Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park

Hiking

Old horse trails and routes criss-cross the park. None of them are regularly maintained and are recommended only for experienced, physically fit and well equipped hikers.

Park trails are more aptly called routes and are usually quite rough. They have evolved from game trails that were later utilized as horse trails. The majority of these trails are blazed, usually cleared and have low gradients, many water crossings are necessary and should be attempted on foot only late in summer when water levels are lower.

Access to the park by trail may be gained along either McEwan Creek or off Eaglenest Creek from the BC Rail grade south of the Ealue Lake Road.

The McEwan Creek Trail begins around km 29 on the BC Rail grade. The trail passes through the Mount Brock addition and the Stikine River Park, along the northern boundary of Spatsizi Park. After crossing Ford Pass, cross Cullivan Creek and then continue southeast to Coldfish Lake. This trail is rough and can be very wet in early summer. Use extreme caution when fording Cullivan Creek, especially early in the season. A good compass and 1:50,000 scale topography maps are essential.

The Eaglenest Trail begins near the 50km mark on the BC Rail grade on the east side of the Klappan River. The trailhead is indicated by a BC Parks sign although you are not yet in the park. The first section of the trail has a gentle grade, passing through a mix of aspen woods, pine stands, and open bogs. Log boardwalks cross the wet sections, where there are excellent views of the Eaglenest Mountain Range. After about 5km, the trail climbs over a low ridge and begins to drop steeply into the Eaglenest Creek valley. You are now within the park. At about 11km, the trail climbs steeply to detour around a landslide which has fallen into the creek. After 13km have been covered (about 6 hrs. hiking time) there is a small, dry campsite in a grove of pines on a horseshoe shaped bend in Eaglenest Creek. Ram Creek at 17km is reached in another one and a half hours. After crossing Ram Creek on a log bridge, one will find a small site for overnighting

Beyond Ram Creek the trail becomes rougher and is not well defined in some sections. No suitable camping sites exist between Ram and MacDonald Creeks. Hikers are advised to continue through to MacDonald Creek camp, an established camp at 29km. From there the trail leaves the valley floor and starts a gradual climb up to Danihue Pass. This section is fairly dry and usually in good condition.

In 2003, there was a large flooded area (due to beavers) at the final Eaglenest Creek crossing. It is advised to scout this area to determine the best location to cross Eaglenest Creek headwaters. These headwaters must be forded for the final time near kilometre 39 and a junction is reached just before the crossing. The right fork of the trail leads out through Danihue Pass and is open, well-marked and dry. Immediately after crossing Eaglenest Creek at 39 km, you enter the Gladys Lake Ecological Reserve. No overnight use or fires are permitted in the reserve. You must continue on until you leave the reserve near Coldfish Lake. Shortly after you traverse Danihue Pass and start your descent you will reach a final junction. Keep right and from here the hike to km 50 and Coldfish Lake camp is a short one hour. The bridge crossing Black Fox Creek is reached within sight of Coldfish Lake Camp.

Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park.