BC Rail grade portage near Didine Creek. The rail grade has become inaccessible due to washouts. Several alternative starting places are available, but these must be accessed by floatplane.
For more information on accessing this portion of the Spatsizi River, contact BC Parks staff in Dease Lake at 250-771-4591.
Several fly-in access points are available, depending on water levels, as well as your skill level and boat type. Buckinghorse Lake provides an entry point option for rafters, while Canoe Lake is a reliable entry for canoeists.
BC Parks has very limited information on downstream conditions and hazards from either location. We can provide more information on conditions after the confluence of Buckinghorse Creek and the Spatsizi River.
The number of days it takes you to travel from your entry to the Stikine confluence will vary. It could be anything from two to four days, depending on your entry point and speed of travel.
Downstream of the confluence with Buckinghorse Creek, constant paddling is required, as there is no defined current. From Mink Creek downstream, the canoeing is excellent.
Once the Spatsizi is joined by Kliweguh Creek, it grows much larger. Camping areas are available along the shoreline, and pleasant canoeing continues until the Dawson River flows in. The river is faster downstream from here to Hyland Post.
This scenic section is ideal for spotting wildlife such as moose, black bear, grizzly bear, wolf, mountain goat, caribou, and Stone’s sheep. One of the main highlights on this route is viewing the red cliffs of Spatsizi Mountain.
The route continues to the confluence with the Stikine River. Here, it meets the Upper-Stikine Canoe Route, and the two routes continue together. See Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence to the Highway 37 bridge, below, for the rest of the directions.
Upper-Stikine Canoe Route up to the Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence
The Upper-Stikine Canoe Route is an alternative to the Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route. It is more challenging but easier to access. The two routes join at the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence and continue together to the Highway 37 bridge.
The Upper-Stikine Canoe Route is highly challenging and recommended only for advanced canoeists.
This route includes several grade II rapids and sections of grade III and IV rapids, which you must run. Many rocks must be avoided. Sweepers (trees that have fallen out over the river with branches hanging down into the water) are common.
To learn about the grading system for canoe routes, see the federal government’s information on the International River Classification System.
The route starts in the park’s far southeast, near the Stikine headwaters. For the full trip, start at Tuaton Lake. For a slightly shorter route, start at Laslui Lake. Both are accessible by float plane. The full trip is 65 km and takes two to three days.
The route starts off easily, going down Tuaton and Laslui Lakes and the section of river between them. Downstream of Laslui Lake, a high, grassy knoll on the river-left marks the beginning of a moderately difficult rapids section.
Approximately 1.5 km downstream of Laslui Lake are the impassable Fountain Rapids, which must be portaged.
A sign at the pull-out on the river-right bank marks where a 1 km portage trail goes around Fountain Rapids. From here, the river becomes much more challenging and strenuous. White water and standing waves are nearly constant.
There is a second 1 km portage around the grade III Chapea Rapids, 8 km downstream of Fountain Rapids. Look for the sign on the left bank indicating the pull-out for the portage trail.
Chapea Rapids contains two small cascades with sudden drops of around 1.2 m. These cause ‘boils’, where water rises quickly to the surface, creating the appearance of boiling water. Both cascades can easily fill your canoe with water.
The canoeing continues to be challenging until the canyon section just above Moyez Creek. After the canyon and past Adoogacho Creek, there is a section with a pleasant, moderate current.
The entry of the Chukachida River into the Stikine marks a section of relatively deep and slow-moving waters. The pleasant canoeing continues right up until the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence.
At the confluence, the route meets Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route, and the two routes continue together. See Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence to the Highway 37 bridge, below, for the rest of the directions.
Spatsizi-Stikine Confluence to the Highway 37 bridge
This route forms the second half of both the Spatsizi-Stikine Canoe Route and the Upper Stikine Canoe Route. The route heads northwest from the Spatsizi-Stikine confluence to where the Highway 37 bridge crosses the Stikine.
This section is recommended only for advanced canoeists, and features grade II rapids and sections of grades III and IV.
The first challenging section on this part of the Stikine is Jewel Rapids. The rapids begin 15 km below the confluence of the Spatsizi and Stikine Rivers, around a bend approaching Marion Creek.
Jewel Rapids can be extremely hazardous, especially during high water, with ratings from grade III to IV. There are many large boulders scattered throughout the channel, and large standing waves.
There is no portage trail around Jewel Rapids. However, you should scout the channel in advance from the shore. Watch for the pull-out sign on the right shortly before you arrive at the rapids.
After Jewel Rapids, the canoeing is particularly good up to the confluence with the Pitman River. This is marked by a burned area. Here you can see panoramic views of the Spatsizi Plateau.
At Beggerlay Canyon, 20 km below the McBride River, the river is dramatically narrowed by steep rock walls. High standing waves and fierce rapids make this canyon hazardous, especially in high water.
A portage trail is available, which will take you around this hazardous section. To use the portage, watch for a warning sign and the pull-out, which is on the river-right bank.
Only advanced paddlers who have scouted the area should consider attempting this particularly challenging section. Due to the fast current, you must scout well before reaching the canyon.
After leaving the canyon, you pass under an old railway bridge. You are now 17 km from the route’s end. The Highway 37 pullout is on the river-right side, just beyond the bridge. There is easy access to the parking area. Camping is not allowed.
The Stikine River Canyon north of the Highway 37 bridge is not navigable by any watercraft. You must pull out here.
Hiking for canoeists
Canoe routes running through Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park provide access to these hiking trails:
Adoogacho Falls
The Adoogacho Falls Trail follows Adoogacho Creek. This creek is on the river-right side of the Stikine River, downstream of Chapea Rapids. Hike upstream along the west side of the creek for about 1 km to reach the falls. Take care as the path can be slippery and hazardous.
Spatsizi Plateau
The Spatsizi Plateau Trail begins at Hyland Post on the Spatsizi River. This area is private property, so please ask permission before passing though. It takes approximately two hours to hike up to Spatsizi Plateau. Having arrived, you can spend hours, or even days, exploring the plateau.
Shreiber Canyon
Shreiber Canyon is 2 km below the confluence of the Stikine and Pitman Rivers. This canyon is on a small side creek of the Stikine River. An interesting short hike heads up the canyon. For the adventurous, this trail heads on to cliffs that overlook the river. The trail is not maintained by BC Parks.
Mink Creek
The Mink Creek Trail leads to Cold Fish Lake Campground. To find the trailhead, pass Mink Creek and take the back channel on the river-left side. The trip to Cold Fish Lake Campground is approximately 20 km one-way on an unmaintained backcountry trail. Allow several days to make this trip.
For more information on trails in this park, see the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park: Hiking page.