BC Parks Home Ministry of Environment Home Ministry of Environment Home Government of BC
'
'
'
'
2004 CPAWS photo contest - Hughes Desbiens ' Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park
'
important info, warnings, alerts for park visitors
general overview of park, size, special features safety, park hazards, wildlife information, health risks
park location, parks nearby, how to get to the park history, cultural heritage, conservation, wildlife
maps of park and/or campground, trails, etc. Management Planning
campsite reservations, group and picnic site reservations images of the park
 

vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites wilderness, backcountry, walk-in camping group camping - 15 or more campers picnic, day-use facilities, no camping wheelchair accessiblity drinking water toilets showers sani-stations, sani-dumps firewood, campfires There are no electrical hook-ups in this park interpretive, educational programs
walking, hiking trails playgrounds swimming canoeing, kayaking power boats, boat launch fishing cycling, mountain biking, bicycling horses, horseback riding pets, domestic animals in parks Icon Legend- Green =Available Grey = Unavailable

wildlife viewing
winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating scuba, snorkelling windsurfing waterskiing hunting climbing, rock climbing spelunking, caving cabins, yurts, lodges click on green symbols for more information

 

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

As of May 7, 2008:

  • Please note that Fisheries Pool Campground is now closed for the season, it will re open June 1st, 2008.
  • The campground gate is closed during the off season.

Park Info:

Tweedsmuir (South) Provincial Park is one of the largest of B.C.'s several hundred parks. Located in the west-central region of the province, 480 km northwest of Vancouver as the crow flies, Tweedsmuir is roughly triangular in shape. It is bounded on the north and northwest by the Ootsa-Whitesail Lakes reservoir, on the west and southwest by the Coast Mountains, and on the east by the Interior Plateau.

Aside from offering some of the most spectacular scenery in North America, Tweedsmuir is a magnet for outdoor recreationists. Favourite activities include angling, hiking, horseback riding on wilderness trails, camping (including vehicle-access campsites), and canoeing the Turner Lake Chain. Hunlen Falls, at the north end of Turner Lake, is a major attraction, plunging 260 metres and disappearing in a cloud of spray before entering the Atnarko River. The Atnarko and Bella Coola Valleys provide critical habitat for bears and people need to be bear aware. Areas of the park are open to hunting during allotted seasons. Please consult and obey the British Columbia Hunting Regulations. Winter recreation is also popular at Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park.

As in any wilderness setting, persons should be prepared to be self-sufficient. For those new to the wilderness adventure tour, guides are available in the area. Special Features: Shield volcanoes, Hunlen Falls, canoe chain and grizzly bears.

Top of Page

Park Size: 506,000 hectares in Tweedsmuir (South), with total park area including Tweedsmuir (North) at 981,000 hectares

Special Notes:

  • Weather conditions in the park are as variable as the topography. Moderate temperatures and extensive rainfall characterize the lower reaches of the Bella Coola Valley. At Stuie near the junction of the Atnarko and Bella Coola Rivers, there is an average annual precipitation of 720 mm with about 20% of this being in the form of snow. The Interior Plateau receives a greater proportion of snow and its winters are more severe. Temperatures in the southern section of the park can drop to -40°C in January and reach 30°C in July. Summers are usually fairly dry with June, September and October being the wettest months.
  • Tweedsmuir (South) Provincial Park is partnered with Tweedsmuir (North).
  • Facilities at Stuie and on Turner Lake provide a variety of services. Click here to view a non-government website for more information. No supplies are available in the park itself. For more information on canoe rentals and access to the Turner Lake Chain, please check the following non-government website.
  • There are further tourist facilities and supplies at Bella Coola, Hagensborg, Nimpo Lake and Anahim Lake. Please consult the British Columbia Accommodation Guide for details. This publication is available from Tourism British Columbia, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4.
  • National Topographic Series Maps 92N/13, 93C/4, 93/5, 93C/12 and 13, 93D/8E and W and 93D/9 and 16 at a scale of 1:50,000 cover the Tweedsmuir area. These maps are available from Government Agents and most map retailers in British Columbia.

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

Location:

South Tweedsmuir is located on Highway 20, approximately 400 kilometres west of Williams Lake, midway between Anahim Lake and Bella Coola. The highway from Williams Lake consists of both gravel and paved sections and is well maintained; travel time is between 4 1/2 and 6 hours depending on your destination within the park and road conditions.

The Hill is the stretch of Highway 20 between Heckman Pass and Atnarko Campground. It has quite a reputation, since over 16 km it loses over 4000 feet in elevation. Local residents built it in the 1950s, after they had been told by the government of the time that it couldn't be done. However, nowadays it is well maintained by Highways contractors, and, though steep (up to 18% grades), it is passable throughout the year.

The park can also be reached by way of the Discovery Coast Passage ferry from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, or by float plane from Nimpo Lake, Anahim Lake or Bella Coola, or by hiking in the backcountry.

You can obtain fuel, basic supplies, and motel accommodation in Anahim Lake or Nimpo Lake. The nearest RCMP office is in Anahim Lake, where there is also a 24-hour medical clinic. The closest hospital is in Bella Coola, over an hour’s drive from the parking lot.

