Swan Lake Kispiox River Park

Welcome to the new BC Parks website

Park overview

This wilderness park is situated in old growth forest, and is an attraction for those people who have planned for backcountry adventure. There is opportunity for solitude and isolation here, as activities are usually out of sight and sound of other users.

Established Date: April 30, 1996

Park Size: 62,255 hectares

Stay Safe:

Swan Lake is a large lake with unpredictable weather patterns and frequent strong winds. Never overestimate your paddling abilities in high wind and waves.
There are dangerous rocks at the entrance to Club Lake. Exercise caution at this location and around the many islands of Swan Lake that have submerged reefs.

Advisories

Camping

Wilderness camping

A wilderness campground with a metal bear-proof food cache and a pit toilet is located at the Swan Lake end of the portage trail from Brown Bear Lake. There is a a rustic campground with a pit toilet on the island directly across from the Swan Lake campground. Other spots throughout Swan Lake and Brown Bear Lake are suitable for camping but they are not mapped and there are no facilities at any of these sites.

Facilities

Pit or flush toilets

This park only has pit toilets – no flush toilets.

Campfires

While campfires are allowed in this backcountry area, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using camp stoves instead. When having fires please use dead, downed wood. Do not cut live vegetation. If camping on an island, please consider bringing dead, downed wood from the mainland to avoid stripping islands of all woody debris.

Activities

Hiking

At the southeast end of Brown Bear Lake there is a 1.4 km portage trail to Swan Lake. There are no other developed hiking trails in the park.

Swimming

Swan Lake is quite warm for a northern lake. Enjoy a dip on a summer day!

Canoeing

Swan Lake/Kispiox River Park offers a spectacular chain of lakes ideal for a canoe portage trip. Access is from the north end of Brown Bear Lake. Put in here and paddle 8.5 km down the lake to find a 1.4km portage trail leading to Swan Lake. The portage trail has several canoe rests to allow for breaks. A short rapid connects Swan Lake to Club Lake. Continuing further to Stephens Lake and the upper Kispiox River is a challenging affair. Expect many log jams and challenging bushwacking. Suitable camping spots exist along the lakes which have no facilities and are not mapped.

Electric Motors Only: Brown Bear and Swan Lakes permit “Electric Motors Only.” No boat launch available.

Fishing

Lakes: This lake complex provides spawning and rearing habitat for Coho, Chinook, Sockeye, Chum, Pink and Steelhead that migrate up the Kispiox River each summer. As well, the lakes support a healthy population of resident Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden char and Whitefish.
Rivers: The Kispiox River offers world class Steelhead fishing. Here is additional information from the
Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

Wildlife viewing

Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the Swan Lake/Kispiox River Park. The lake chain in the southwest portion of the park contains a large diversity of wildlife and fish habitats. This lake complex provides spawning and rearing habitat for Coho, Chinook, Sockeye, Chum, Pink and Steelhead that migrate up the Kispiox River each summer. As well, the lakes support a healthy population of resident Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden char and Whitefish. The abundant population of salmon helps attract and support a significant population of grizzly bears. This area is also excellent for black bears, mountain goats, wolves, moose, beaver, river otter and mink. Many forest bird species are present. Sightings of bald eagles and osprey are common. Gulls, terns and loons are abundant as well as waterfowl such as swans, buffleheads, goldeneyes, and common mergansers. Trumpeter swans are known to winter on Club Creek, given its open water conditions in most years.

Pets on leash

You are responsible for your pet’s behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.

Hunting

Hunting is permitted within Swan Lake Kispiox River Provincial Park.

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.

Maps and location

View a more detailed map.

Swan Lake/Kispiox River Provincial Park is located about 75 km northwest of Hazelton. The main access is via Highway 37, which heads north from Highway 16 at Kitwanga Junction. Turn off on the east side of the highway onto Brown Bear Forest Service Road. Follow this road for approximately 14 km until you see the Brown Bear Lake sign. Turn right on this road and follow it for 3km to the parking area and information shelter. The majority of the park is inaccessible by foot or vehicle.

Park and activity maps

Park Map with contours [PDF]

Learn more about this park

Park details

Date established: April 30, 1996
Size: 62255 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.