Experiencing the Canadian Wild: The Best of Northern BC's Provincial Parks

BC is home to 830 provincial parks and each one has something unique to offer and explore. Southern BC is a popular vacation destination, frequented by holiday-makers from all over Canada and the USA. The southwest coast is home to Vancouver, Canada's second largest city, as well as Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. These locations enjoy mild weather year round, and are rich with culture and history. The interior of southern BC is known for its lakes and hot summers, with destinations like Kelowna, Shuswap Lake, and Penticton serving as hubs for sun bathers and water sport enthusiasts. Though these locations have much to offer, it is the vast lands of northern BC that truly showcase the untamed beauty of the province. The untouched nature of the north is home to hundreds of lakes, hiking trails, and forests just waiting to be enjoyed. The following list outlines some of the best of BC's northerly provincial parks, and what makes them stand out from their hundreds of peers.

BEST MULTI-DAY HIKES: MONKMAN PROVINCIAL PARK

Cascade Waterfall 1

During the last Ice Age, the great northern glaciers covered almost all of northern British Columbia. When they receded about 13,000 years ago, they left behind a mass of rivers, valleys, and geological formations. Monkman Provincial Park, located an hour south of Tumbler Ridge in the heart of the central Rockies, retains its post-glacial landscape. Jagged mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and old-growth forests exist in the plenty, and several great trails allow hikers complete access to the wilderness.

The Monkman Lake Trail begins at the spectacular Kinuseo Falls, where the Murray River plunges 60 m (200 ft) to the river bed below. At the falls, hikers head south into the back country of the park, where the trail continues for 48 km (30 mi). Along the trail hikers pass the Monkman Cascades, a series of epic waterfalls tumbling over cliffs and ridges. Experienced hikers can expect a two-to three-day round trip, ending at Monkman Lake. This lake is the largest in the park and exemplifies the crystalline quality of northern glacier water. The Monkman Lake Trail offers a nature-rich experience to be embraced by any outdoor enthusiast.

A slightly longer and younger path extends off the end of the Monkman Lake Trail. Monkman Pass Historical Trail, opened July 17, 2008, follows a section of the old Monkman Pass Highway. Climbing the mountains, the trail has exquisite views of the park and river valley, and in the higher altitude hikers can explore a series of tarns, or small glacial pools. The route then descends and ends in the valley at Herrick River. Once arriving at this point, hikers have the choice to return along the trail or arrange for a boat pick-up. The one-way trip can be expected to take six days, and offers an unparalleled experience with the varied altitudes and natural wonders of Monkman Provincial Park.

BEST CAMPING: OMINECA PROVINCIAL PARK

Omineca Provincial Park is home to several geographical sites, namely the Wolverine Range, Germansen Lake, and Nina Lake. The park is almost entirely a wilderness area and provides little access to motor vehicles. There are however, six rustic, vehicle accessible camping areas. The sites are open from June through October, weather permitting, and work on a first come first served system—reservations are not accepted.

	Rustic Camping 2

Four of the camping areas are located along Germansen Lake, which is home to the infamous Germansen Flumes. In the 1930s the flumes were built to channel water from the lake for hydraulic mining. Though they are no longer used for such functions, the flumes can still be seen to gush water along the 22.5-km (14-mi) line. The lake itself is known for its pebble beach, which stretches around the entire lake. Campers can enjoy the lake and the beach throughout the summer months.

Rainbow Cove, situated east of the narrows, offers a mixture of open field and wooded sites, as well as semi-private sites that line the eastern shore of the lake. An overnight stay in this area provides a complete experience of the wilderness. The park is a Caribou habitat reserve, and some lucky visitors will have the chance to witness these creatures undisturbed in their natural setting.

Those with an interest in river sports can camp along the Omineca River. The camping spot is located at the 13 mile marker, and offers access to the river. Though it is not suitable for trailer boat launching, the river is ideal for kayaking, fishing, and canoeing. Finally, this provincial park offers a walk-in only, completely pristine camping location in its southern quarter. Nina Lake Area Walk-in is user maintained and is an adventurer's opportunity to experience the nature of the park in its purest form. This site too is only accessible from June through October.

