This week I’ll be making good on my promise to include Canada in my nature parks series. I’ll start my foray into the Great White North with the province of British Columbia.
General Info: Seven Sisters Provincial Park & Protected Area includes 39,206 hectares and is named for the peaks visible from Highway 16. Download the park access map PDF to help get the lay of the land.
Hours and Fees: The day-use vehicle parking fee is CAN$1/vehicle/hour up to CAN$3/vehicle/day. You’ll have to pack out what you pack in as garbage receptacles are scarce.
Activities: This park offers plenty of outdoor recreation, from fishing in Watson Lake for Rainbow trout to cycling the park roads.
Download the park brochure PDF to see more of what this park has to offer.
The Watson Lakes Trail is an easy 3 km hike around three small lakes where you can picnic or fish. It’s suitable for novice hikers and families with small children. The Whiskey Creek Trail is a more strenuous, steeply ascending 7.2 km excursion through mixed forest. The Oliver Creek Trail is 17 km long and climbs 1500 m before ending at an alpine basin. It provides access to backcountry trails and the Seven Sisters peaks, making it great for overnight backpacking trips. Always obey posted signs and stay on designated trails for both your safety and the preservation of wildlife. View trail information for advisories.
The park’s forests and tributary systems provide ample habitat for a wide variety of wildlife large and small. See the wildlife viewing tips for pointers on the best places to catch a glimpse of moose, coyotes, newts, salmon, etc.
Pets: Your pets must be leashed at all times and are banned from beach areas and park buildings. Pets are not allowed in backcountry areas due to wildlife issues. As always, unruly pets will not be tolerated and you must properly dispose of all waste.
Camping Info: The park only offers backcountry wilderness camping, so your best bet is to try an RV park in the nearby towns of Terrace or Hazelton. The Wild Duck Motel & RV Park in Terrace features big-rig friendly, easy access sites and has free showers. Plus it’s just a half-mile from the Skeena River boat launch. The Ksan Campground has 30 gravel pull-thru sites (30x 60’) with full hookups (30 amps). It’s on the confluence of the Skeena and Bulckley rivers near the Ksan Historical Village. You can also search for area RV parks in the Trailer Life Directory.
If you’re from British Columbia or have visited Seven Sisters Provincial Park & Protected Area in the past, please chime in with your stories and travel tips! Information on this park was particularly hard to come by, so I’d appreciate it if anyone could fill in some of the blanks.
Christina Bullock
Len, thanks for the great insider tips! Sounds like some interesting sights off the beaten path.
–Christina
Len
There is also an RV site at Kitwanga, midway between Hazelton and Terrace, with power and water. This is an indian village with the original totems still standing.
Kitwanga is also the starting point for the Cassiar Highway which leads through beautiful country to the Yukon and Alaska. This is a great alternative to the Alaska Highway. The Skeena and some of its’ tributaries has some of the best salmon fishing in the world. A record 99 lb. King and 40 lb. Steelhead have been caught here.