Who’s ready to explore one of the largest parks in BC? Spanning over 981,000 hectares, Tweedsmuir Park is a true testament to how diverse and beautiful our province really is. From alpine glaciers to coastal rainforests, to white-sand beaches, you’ll always have a beautiful vista or three to admire here!
Nestled in the heart of central BC 400 km west of Williams Lake, the park is divided into a few distinct areas, each with its own draws and local ecosystems. The South region boasts picturesque lakes, including Ootsa and Whitesail Lakes. Note that visitors to these areas have been known to spot grizzly bears, black bears, moose, and bald eagles – so make sure to brush up on your bear safety knowledge before heading over.
Park areas
Next is the heart of the park – The Atnarko River Valley, renowned for its annual salmon runs. Every year, thousands of salmon swim upstream, drawing grizzly bears and other wildlife to the riverbanks for an unforgettable experience in nature.
And for the adventurers out there, you can hike through 16 km of the Hunlen Falls Trail to the Turner Lake Canoe Circut, a three-to-five-day canoeing destination on the east slope of the Coastal Range with not one, but seven pristine lakes and short linking creeks.
In terms of other more accessible hiking options, there’s an extensive network of trails to choose from, including the scenic Rainbow Range Trail.
Speaking of, the Interior Plateau (east of the park near Anahim Lake) gives way to peaks of the Rainbow Range, a massive dome of “eroded lava and fragmented rock” that comes in a spectrum of reds, oranges, yellows, and lavenders.
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History & info
Tweedsmuir Park and its surrounding areas have been used by the Nuxalk and Carrier First Nations for thousands of years, with routes known as “grease trails” allowing interior communities to trade furs and obsidian for marine products. Given the historical and cultural significance of the park, visitors are asked not to disturb or remove any artifacts if they come across any First Nations heritage sites.
In terms of camping, there are 24 vehicle-accessible campsites in addition to two walk-in sites at the Turner Lake and Hunlen Falls areas, both of which have bear caches and outhouses.
Note that while swimming is not recommended in the Bella Coola and Stnarko Rivers at the campgrounds, the alpine and subalpine lakes you’ll find in the backcountry are perfect for a dip.
In addition to driving, the park can be accessed via the Discovery Coast passage ferry from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, and by float plane from Nimpo Lake, Anahim Lake, or Bella Coola.
So there you have it, Vancouver! If you’re ready for a more challenging adventure, you’ll be rewarded in spades here!
Tweedsmuir Provincial Park
Where: Central BC
Information on Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is from BC Parks, and is accurate as of publication date.
