Park overview
Stone Mountain Park covers 25,691 hectares of remote, mountainous terrain along the Alaska Highway, in the northern Rocky Mountains. Travellers passing through the park can enjoy spectacular landscapes and incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. Backcountry hiking routes offer experienced outdoorspeople access to valleys containing picturesque alpine meadows and lakes.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Park status:
Open
The park gate is open May 1, 2023 to September 15, 2023
- Facility type
- Vehicle-accessible camping
- Number of campsites
- Vehicle-accessible sites: 28
- Main operating season
- 2023: May 1 to September 15
- Winter season
- No services
- Winter season note
- Gate is closed when snow falls.
- Note
- Check the notice above for park alerts and closures.
- Winter season note
- Campground gate may open late or close early due to snow fall.
Safety info
General safety info
- Weather conditions can change quickly in Stone Mountain Park, so be prepared for all conditions when hiking or camping here
- Always carry first-aid equipment and extra clothing and food when hiking in this park
Backcountry safety info
Stone Mountain Park offers significant backcountry hiking and camping opportunities. The term ‘backcountry’ refers to an area more than 1 km away from a highway or park road.
Take extra care when visiting any backcountry area. Stone Mountain’s remote terrain is home to potentially dangerous predators. Emergency response times will be significantly longer than in the frontcountry.
- When visiting Stone Mountain, pay particular attention to the following advice:
- Before setting out on a backcountry expedition, leave a detailed trip plan with a friend or family member
- Bring a satellite communication device, an extra day’s-worth of food and other supplies, and a first aid kit
- Water sources in the backcountry may carry giardia and other parasites, so boil or filter water before use.
- Educate yourself on wildlife safety practices, securely store anything that might attract animals, and always carry bear spray
- Follow campfire safety best practices and always observe campfire bans (for more information, see the campfires section, below)
For detailed on how to stay safe in remote areas, see the backcountry guide page.
Special notes
- The flora of Stone Mountain Park is fragile due to severe weather and a short growing season. Always tread carefully and lightly when hiking here.
- Camping fees must be paid in cash. Credit and debit cards are not accepted at this park.
Camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites on a first come, first served basis at the Summit Lake area of the park. Campsite reservations are not accepted. Camping fees are payable in cash only.
| Vehicle-accessible camping fee | $20 per party per night |
| BC seniors’ rate (day after Labour Day to June 14 only) | $10 per senior party per night |
For information on the BC seniors’ rate, see the camping fees page.
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
Campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite. We encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. 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 has a day-use and picnic area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
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.
In Stone Mountain Park, several short hikes start from the Summit Lake Campground area.
Summit Peak Trail
A 5km round-trip hike leads through lodgepole pine forest to a spectacular view of the alpine area. Recommended only for fit individuals.
Erosion Pillars Trail
A short walk (just over one kilometre) leaves across from Rocky Crest Lake and leads to a view of several hoodoos.
Flower Springs Trail
A 5.7km round-trip hike to alpine lakes, alpine flowers and waterfalls.
For the more adventuresome, longer hikes lead into the backcountry of Stone Mountain Park and Wokkpash area (now part of the Northern Rocky Mountains Park). Only experienced backpackers with map and compass skills and proper equipment should attempt to hike these routes. Anyone planning a backcountry trip to Stone Mountain Park or Wokkpash area should obtain and carry the appropriate topographical maps. This area is covered by maps 94K/7 and 94K/10 at a 1:50,000 scale.
MacDonald Creek Valley Trail
Trailhead is located near kilometre 632 of the Alaska Highway across from Baba Canyon, 3km west of Rocky Crest Lake. Plan to spend two to five days on this 35km hike.
Wokkpash Valley-MacDonald Creek Loop Trail
The best of both the Wokkpash and Stone Mountain Park can be explored on a 70km loop trek that can be hiked in five to seven days. The recommended start point is the Old Churchill Mine Road at km 645.25 of the Alaska Highway. Cross the MacDonald Creek and travel 17km down the road to the trailhead.
