Sutherland River Protected Area

Highlights in this protected area

Sutherland River Protected Area protect adjacent parcels of land along approximately 50 km of the Sutherland River and Babine Lake. It provides visitors with a variety of river based recreation opportunities, and protects a river with important habitat for spawning fish and other wildlife.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Visitors should be cautioned that all road access to the park can be hazardous due to rough road conditions.

Special notes

Visitors should respect private property and Indian Reserve No. 13 located along the shoreline of Babine Lake.
This park does not have a boat launch. The closest public boat launches are located on Babine Lake. At Pinkut Creek Marine Site there is a rustic gravel boat launch and at Babine Lake Marine Park - Pendleton Bay Site there is a concrete boat launch. Be aware that the east end of Babine Lake is very shallow in areas and boaters should be cautious.

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Getting there

Sutherland River Park and Protected Area is located at the east end of Babine Lake and encompasses a portion of the Sutherland River drainage. Most visitors access the park by boat via Babine Lake. Follow Babine Forest Service Road north from Burns Lake to access Babine Lake (Pendleton Bay or Pinkut Creek) or for land access to the Park.

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.

Things to do

Hiking

There are no maintained trails in this park, but hiking access to the top of Tetzalto Mountain from adjacent logging roads is possible.

Canoeing

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.

Kayaking

There are opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.

Fishing

There are fishing opportunities in this park.

Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

Hunting

This park is open to hunting during the lawful game season. See the British Columbia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for further details.

Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.

About this protected area

Cultural heritage

Sutherland River Park and Protected Area lie within the asserted traditional territories of the Natooten and Sekanni-Carrier First Nations.

History

Sutherland River Park was designated as a class A park in 2000 following recommendations of the Lakes Land and Resource Management Plan; the Protected Area was designated in 1999 under the Vanderhoof Land and Resource Management Plan.

Conservation

Sutherland River Park and Protected Area lie within the Babine Uplands Ecosection and protect a major unregulated river and a large inland river delta with extensive wetlands.

Wildlife

The Sutherland River is an important spawning river for sockeye, kokanee and steelhead in Babine Lake. The Park and Protected Area also provide important habitat for moose, grizzly bears and wolves.

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.

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