National Topographic Series Maps 92N/13, 93C/4, 93/5, 93C/12 and 13, 93D/8E and W and 93D/9 and 16 at a scale of 1:50,000 cover the South Tweedsmuir area. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

Top of Page

Nature & Culture:
  • History
  • Cultural Heritage
  • Conservation
  • Wildlife

  • Visitor Safety:

    The backcountry of Tweedsmuir Park is an isolated wilderness with infrequent patrols by park staff. You should be experienced in wilderness travel, fit and well equipped. Snow is possible any month of the year in the mountains. Visitors must bring appropriate maps. If you plan to hike overnight or longer you should inform a responsible person or agency of your intentions, including estimated return time and destination.

    Grizzly and black bears range throughout the park, and grizzlies congregate on the Dean and Atnarko, and Bella Coola Rivers between May and October when salmon are in the river. People should be particularly cautious when fishing, hiking, and camping. To help ensure the safety of park visitors and the conservation of bears, please observe the following guidelines:

    • Dispose of garbage in bear-proof containers.
    • Obey all closures and warnings.
    • Store food securely in your vehicle or in a tree 4 metres from the ground and 2 metres from the trunk, well away from your campsite.
    • Do not cook or store food or bait in your tent and keep your campsite clean.
    • Bleed and clean your catch in the stream, not at your campsite, and throw offal into deep or fast moving water. If approached by a bear, reel in and leave the area, or cut the line if playing a fish.
    • Do not handle roe used for bait on picnic tables. Wash your hands afterwards, do not wipe on clothing.
    • Do not build fires or cook by the river's edge.

    For more information on bear safety at Tweedsmuir click here (8kb pdf). Please refer to the visitor safety link for more information on bear identification, general bear safety and avoiding bear human conflict.

    The Bella Coola Hill is a 9 km section of up to 18 percent grade; a significant slope for any vehicle to conquer. This emphasizes the need for extra caution when driving this route. The following hints are listed below to ensure a safe and enjoyable passage.

    • Use the lowest gear on the steeper sections
    • Reduce speed on narrow sections
    • Check road conditions before setting out
    • Make several stops to allow your brakes to cool
    • Ensure your car is in good condition before driving this route
    • 4-wheel drive or dual tow vehicles are preferable for towing heavy loads up or down steep hills.

    During the early and mid summer months, do bring mosquito repellent or full coverage clothing - the park is ideal habitat for bugs, too!

    Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

    Top of Page

    Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
    group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping.

    Reservations are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service, click here.

    Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

    Contact Information:

    For the Arnarko and Fisheries Pool area of the park only:
    G & P Kleenery Ltd
    E-mail address: gpkleenery@telus.net
    Phone: (250) 397-2523

    Top of Page

    vehicle accessible, drive-in campsites

    This park offers vehicle accessible campsites on a first-come, first-served basis - campsite reservations are not accepted.

    Tweedsmuir (South) Park contains two vehicle-access campgrounds, both located on Highway 20: Atnarko offers 28 campsites nestled amongst an old-growth forest (on the Atnarko River at the bottom of "the Hill"); while Fisheries Pool, (situated near Stuie and the site of an old fish hatchery run by DFO), attracts lots of anglers to its 14 high-density open campsites. There is parking available for extra vehicles at the Atnarko Campground but not at Fisheries Pool. It is often difficult for big rigs to turn around when the park is full.
    If staff are not available when you arrive at the campground, choose your site and pay later. Staff will be at the campground at least once a day during the camping season.
    There is a pay phone located in the park between the 2 campgrounds next to Tweedsmuir Lodge. The closest store is approximately 50 km away in Hagensbourg.

    Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $15.00 per party / night
    BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only): $7.50 per senior's couple/night

    Campground Hours of Operation
    All dates are subject to change without notice

    Opening and Closing Campground Dates: (campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water, security, etc.)

     
    - Arnarko campground June 1 - September 5
    (Gate is closed during the off-season)
    - Fisheries campground June 1 - September 30
    (gate is closed during the off-season)
    Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:  
    - Arnarko campground June 1 - September 1
    - Fisheries campground June 1 - September 30
    Campground Reservable Dates: Not applicable
    Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites: - Arnarko = 24
    - Fisheries = 12
    Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable: (all remaining sites are first-come, first-served) Not applicable
    Note: The above information is for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.
    wilderness, backcountry,  walk-in camping

    There are many primitive campsites dotted throughout the park; please read the hiking page for more details. Some provide facilities such as pit toilets and bear caches; others are more basic. The wilderness sites are open year round when accessible. In the Rainbow Range and the Ptarmigan Lake areas, the campsites marked on the map have at least minimal facilities - pit toilets and some have bear caches. Please use these sites as you will have less impact on the delicate alpine environment. Please read and observe Leave No Trace ethics.

