Park overview
Stikine River Park contains and protects a geological feature unparalleled in Canada. Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon” of the north, eighty kilometers of steep-walled canyon, composed of sedimentary and volcanic rock, has been carved through eons of river erosion. In the bottom of this sometimes 300 m deep chasm flows the wild and unnavigable Stikine River, which varies in width from 200 m to as little as 2 m at a point near its confluence with the Tanzilla River.
Stikine River Park also creates a protected corridor between Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park to the east and Mount Edziza Park to the west.
Advisories
Safety info
- Sharp drop-offs border the entire Grand Canyon. These, combined with broken rock prevalent in the area, make it extremely dangerous to approach the canyon rim. Please be cautious and always supervise your children. For your safety and the preservation of the park, please obey posted signs and keep to designated trails.
- The Stikine River Canyon, downstream from the Highway 37 bridge crossing and boat launch, is unnavigable by all watercraft. Do not attempt to navigate this section of the Stikine River.
Special notes
- Only permitted air charter companies are authorized to fly into Stikine River Park. The permitted Air Charter Companies for Stikine River Park are:
- Alpine Lakes Air Ltd.
250 846-9488 - BC Yukon Air
250 771-3232
- Alpine Lakes Air Ltd.
- Motorized boat operators should be very aware and cautious of non-motorized (kayak, canoe, raft etc.) traffic coming downstream. Please be sure to give appropriate right-of-way, carry all mandatory safe boating equipment and boat safely!
- Off-road vehicle use is prohibited in the park, including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.
- Purchase a fishing licence in advance. Any visitors wishing to fish or angle in BC Parks on the Highway 37 corridor should strongly consider obtaining a BC Freshwater Fishing Licence while they have access to internet and a printer. There are very limited opportunities to obtain a fishing licence on the Highway 37 corridor.
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but few facilities are provided. Rustic campsites with fire rings, picnic tables, tenting areas, and pit toilets may be available at Fountain Rapids, Chapea Rapids, Beggerlay Canyon (all three are portage trails), and at canoe pull-out at the Highway 37 bridge. Please practice “Leave no trace” camping and pack out what you pack in.
Several private guide outfitter camps exist within the park, cabin trespass and construction of new structures is prohibited.
Facilities
No firewood available. If you have to make a fire, keep it minimal, make sure it is extinguished, please spread ashes and rocks about. Fires should be used sparingly, as they are among the most serious visual impacts in the backcountry. Always carry a stove; use it for most if not all of your cooking needs and only build a fire when it is safe and will not cause further damage or deplete wood supplies.
Please check for campfire bans and the fire danger rating for the area you are visiting before igniting a fire in the backcountry. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There are pit toilets available at the following sites: Fountain Rapids, Chapea Rapids, Beggerlay Canyon, Highway 37 bridge, and Highway 37 pull-out.
Activities
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.
Canoeing and kayaking are permitted on the upper Stikine River. Please obey the signs as your own safety is at risk if they are disregarded.
Caution: Downstream of the Stikine River, Hwy 37 bridge is unnavigable by any watercraft.
Fish year-round for a variety of native species including Dolly Varden, arctic grayling and rainbow trout, or try for chinook salmon or steelhead (downstream of the grand canyon) during the late summer and fall. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets and domestic animals must always be on a leash and are not permitted on beach areas or in park buildings. You are responsible for their behavior and must dispose of their excrement.
A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required for visitors who wish to use horses within Stikine River Park. To obtain an LOA, please contact the BC Parks Stikine Area Staff at 250-771-4591. If there is no answer, please leave a detailed message stating your request for an LOA, your name, contact information and the date you wish to visit the park.
There is a mandatory “weed-free feed” requirement for any horses entering the northern parks, meaning that horses must be fed certified weed-free pellets for 72 hours prior to entering the park and throughout the duration of their stay within the park.
The primary reason for the weed-free feed requirement is the growing concern of introducing invasive plant species (either through non-permitted feed or horse droppings) into a natural and pristine ecosystem in the park.
Hunting is permitted within Stikine River Park, though many species are authorized under Limited Entry Hunting only. Hunting for moose and mountain goat, east of the Hwy 37 bridge, is restricted to Limited Entry Hunting only. Mountain goat hunting, west of the Hwy 37 bridge, is also restricted to Limited Entry Hunting only.
Please refer to the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis as well as the Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for bag limits, season dates and area maps.
Stikine River Park can be accessed via Highway 37 or along the scenic Telegraph Creek Road which leads southwest 110 km from Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek. Visitors should note that this road is steep and narrow in some places. The main canyon is located between the Highway 37 bridge and the Telegraph Creek townsite.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: March 14, 1987
- Size: 257,177 hectares
Nature and culture
History
The Tahltan First Nation were the original settlers in this area. The Tahltan lived at various seasonal locations along the Stikine River, trading with both the Kaska of the high interior and the Tlingit of the Pacific Coast. Today, the Tahltan live in the communities of Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut. Seasonal locations are still utilized by members of the first nation for traditional resource harvest.
In the mid 1860’s, the need for communications link to Europe initiated a survey of the Stikine for development of the Collins Overland Telegraph Trail. This project introduced the use of sternwheelers on the river, which brought telegraph wire and other construction materials inland to what is known as Telegraph Creek. This telegraph route was abandoned after cable was successfully laid across the Atlantic, linking North America with Europe.
Cultural Heritage
Since time immemorial the area has been heavily used by the local Tahltan indigenous people and their ancestors. The area is still culturally significant for the Tahltan Nation today. Archaeological finds (including obsidian, tools, and other artifacts) are to be left in place and reported to the local BC Parks or Tahltan Central Government office.
Conservation
The Stikine River Park consists of a range of landscape from the Southern Boreal Plateau and Stikine Plateau. Special features of the area include the internationally significant Grand Canyon. The unique geography and weather associated to it make the park home to a diverse array of flora and fauna.
Wildlife
A resident population of mountain goats reside in the canyon. Many other species frequent the area, including the black bears and grizzly bears, Stone’s sheep, moose, caribou, wolves, foxes, salmon, and numerous bird species.
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.