BEST LOOKOUT POINTS: NAIKOON PROVINCIAL PARK

Located 110 km (68 mi) southwest of Prince Rupert is Graham Island, the largest of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Accessible by ferry from Prince Rupert, this northerly island offers a unique natural landscape found nowhere else on earth. The Queen Charlottes escaped much of the glaciation of the last ice age, which, together with their isolation from the mainland, resulted in a unique biological zone; an area that has been dubbed the “Galapagos of the North." Graham Island in particular displays its solarity by being the only area on the planet where Sitka Spruce grows naturally.

It comes as no surprise, then, that such an exceptional geographical location is home to several of the nation's most amazing lookout points and views. Naikoon Provincial Park encompasses some of Graham Island's most dramatic natural scenery. Sandy beaches form the entire northern and eastern edges of the park, and as the park is mostly low and flat, any hills that do ascend the landscape offer breathtaking, unhindered views over the Pacific.

Pesuta Shipwreck 3

Tow Hill is renowned for the incredible sights seen from its peak. Made up of an outcrop of basalt columns, it is located on the northern end of Naikoon Peninsula, at the northeast corner of Graham Island. On the short hike up Tow Hill, hikers encounter a small detour at the half-way point. This trail leads to Blow Hole, where incoming seawater is forced upward, creating a natural fountain. The trail then continues to the summit, and the views from the top are completely awe-inspiring. Beaches, the surrounding islands and unparalleled scapes of the Pacific Ocean are visible from the peak of Tow Hill. Hikers must be sure to remember their cameras.

While in Naikoon Provincial Park, visitors should also be sure to walk the Pesuta Shipwreck Hiking Trail. The 5-km (2.8-mi) hike leads to the Pesuta Shipwreck, an old log barge that crashed into the coast in 1928. Although it is not a panoramic sort of site, the shipwreck is a site to behold in its impressive ruin.

BEST LAKES: TYHEE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK & BOYA LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK

Wakeboarding4

Located several kilometres outside the town of Telkwa, the picturesque Tyhee Lake is known for its vast sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. Tyhee Lake Provincial Park is situated in the heart of the Bulkley River Valley, where visitors can explore the lakeshore and surrounding aspen forests on numerous hiking trails, and enjoy various watersports and peaceful picnic areas. The park offers several boat launches, all of which can be used for everything from canoes to motor boats. Fishing is the primary activity at Tyhee Lake, which is abundant with Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Pygmy Whitefish.

The park is home to a variety of unique wildlife, and an interpretive nature trail leads to a marsh where hikers can observe loons, rednecked grebes, ruffed grouse, and beavers. The campground in the park is home to 59 sites, including two double sites. The well maintained grounds provide showers, flush toilets, and recreational facilities. Visitors can enjoy volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and several play areas for children. Open seasonally from June through October, the site closes when the snow begins to fall.

Lake lovers who prefer water sports to fishing and wildlife will be right at home in Boya Lake Provincial Park. It is one of the few lakes in northern BC that is warm enough to swim in during the summer months. There are several islands and bays within the large lake, all of which were formed by sweeping glaciers 10,000 years ago. Boasting superb water quality, Boya Lake becomes a prime location for water skiing, wake boarding and wake surfing from June through September.

BEST SKIING: STUART RIVER PROVINCIAL PARK

Stuart River Provincial Park is home to one of northern BC's prime ski resorts. Murray Ridge Ski Hill is known for its great powder, sunny days and breath-taking views from its peaks. The hill has many downhill routes for skiers and snowboarders, as well as more than 20 km (12 mi) of cross-country trails. The hills are family friendly, with a collection of training runs for beginners and young skiers. More advanced skiers can enjoy the back trails, all accessible from the main slopes, and all with challenges for thrill seekers. The lodge provides food, refreshments, and rental equipment.

	A Cross Country Skier5

Located only 10 km (6 mi) south of the park is the town of Fort St James, an area with much to explore and discover. The town itself originated as a trading post in 1806 for the North West Company led by explorer Simon Fraser. The area formed the heart of the fur trading district, and was the point of contact between the local First Nations and the European fur traders. Today, Fort St James is a national historic site with buildings dating back to the 1800s, all rich in culture and history.

1. British Columbian Cascade ; Monkman Provincial Park, BC, Canada
2. Rustic Camping; Omineca Provincial Park, BC, Canada
3. Pesuta Shipwreck; Graham Island, BC, Canada
4. Wakboarding; Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, BC, Canada
5. Cross Country Skiing; Stuart RIver Provincial Park, BC, Canada