The trail follows Wokkpash Creek, then travels up through trees above Wokkpash Gorge and reaches Forlorn Creek. From here, follow Wokkpash Creek to travel around the east side of Wokkpash Lake to Plug Creek. Follow the trail markers and cairns to the pass behind Whitestone Ridge, follow the valley on the east side of Whitestone Ridge to Last Call Lake, then down alongside MacDonald Creek. The trail exits at Babba Canyon near km 632 of the Alaska Highway.
For information on hiking excursions offered by private companies, see Tetsa River Outfitters.
Calvert Island Conservancy area is ideal for exploration by experienced sea kayakers.
Summit Lake provides opportunities for peaceful kayak trips.
Anglers can try their luck for mountain whitefish, rainbow and lake trout at Summit Lake or for arctic grayling along MacDonald Creek. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
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.
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 Stone Mountain 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.
Bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Stone Mountain Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted.
The only exception is for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks. To get more information on using e-bikes in BC Parks, see the cycling page.
Stone Mountain Park offers opportunities for backcountry horseback riding. Riders should be experienced and prepared for wilderness travel, as there are no designated trails.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information. For information on hunting excursions offered by private companies, see Tetsa River Outfitters.
Stone Mountain Park is at the 595 km mark of the Alaska Highway, roughly 140 km west of Fort Nelson.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: June 26, 1957
- Size: 25,690 hectares
Park contact
BC Parks contact details
- parkinfo@gov.bc.ca
- 1-800-689-9025 (toll-free from Canada or the US)
- 1-519-858-6161 (international)
Park operator contact details
Stone Mountain Park is operated by Kootenay Forest Services Ltd.
For information about the campground, please contact:
Nature and culture
Conservation
Geology
Stone Mountain Park’s geology is typical of the northern Rocky Mountains’ Eastern Muskwa Ranges. These are characterized by complex folds, wide U-shaped valleys, and rugged peaks of Paleozoic limestone and quartzite.
Compared to the southern Rocky Mountains, the older Muskwa Ranges show evidence of more complex tectonic deformation. Throughout the park, there are examples of tilted sedimentary strata, folds, faults, and synclines.
The park’s topography is steep, with elevations ranging from 1,200 m to 2,500 m. Elevations exceed 2,300 m only in the south of the MacDonald Creek headwaters. At 2,550 m, St. Magnus is the park’s tallest mountain.
Glaciation has been responsible for forming the present-day landscape. The U-shaped MacDonald Valley illustrates this. As glacial ice melted, the area of Summit Lake received immense deposits of gravel and boulders.
This was followed by an intense period of fluvial erosion. As a result, major outwash plains were formed in the headwaters of the North Tetsa River. Five distinct terrace levels indicate the intensity of fluvial action.
Lakes
Various water bodies are recharged by meltwater in spring, and rain in summer. Summit Lake is the park’s largest body of water. Rocky Crest Lake, a small sub-alpine lake, lies to the west. Between these two lakes is a broad wetland.
Flora
Due to its mountainous location, Stone Mountain Park supports only two bio-geoclimatic zones. The subalpine zone is characterized by white spruce, willow, birch, and lodgepole pine.
The alpine tundra zone begins above the 1,500 m mark. Scrub birch and willow species are found along wet areas. Grasses and alpine flowers occur in areas that have enough soil to support them.
On shady sites in the alpine tundra zone, small basins of alpine muskeg occur. Please be careful and avoid these soft, spongy areas, as they are very sensitive to trampling and any kind of disturbance.
The park’s alpine meadows offer opportunities to view the Lapland rosebay shrub, which does not grow any further south. This small shrub is from the rhododendron genus and bears showy clusters of bright rose-purple flowers.
Wildlife
Due to Stone Mountain Park’s high elevations and harsh winters, few fur-bearing mammals live here. Squirrel, hoary marmot, and chipmunk are the most common. Less common species include grizzly and black bear, wolf, coyote, lynx, marten, fisher, and beaver. In the summer, mule deer and elk are present.
Caribou, stone sheep, and mountain goat winter in the park. Caribou and stone sheep are visible along the Alaska Highway. Please reduce speeds and watch for wildlife when travelling on the highway.
Migratory birds congregate along Summit and Rocky Crest Lakes. Raptors, such as golden eagles, can be seen circling the skies. Ptarmigan can often be seen above the treeline.
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.