Swan Creek Protected Area

Highlights in this protected area

Swan Creek Protected Area was designated on March 22, 2005 as recommended through the Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan. It protects a small, steep, unlogged watershed in the Nass Mountain Range Ecosection.

The small watershed provides a viewscape to anglers on the Zymoetz (Copper) River, with a waterfall that flows into Swan Creek. The area protects old growth trees such as western hemlock, mountain hemlock, western red cedar, and subalpine fir. It also provides habitat for furbearers and waterfowl.

There are no facilities, trails, or designated campsites in this protected area.

Know before you go

Advisories

Safety information

Access to this protected area is from the Copper River Forest Service Road.
Drive with caution. There may be rocks or wildlife on the road and other industrial traffic such as logging trucks, heavy machinery, or other vehicles.

Special notes

There is a waterfall in the middle of the Protected Area that can be seen from the road or from the Copper River.

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

Swan Creek Protected Area is located near Terrace. It is situated on the south side of the Zymoetz (Copper) River and also on the south side of the Copper River Forest Service Road (approx. between 30 and 31 Km). The east side of the protected area is across from the confluence of Salmon Run Creek and the Zymoetz River.

Swan Creek Protected Area is accessed by the Copper River Forest Service Road, which begins off the east side of Highway 16, approximately 7 km east of Terrace. The forest service road runs along the south side of the Copper River. The protected area is located approx. between the 30 and 31 Km markers along the south side of the Copper River Forest Service Road.

The 1:50,000 scale topographic map for this area is map sheet number 103 I/8 (Chist Creek).

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. At this time there are no trails, facilities or designated campsites in Swan Creek Protected Area. However, the Salmon Run Forest Recreation Site is located across from the protected area, on the north side of the Copper River Forest Service Road at about the 30 km marker. The Salmon Run site has three campsites, picnic tables, fire rings and a pit toilet.

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

Fishing

Good fishing opportunities for salmon and steelhead in the adjacent Zymoetz (Copper) River to the north of Swan Creek.

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

Hunting

The park is open to hunting. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information. Horses are not allowed in the protected area. BC Residents do not need a park use permit to hunt in Swan Creek Protected Area.

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

Facilities

Campfires

While campfires are allowed, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of campfires and using campstoves instead. No firewood is available.

Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.

About this protected area

Cultural heritage

Swan Creek Protected Area is within the traditional territory of the Kitselas Band of the Allied Tsimshian Tribes. The cultural features of the area have not been identified to BC Parks. There are no registered archeological sites in the protected area and no Indian Reserves within a 5 km radius.

History

This protected area was recommended for protection as a result of the Kalum Land and Resource Management Plan. The role of Swan Creek Protected Area is to protect a small, steep, unlogged watershed with a waterfall. The area provides a nice viewscape for anglers on the Zymoetz (Copper) River.

Conservation

Swan Creek Protected Area protects a small area of old growth forest. Areas on either side of the PA have been logged. The streams beside the Copper River Forest Service Road may contain fish and provide waterfowl habitat. There are no registered occurrences of provincially red or blue-listed species or plant communities in Swan Creek. However, adequate inventory data is lacking.

Wildlife

Beavers, river otters, moose and waterfowl can be present in the waterway on the south side of the Copper River Forest Service Road.

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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