Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park

Highlights in this park

Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park consists of two parcels of land on each of the south and north shores of Francois Lake. North facing Uncha Mountain is predominantly coniferous forest, while south facing Red Hills is covered with a mosaic of meadows, deciduous and coniferous forest.

The park provides backcountry recreation opportunities, and protects a wide range of cultural values, rare plant communities and wildlife habitat.

Know before you go

Advisories

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

Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park is located on Francois Lake, approximately 30 km south of Burns Lake. The Red Hills portion of the park is reached by road from Burns Lake via Highway 35 to the community of Francois Lake, then east along Francois Lake East Road. Uncha Mountain is reached by taking the public ferry at the community of Francois Lake south across the lake, then following Uncha Lake Road east to Uncha Mountain Forest Service Road.

Camping

Wilderness camping

Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.

Things to do

Hiking

The Red Hills Trail runs for approximately 5 km parallel to the north shore of Francois Lake in Red Hills, ending at a viewpoint above the lake.

Due to the southern exposure of this area, the trail melts out earlier in the spring than most other trails in the vicinity. It is particularly scenic in the fall when the many different deciduous plants are changing color.

Google Earth KMZ file of Trails [KMZ] (must have Google Earth or and Google Maps installed).

Canoeing

Francois Lake is a large body of water that can experience quick weather changes and rough water, take caution when paddling.

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.

Horseback riding

Horses and horseback riding are permitted.

Hunting

Hunting is allowed in the park. Check the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.

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

Facilities

Pit or flush toilets

This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.

About this park

Cultural Heritage

The Francois Lake area has an abundant First Nations history. Along with the adjacent Francois Lake Park, the area includes land claims from the Office of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and the Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council.

The various bands with an interest in the greater Francois Lake and Uncha Mountain Red Hills Parks include Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Nadleh Whut’en Band, Stellat’en First Nation, Burns Lake Band, Nee Tahi Buhn Band, and Skin Tyee Band.

The area was traditionally used by the First Nations people for hunting, fishing and gathering and many culturally modified trees have been located in the park. A First Nations fish camp operated on the south shore of Francois Lake, below Uncha Mountain, in the mid 1800s. Trails throughout the park may have been part of a grease trail linking coastal and interior First Nations people.

History

Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park was designated as class A provincial park by the provincial government in 2001 following recommendations of the Lakes Land and Resource Management Plan.

Conservation

Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park is located within the Bulkley Basin Ecosection and contains several rare grassland, scrub-steppe and forest ecosystems.

Remnant productive low-elevation old-growth forest is found on the lower slopes of Uncha Mountain due to an unusual microclimate. Along with Francois Lake Park to the east, Uncha Mountain Park protects 47 km long corridor along the south shore of Francois Lake, and retains connectivity between riparian and upland ecosystems.

Wildlife

The wide variety of ecosystems found in Uncha Mountain Red Hills Park provides habitat to high populations of a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Deer, moose and black bear are among the large mammals whose habitat is protected in the park, while sockeye salmon rearing and migrating habitat is found near the lakeshore. Uncha Creek is the most productive trout stream leading into Francois Lake, with excellent cover and rearing areas.

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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