Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park
Canoeing
Season
Tuaton and Laslui Lakes are not usually ice-free until mid-June.
River levels can be very high at this time and the canoeing
much more difficult. By mid-July river levels have usually dropped
and the prime canoeing season has begun. The most reliable weather
is usually during July and August while the best time to see
wildlife is during September and October.
Safety
in Bear Country
This is prime grizzly and black bear country. You should not
leave any packs or food boxes unattended along any trial or
waterway you travel. When camping over night, be sure that you
have put your food items in a safe place, well away from your
sleeping area. All garbage must be packed out. Do not bury garbage
as animals will just dig it up again.
River
Boats
Please note that river boats are permitted on the Stikine River
year round. River boats are more commonly seen during the hunting
season. The use of river boats is restricted on the Spatsizi
River, upstream of Hyland Post, from break-up until September
1st of each year.
Fishing
The rivers are generally quite muddy during June & July,
but some good Arctic grayling can be had if you fish where the
smaller streams flow into the main rivers. In late August and
September the fishing improves. The Spatsizi and Stikine are
home to numerous rainbow trout, arctic grayling and dolly varden
char. All persons angling in BC must have the appropriate licence.
Campsites
There are no designated campsites although there are several
campsites in and around the area. In addition, there are some
rustic campsites located at Tuaton Lake, Fountain Rapids Portage,
Chapea Portage, Beggarly canyon Portage and the Stikine River
bridge on Hwy 37.
If possible, camp on a sand or gravel bar as this has the least
effect on local vegetation. This allows the rivers to reclaim
your sites during high water.
Hiking
On the Spatsizi River Canoe Route, there are two trails that
permit the canoeist to get off the river for a few hours or
a few days.
Mink
Creek Trail to Cold Fish Lake Camp
The first trail leads to Cold Fish Lake Camp via the Mink
Creek Trail. The trail is located on the downstream side of
Mink Creek. To find the trailhead, go past Mink Creek and
take the back channel on river left. From here you should
be able to spot flagging to indicate the trailhead. The trip
to Cold Fish Lake camp is approximately 20 km one way so several
days should be allowed to make this trip.
Spatsizi
Plateau Trail
The Spatsizi Plateau Trail begins at Hyland Post. Please note
that Hyland Post is private property so please respect it
and ask permission to pass though this area. It takes approximately
two hours to hike up to Spatsizi Plateau. From here you can
spend several hours or several days on the plateau. Caribou
can often be seen on the open rolling hills and Stone sheep
may be seen on the rock escarpments.
On the Stikine
River Canoe Route, aside from limitless bush-whacking trips
to alpine areas, there are two short hikes to Shreiber Canyon
and Adoogacho Falls.
Shreiber
Canyon Trail
2 km below the Pitman River is Shreiber Canyon. This canyon
is not on the Stikine River but on a small side creek. An
interesting short hike can be done up the canyon and for the
adventurous, on to the cliffs overlooking the Stikine.
Adoogacho
Falls
A short hike up Adoogacho Creek leads to Adoogacho Falls.
SPATSIZI/STIKINE RIVER CANOE ROUTE
The Spatsizi/Stikine
River trip is recommended for immediate
to advanced canoeists and takes a minimum of 6 to 9
days to complete. While the Spatsizi River is Grade I, the Stikine
portion of the trip has many Grade II rapids and sections of
Grade III and IV. There are no regular patrols on the river
so once on the river you are on your own. There are two guide-outfitter
camps on your route that may be of assistance in an emergency.
The first is Hyland Post, 10 km upstream of the confluence of
the Spatsizi and Stikine Rivers, and the other is Upper Stikine
Lodge, which is 2 km downstream of the confluence. These camps
are not always staffed so visitors should not depend upon them.
Access
The Spatsizi River is accessible from the BC Rail Grade via
the 5 km Spatsizi River Access Trail. The BC Rail Grade can
be reached from Hwy 37 (near Eddontenajon Lake) via the Ealue
Lake Road. The Ealue Lake Road is a 22 km access road that leads
to the Klappan River. Once you have crossed the Klappan River
you are on the BC Rail Grade. The Spatsizi River Access Trail
is approximately 115 km from Highway 37.
Please note
that the BC Rail Grade is not maintained and natural slides
and washouts may close this access route at any given time.
Spatsizi
River Portage Trail
This is a well maintained trail that travels down to the confluence
of the Spatsizi, Didene and Kluayetz Rivers. There are several
canoe rests along the trail. Once at the river, facilities include
a fire ring, a bear-proof food cache, a pit toilet, a creel
survey registration box and a visitor registration box (located
on the visitor information shelter). This site is user-maintained;
please pack-out what you pack-in.
Canoe
Route - Spatsizi River Portion of the Spatsizi/Stikine
Canoe Route
Once on the river you will find that it has many short, fast
runs over gravel bars, with many braided channels. This braiding
occurs mainly on the first 10 km of river below the put-in location.
The canoeist must always be on the look-out for gravel bars
and rocks and try to pick the best channel with the most water.
Also, you must be watching for sweepers, trees that have fallen
out over the river with branches hanging down into the water.
Sweepers are very common on the upper Spatsizi.
From the
junction of the Spatsizi River and Buckinghorse Creek downstream
to where Kliweguh Creek flows into the Spatsizi, the river grows
much larger and the valley becomes much wider. This section
offers some of the most scenic views along the entire waterway.
This area is ideal for spotting wildlife such as moose, black
bear, grizzly bear, wolf, mountain goat, caribou and the occasional
stone sheep high on mountain slopes.
