Park overview
Upper Seymour River Park takes in the headwaters of the Seymour River, which forms the major drainage system into the Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake. The 10,672 hectare park has provincially significant conservation values associated with representation of a wide mountain valley within the northern Columbia Mountains, with steep mountain slopes enclosing old-growth interior wet-belt forests and extensive river and wetland environments.
The Upper Seymour Valley has a long elevational range of forest types from lower Interior cedar-hemlock forests, through subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce forests to alpine habitats, with much of the forested stands in old growth condition. The extensive wetlands, slide-paths and forests are important habitats for grizzly and Mountain Caribou.
The lower park section is narrow and bound by forest harvesting roads and extensive cutblocks. The upper portion is in pristine wilderness, with no apparent sign of human use. The high glaciers and alpine tundra at the north end of the park are used for helicopter based tourism activities: skiing, touring, mountaineering, fishing and hiking.
Advisories
Activities
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. There are no developed trails at this park.
Opportunites exist for catching rainbow trout, bull trout and whitefish. Species restrictions in river, please refer to the current regulations for further information. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Check the BC Hunting Regulations for seasons and closures.
The park is accessed by 40 kilometres of generally good two-wheel drive gravel roads from the community of Seymour Arm, which in turn is a 40 kilometre drive on gravel surface from the end of the paved road on the north shore of Shuswap Lake. Seymour Arm can also be accessed during the summer by a small car ferry.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: April 18, 2001
- Size: 10,672 hectares
Nature and culture
History
This protected area was recommended through the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP (Land and Resource Management Plan) process and formally established as a Class A Park on April 18th, 2001, through Order-in Council under the Protected Areas of British Columbia Act.
Conservation
The 10, 672 hectare park has provincially significant conservation values associated with representation of a wide mountain valley within the northern Columbia Mountains with steep mountain slopes enclosing old-growth interior we-belt forests and extensive river. The very lower end of the park is in the Shuswap Highlands Ecosection.
There is a large mountain valley, extending from low river floodplain at 600 meters elevation to steep narrow headwaters that culminate at Seymour Pass at an elevation of 1200 meters. The valley sides are steep with numerous avalanche paths and streams leading from high mountain ridges and basins. The lower floodplain ecosystem is highly complex with river riparian and oxbows forming extensive wetlands of shallow ponds, marshes, wet meadows, fens and shrub carr habitats.
Wildlife
The park has extensive spring habitats for grizzly bear and seasonal habitats for mountain caribou. Mule deer and moose also inhabit the park. A small number of swans can be seen in ponds along the river during the summer. The river has native stocks of rainbow trout, and possibly bull trout.
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.