Park overview
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.
Advisories
Camping
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Facilities
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
Activities
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).
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Horses and horseback riding are permitted.
Hunting is allowed in the park. Check the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
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.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: January 25, 2001
- Size: 9,421 hectares
Nature and culture
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.
Cultural Heritage
A pony express station may have been located at the west end of Red Hills.
Settlement 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.
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.