At 981,000 ha (2,428,000 acres) Tweedsmuir is BC's largest park. The elongated triangular park encompasses rugged mountains, sparkling rivers, BC's largest expanse of intact forest, and pristine wilderness in the heart of British Columbia.

In order to provide wildlife with the range they need to survive, Tweedsmuir was augmented in the 1990s by the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy on the west, and the newly formed Entiako Park to the east. Another protected area, Itcha-Ilgachuz Park, is located about 15 km (9 mi) from Tweedsmuir's eastern border. Tweedsmuir 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.

"The elongated triangular park encompasses rugged mountains, sparkling rivers, BC's largest expanse of intact forest, and pristine wilderness in the heart of British Columbia."

Because of its huge size, Tweedsmuir is subdivided into a Northern and Southern area by Highway 20.

The Northern portion of the park is approximately 90 km (56 mi) south of Highway 16, between Burns Lake and Houston. The main access route into the northern region of the park is via the Nechako Reservoir (Ootsa and Whitesail Lakes). The reservoir can be reached from Burns Lake or Houston. From Burns Lake drive south 65 km (40 mi) on Highway 35, or from Houston 96 km (60 mi) alongside the Morice River, then past Owen Lake to Wistaria Landing and Wistaria Provincial Park on Ootsa Lake.

Click on the map to view an enlargement

Access to South Tweedsmuir Park is from Highway 20, 56 km (35 mi) east of Bella Coola. Public transportation is very limited, as there is only air and some water access. Pacific Coastal flies daily between Vancouver and Bella Coola and Sharp Wings - weather permitting - flies between Williams Lake and Bella Coola. Charter-flight operators will fly passengers from Bella Coola or Nimpo Lake to the lakes within the parks.

"Linking new parks to Tweedsmuir provided wildlife with
the range needed for their survival."

Tweedsmuir is home to an extensive variety of wildlife; woodland caribou, mountain goats, mule deer, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, and wolves. In particular, Tweedsmuir and the adjacent Entiako and Itcha-Ilgachuz Parks protect the most important woodland caribou populations (5300 animals) in Southern Canada. Trekkers in the alpine meadows may encounter wolverines, hoary marmots, and Siberian lemmings and such bird species as including willow ptarmigans, gray-crowned rosy finches and golden-crowned sparrows. The swamps and ponds are home to numerous waterfowl including the beautiful Trumpeter Swan, and dead trees in the Nechako Reservoir provide nesting sites for ospreys.

Tweedsmuir's importance to wildlife results from in its large size. Wildlife require extensive areas of undisturbed habitat in order to maintain healthy viable populations. Since Tweedsmuir itself is large, and it is surrounded by several other protected areas, it is able to provide this vital habitat. The importance of these expansive areas can be explained by the emerging science of Conservation Biology.

North Tweedsmuir is dominated by two ecological zones, the alpine tundra and the sub-boreal spruce, while South Tweedsmuir has four; alpine tundra, Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir, sub-boreal spruce, and coastal western hemlock. The park features incredibly diverse terrain, ranging from the rolling hills of the Fraser Plateau to the spectacularly-hued Rainbow Mountains. The Rainbows, called 'Tsitsutl' meaning 'painted mountains' in the local dialect, features domes of eroded lava and fragmented rock in breathtaking colors of red, orange, yellow, and lavender.

Tweedsmuir offers an extensive variety of outdoor experiences including hiking, photography, river fishing and drifting, canoeing and kayaking, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, and snowmobiling (in limited areas).

Angling is one of the most popular activities in the park. The Bella Coola and Atnarko Rivers are filled with steelhead, trout, coho and chinook salmon, while the Dean River is renowned for fly fishing. Dolly Varden, cutthroat and rainbow trout, and whitefish can be found in surrounding lakes. Rainbow trout weighing up to 7 kgs (15 lbs) and char up to 13 kgs (30 lbs) are often caught in these lakes. Before fishing in the park, be sure to obtain the appropriate fishing licence.

Canoeing is another favorite recreation opportunity in the park. The Turner Lake chain is a 19 km (12 mi) route through seven lakes, connected with short easy portages, with excellent cutthroat trout fishing. For this circuit canoes must be airlifted in or rented at Turner Lake. Nearby, Hunlen Falls, one of BC's highest waterfalls, descends 260 m (867 ft) in a veil of beauty.

There are about 42 wilderness campsites in the park, and several trails lead to smaller lakes and alpine tundra in both the Chikamin and Zuanchus mountain ranges. Day hike trails include the Kettle Ponds and Burnt Bridge.

An unusual site in Tweedsmuir is the Eagle Creek Agate-Opal Site, one of the few known areas in BC where precious opals are found. Leaf-green, white and amber agates, common opal, and some of the rare precious opals all exist in this area.

"Historic trails which were once used by explorers and surveyors to transport fur and gold to the Pacific, now form the basis of the park's network of hiking and horse-packing routes."

This area has been used for thousands of years by the Nuxalk (Bella Coola) people of the coast and the Tsihquot'in people of the interior, who have depended on the abundant salmon in its rivers. Historic trails, which were once used by explorers and surveyors to transport fur and gold to the Pacific, now form the basis of the park's network of hiking and horse-packing routes. The most famous trail is the Alexander Mackenzie Trail, used by Mackenzie as he passed through this area in 1793, en route in his historic journey to be the first European to reach the Pacific overland.

Tweedsmuir Park was established May 21, 1938. The park was named after the 15th Governor General of Canada, John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield. The Governor General travelled extensively throughout the park in the early 1900's and in the foreword to his book he wrote "I have now travelled over most of Canada and have seen many wonderful things, but I have seen nothing more beautiful and more wonderful than the great park which British Columbia has done me the honor to call by my name."

"Tweedsmuir is home to an extensive variety of wildlife, including woodland caribou, mountain goats, mule deer, moose, black bears, grizzly bears, and wolves. "

Become Involved!