From Kliweguh
Creek to the Stikine River, the Spatsizi River flows through
a wide valley of lodge-pole pine flats and semi-open grasslands,
with many good camping areas along the shoreline. The river
is much larger here and some braiding occurs downstream from
Kliweguh Creek to Hyland Post. The river is somewhat faster
in this area and the canoeist should always be reading the water,
watching for rocks, gravel bars, sweepers, etc. The river traveler
must keep in mind that long periods of rain or heavy storms
can make a significant increase in the water volume. This brings
swifter currents and less time to avoid any hazards and few
places to land a canoe.
Stikine
River Portion of Spatsizi/Stikine Canoe Route
Located 15 km below the junctions of the Spatsizi and Stikine
Rivers is Jewel Rapids. This section can be extremely hazardous,
especially during high water, with ratings from Grade III to
IV depending on the water level. There are many large boulders
scattered through the channel that you must pick a route through.
These rapids should be scouted from shore before attempting
to run them. There is a sign located on the right bank of the
river shortly before you arrive at Jewel Rapids. There is no
portage trail to avoid Jewel Rapids.
CAUTION: AS OF JUNE 2, 2004, THERE
IS NO WARNING SIGN INDICATING THE START OF JEWEL RAPIDS. BC
Parks will update this webpage once sign is re-installed.
At Beggerlay
Canyon, 20 km below the McBride River, there is a set of rapids
that should be portaged during high water. There are 3 signs
warning you of the rapids. The 3rd sign is located at the pull-out
at the head of the portage trail on the right bank. All canoeists
should land at the pull-out and scout the canyon thoroughly
before making a decision whether to run the rapids or to portage
around them.
Shortly
after leaving the Beggerlay Canyon, you will pass under an old
railway bridge and you are now only 17 km away from the end
of your trip. But there is still one more challenging section
of the river to navigate. This area is located some 15 km downstream
from the old railway bridge and should be approached with caution.
After passing this area, you will soon reach the Highway 37
bridge. There is easy access to the vehicle parking area on
the right bank just below the bridge.
UPPER STIKINE RIVER CANOE ROUTE
The Stikine
River canoe trip is only recommended for
advanced canoeists with considerable wilderness experience.
There are many rapids, rocks and sweepers that must be avoided.
Although most of the Stikine River is Grade I, there are several
Grade II rapids and sections of Grade III and IV rapids that
must be run. There are no regular patrols on the river; once
on the river you are on your own. There are two guide-outfitter
camps on your route that may be of assistance in an emergency.
The first is located on the west end of Laslui Lake and the
other is Upper Stikine Lodge, 2 km downstream of the confluence
of the Spatsizi and Stikine Rivers. These camps are not always
staffed so visitors should not depend upon them.
The trip
length is 225 km from Tuaton Lake to the pull-out at the Highway
37 bridge. You should allow a minimum of 8 days to complete
this trip. It is possible to be picked up by floatplane at Upper
Stikine Lodge (guide-outfitters camp). This must be arranged
prior to starting your trip. Late season pick-ups may not be
available due to low water levels.
Access
The Stikine River route can be started at either Tuaton or Laslui
Lake, both of which are accessible to float planes. Please note
only permitted air charter companies are permitted to fly within
Spatsizi Wilderness Plateau Provincial Park.
Canoe
Route
The canoe route starts off easily, going down Tuaton and Laslui
Lakes and the section of river between them. Approximately 1.5
km downstream of Laslui Lake are the impassable Fountain Rapids,
which must be portaged. There is a sign located at the pull-out
on the right hand bank. A 1 km long portage trail goes around
the rapids on the right bank. From this point the river changes
character and the canoeing becomes much more challenging and
strenuous. White water and standing waves are nearly constant.
8 km downstream
is the second portage around the Grade III Chapea Rapids just
below Chapea Creek. Look for the sign located on the left bank
indicating the pull-out for the portage trail. The portage trail
is 1 km in length and is located on the left bank, which takes
you around the Chapea rapids.
The canoeing
continues to be challenging until Moyez Creek. Once at Moyez
Creek, you have covered the most difficult section of the river.
The rapids downstream from here are more widely spaced and the
canoeing easier. For details on the remainder of the canoe route,
see the Stikine River Portion of the Spatsizi/Stikine Canoe
Route.
Other
Points to Consider
- File
a trip plan and estimated time of arrival with a trusted friend
or relative.
- A number
of cabins and active camps will be seen along the rivers.
You should not use these facilities unless prior permission
has been obtained.
- In order
to carry a firearm, you are required to have the appropriate
licence(s): a Possession Only Licence (POL) or a Possession
and Acquisition Licence (PAL).
- A British
Columbia angling licence is required if you intend to fish.
Please consult current Freshwater Fishing Regulations.
- Topographic
maps should be obtained before arriving at the park. These
maps are available from an authorized dealer. Spatsizi Plateau
Wilderness Provincial Park is covered by map sheets 104H and
94E at a scale of 1:250 000.
- If you
would like larger scaled maps (1:50 000) or plan to do some
hiking, the maps required are:
94E 12, 94E 15, 104H ,7 104H , 104H 9, 104H 10, 104H 13, 104H
14, 104H 15, 104H 16,
104I 4
- The
following companies offer a ferry service from Tatogga Lake
to the Spatsizi River Access Trail (Didene Portage): Red Goat
Lodge (250) 234-3261, Tatogga Lake Resort (250) 234-3526,
or Rick’s Outdoor Rentals (250) 771-4243.
ATTENTION:
The Stikine River downstream from the Highway 37 bridge is un-navigable
by any craft!
Spatsizi
Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park.
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