    At the Turner Lake/Hunlen Falls area, sites are designated, and more developed; bear caches and outhouses are provided. There is a fee for these sites. The gate to the Turner Lake Chain is open from June 15 - September 15 and the portage will open dependent on water levels.
    Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older

    group camping - 15 or more campers

    No group campsites.

    picnic, day-use facilities,  no camping

    This park has 5 picnic areas that have picnic tables and pit toilets. Locations along Highway 20 are (from east to west): at Rainbow Range Trailhead, Hunlen Falls/Turner Lake Trailhead, Big Rock/Kettle Pond, Fisheries Pool and Mackenzie Heritage/Grease Trailhead. The day-use areas at Big Rock/Kettle Pond and at the Mackenzie Heritage/Grease Trailhead also have drinking water available.

    wheelchair accessibility

    There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.

    Top of Page
    drinking water

    There are water handpumps in the campgrounds and a water tap at the sani-station; the water at the sani-station is not suitable for drinking. In the backcountry, bring your own drinking water or be prepared to treat surface water, as potable water is not available in the park.

    toilets

    Pit toilets are located throughout the park and flush toilets are located near the sani-station.

    showers

    No showers.

    sani-stations, sani-dumps

    A sani-station is located near Atnarko Campground, and is available during the camping season for a fee.The water at the sani-station is not suitable for drinking or washing.
    Sani-station Use Fee: $2.00 per discharge

    firewood, campfires

    Vehicle accessible Campgrounds Firewood can be purchased from the Park Facility Operator at the campgrounds, or you can bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and improve air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.

    Backcountry Camping If you must have a fire in the backcountry, please burn only dead and down wood and be sure to extinguish the fire fully. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil so please use it conservatively, if at all. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.

    There are no electrical hook-ups in this park There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
    interpretive,  educational  programs

    There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.

    Top of Page
    walking, hiking trails

    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. Trail Information

    playgrounds

    This park does not have a playground.
    swimming

    Swimming is not recommended in the Bella Coola and Atnarko Rivers at the campgrounds. However, the alpine and subalpine lakes you encounter in the backcountry are delightful for swimming (though cold), especially from the white sand beaches of the Turner Lake Canoe Chain.

    canoeing, kayaking

    For a three to five day canoe trip through spectacular mountain scenery, try the Turner Lake canoe circuit, located south of Highway 20. The chain can be accessed via float plane from Nimpo Lake or by exiting Highway 20 onto Tote Road (12 km to trailhead), then by hiking for 16 km along the Hunlen Falls Trail. Canoe rentals and a campsite are available at Turner Lake. The canoe chain comprises approximately 18 km of lakes and 2.5 km of rivers and creeks. The portages are short, with the longest being 1 km. A fee is charged for camping. For details about the Turner Lake canoe circuit, click here. For more information on canoe rentals and access to the Turner Lake Chain, please check the following non-government website.

    power boats, boat launch

    There are single-wide car-top boat launches at Fisheries Pool campground and Belarko and Steep Roof along Highway 20. There is limited space available for parking at both boat launches.

    fishing

    There are extensive fishing opportunities at this park. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.

    cycling, mountain biking, bicycling

    Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.

    horses, horseback riding

    Recreational horse use is permissible in the Rainbow Range. This terrain is recommended for experienced riders only (see the Rainbow Range map, which has trails suitable for horses marked as such).

    pets, domestic animals in parks If you must bring your pets into the backcountry, they must be kept under control at all times.

    Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

    wildlife viewing

    No wildlife viewing opportunities.

    Top of Page

    winter recreation, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, toboganning, ice skating

    There are downhill skiing opportunities in this park; a tow rope is operated by the Tweedsmuir Ski Club on Sundays during the winter. It is located approximately 3 km from the parking lot at the Rainbow Range Trailhead.

    There are approximately 15 km of set cross country skiing trails at the Rainbow Range Trailhead during the winter. These are maintained by the Tweedsmuir Ski Club.

    There are snowmobiling opportunities in the Rainbow Range. For more information on snowmobiling in this park, click here.

    scuba, snorkelling

    No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.

    windsurfing

    No windsurfing opportunities.

    waterskiing

    No waterskiing opportunities.

    hunting

    The park is open to hunting in certain areas of the park. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting Regulations for more information.

    climbing, rock climbing

    No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.

    spelunking, caving

    No spelunking or caving opportunities.

    cabins, yurts, lodges

    The Rainbow Cabin is located in the Mackenzie Valley below Boyd Pass. It is very rustic and without any sleeping platforms. It does, however, have a wood stove. It is only available in the summer and people should be prepared to camp outside in the event that the cabin is full. There is no charge to stay in this cabin and no bookings are needed in order to use the cabin.

    The Tweedsmuir Ski Club operates a cabin close to the downhill ski area. Overnight stays can be reserved by calling the club at (250) 982-2231. The Rainbow Cabin, located in the Mackenzie Valley, is for emergency use only. Free winter camping is permitted in the Rainbow Range parking lot. There is an outhouse, but you must either bring your own drinking water or melt snow.

    Top of Page

     

    Footer Graphic Copyright Information Mail Us Privacy Information A Complete Site Map Search the Ministry's SiteDisclaimer
    '''''