Park overview
St. Mary’s Alpine Park is a wilderness paradise for the experienced backcountry traveller. Numerous lakes and tarns are tucked against rugged granite cliffs and surrounded by tundra and lingering snowfields.
Seven creeks drain the lakes, resulting in numerous waterfalls and cataracts, some as much as 150 metres in height. Experienced hikers, willing to expend considerable effort in bushwhacking and route finding should visit this protected area where few if any people will be encountered.
Advisories
Safety info
- Persons visiting St. Mary’s Alpine Park are reminded that the park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made beforehand.
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
- Bring a portable stove for cooking. Fires are not allowed except in emergency situations.
- All park visitors should wear strong waterproofed, lug-soled boots and carry a daypack with raingear, extra warm clothing and food. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping bag, groundpad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag and lightweight stove are essential. Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
- Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and for your safety always yield to industrial traffic.
- Public communications are not available at this park.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed in the park. When toilets are not available, bury human waste at least six inches in soil and 30 metres from water. To ensure drinking water is safe, it must be boiled for at least five minutes.
Register a trip itinerary with friends, then check in and check out. When practical, use impacted campsites, otherwise practice "Leave no trace" camping ethics. If you have a fire, build it on rocks or remove sod, have fire, then replace sod.
Facilities
Fires are allowed, however visitors should check with the Forest Service or at the park trailheads, to see if fires bans are in effect. For this backcountry area, use dead trees on the ground as wood supply for fires. At traditional campsites, use established fire rings. In pristine areas, build fires on rocks or dig a hole, scatter the fire remnants and replace the sod ring when you move on. Please practice “Leave No Trace” camping.
Activities
Fishing opportunities exist in Spade Lake and the lower reaches of White Creek, accessed via the White Creek Forest Service Road (FSR), motorized use is not allowed in the park. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Dogs in backcountry parks must be under control at all times. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within St. Mary’s Alpine Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Hunting is allowed in the park during hunting season. Hunters must have valid licences and tags. Please refer to the current Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis publication for closures and regulations.
There are winter recreation opportunities for extended backcountry ski touring. Snow machines and aircraft are not allowed in St. Mary’s Alpine Park.
Between Kimberley and the town of Marysville, take the St. Mary’s Lake Road and follow it to the junction of the Dewar Creek Road, and the St. Mary’s West Fork Road. Continue right on the Dewar Creek Road, as the Manson Col trailhead is accessed by an old mining road around kilometre 57. Park on the Dewar Forest Service Road (FSR) and hike up the old road to the basin below the park. The Mortar and Pestle trailhead is accessed by a logging road leading east at the 65 km on the Dewar Creek Road. The logging road is washed approximately 2 km before the kiosk, and impassible by motor vehicles. See access document for more information.
- Road Access Information [PDF] (October 22, 2021)
Park and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF]
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 18, 1973
- Size: 9,146 hectares
Nature and culture
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.