Mount Edziza Provincial Park, Telegraph Creek, Kinaskan Lake

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Mount Edziza
Mount Edziza Provincial Park is located south-west of Dease Lake and south of Telegraph Creek in the Stewart Cassiar Region of British Columbia.

Tahltan First Nations
To get here, travel on Hwy 37 to Iskut where the park is due east; from Telegraph Creek, it is located south across the Stikine River. Mount Edziza Provincial Park is considered sacred land by the local Tahltan First Nations. The park contains a number of unique geographical features, including up to 30 volcanic cinder cones, vast evidence of lava flows, lakes, and water features. Mount Edziza Provincial Park is also a breeding ground for various wildlife, including Mountain goats, Stone sheep, moose, caribou, and raptors.

Accessing the Park
You can enter this wilderness park via trails off Hwy 37 by horseback or foot that will take you up in the alpine to a variety of vegetation and landscapes, including a number of small lakes. The access point to Mowdade Lake is located near Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park along Willow Creek Forest Service Road. Caution must be taken as the route is generally overgrown and involves multiple water crossings. Most of the trail networks are overgrown and people attempting to enter the park need to contact the office for the BC Parks Stikine region at 250-771-4591 for current conditions and updates on any possible hazards.

Telegraph Creek
Other ways into the park include wilderness trails situated south of the "The Grand Canyon of the Stikine," near Telegraph Creek or via helicopter. No motorized vehicles of any kind are permitted within Mount Edziza Provincial Park. Acquiring access from Telegraph Creek across the lower Stikine River might also require the permission of local First Nations.

"The Grand Canyon of the Stikine"
There is a non-navigational section of the Stikine River that is often referred to as "The Grand Canyon of the Stikine." Listed as a potential site for a large BC Hydro dam in the 1970s, this 80 km (50 mile) canyon has been carved out of the rock by the untamed Stikine River and has very limited access.

Stikine River Recreational Area
The canyon was thankfully saved from development by protests from environmentalists and the Tahltan First Nations. Now a part of the Stikine River Recreational Area, the canyon is home to a large population of Mountain goats and various nesting birds. This country is very remote, dangerous, and full of Grizzly bears.

Environmentally Fragile
The canyon cliffs, especially along the Stikine River, tend to be unstable with crumbling rock sides falling towards the river, dropping thousands of feet below. To get into this environmentally-sensitive area requires the assistance of hunting guides with pack horses or air travel via helicopter. Because of its remoteness, the park requires visitors to be well prepared for the extreme wilderness and possible dangerous conditions. Satellite phones and communication warning devices are highly recommended once inside the park. In spite of the hazards, the photo opportunities are out of this world and the wilderness scenery is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Local Guides
Local guides from Iskut, Tatogga Lake, Dease Lake, or Telegraph Creek should be consulted before entering the park. In the Kakiddi chain and at Buckley Lake, fishing is allowed during certain times of the year for various species as long as you carry the appropriate fishing license. Please refer to the Freshwater Fishing Synopsis for details and consult the guides for possible adventures. With a Limited Entry Hunting Authorization, you can also have opportunities for Grizzly bear, mountain goat, sheep, and Cariboo sightings at Mount Edziza Provincial Park.

Bear Country
Just remember if you are enjoying the provincial parks and the countryside around British Columbia, please remember this is bear country. Try to avoid the rivers during heavy salmon spawning times unless you feel comfortable with bears around and take the usual precautions. There is also the possibilities of encounters with wolves or cougars so please play it safe.

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