CCCS BC Parks Guide

Cariboo Chilcotin and Central Coast
BC Parks and Trails

Sites of Interest
Our Parks, Our Heritage
The Cariboo Chilcotin

Conservation Society
Working to ensure the preservation and maintenance
of healthy, functioning ecosystems!
Tatlyoko Lake, photo Marg Evans
Our Parks Our Heritage guide is one of the

ways the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society
promotes sustainable, healthy functioning
ecosystems within our region. Along with details
on our regions Parks, we have included sites
where a resident or tourist can stop and enjoy
the surroundings, or learn more of the fine
details on the areas flora and fauna (see Scout
Island Nature Centre, Baker Creek Enhancement
Society, and the Horsefly Spawning Channels).
We have chosen to create this guide out of
non-glossy, recyclable materials to enable its
re-entry back into the environment after it
has been used, re-used, passed on to friends
and finally become too frayed to read!
Cariboo Chilcotin (viewable on our website), and

environmental sustainability throughout the
region. CCCS provides presentations, displays,
materials and forums on specific issues related
to the environment. CCCS sponsors modules on
sustainable ecosystems, watersheds, and species
at risk in our regions outdoor school (see Gavin
Lake) and runs a Water Wise water conservation
program, and a regional Waste Wise education
program, delivering classes both within the
schools of our region and within the community.
For more information on the Cariboo Chilcotin

Conservation Society,
contact coordinator
Marg Evans at 1.250.398.7929 or email
ccentre@ccconserv.org or visit us online at
Our History Originally formed in 1992 as www.ccconserv.org For Water Wise info contact
the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Council us at waterwise@ccconserv.org or Waste Wise at
(CCCC), the purpose of which was to represent wastewise@ccconserv.org .
and provide a voice for conservation interests
of the Cariboo Chilcotin region at the Funding support for the printing of this guide
Commission on Resources and Environment has been gratefully received from:
(CORE). The CCCC was very involved in the The Williams Lake and District Credit Union, the
development of the Cariboo Chilcotin Land Pacific Salmon Foundation, the Williams Lake
Use Plan, released in 1994. Incorporated as Log Haulers, BC Parks, Ecosystems Restoration
the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society in Steering Committee, and the Province of BC,
1996, CCCS has continued to be involved in the, Recreation Sites and Trails. We are very grateful
planning processes of Park Management and for their support, without which this Guide
Development, the San Jose Watershed group, would not be available in print, to be carried
Ecosystems Restoration Steering Committee, the about in your backpack as you enjoy the scenery
Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, the and identify the wildlife!
development of a Conservation Strategy for the
Page 2
The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society sponsors BC Parks Visitors Guide for the Cariboo, Chilcotin, and Central Coast
Table of Contents
Coastal stream, photo Chris Armstrong
Introduction...................................................... pg 2
Provincial Parks Map ..................................pg 4 & 5
Why Have Parks & Protected Areas .............pg 6 & 7
Recreation Sites & Trails..............................pg 8 & 9
Back Country Ethics ........................................ pg 10
Mountain Biking ............................................. pg 11
Baker Creek Nature Centre ...................... pg 12 & 13
Scout Island Nature Centre ..................... pg 14 & 15
Stream to Sea .................................................. pg 16
Gavin Lake Outdoor Education Centre ......pg 17 & 18
Big Bar Lake Provincial Park ............................. pg 19
Big Creek Provincial Park .................................. pg 20
Historic Barkerville ........................................... pg 21
Barkerville Campsites........................................ pg 21
Bull Canyon Provincial Park ............................ pg 23
Bowron Lake Provincial Park .................. pg 24 & 25
Bridge Lake Provincial Park ............................ pg 26
Cedar Point Class C Provincial Park ................. pg 27
Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park ................. pg 28
Downing Provincial Park................................. pg 29
Green Lake Provincial Park ............................. pg 30
Horsefly Spawning Channel & Trail ................. pg 31
Horsefly Lake Provincial Park.................. pg 32 & 33
Churn Creek Protected Area ............................ pg 34
Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park ..... pg 35 - 37
Lac La Hache Provincial Park .......................... pg 38
Moose Valley Provincial Park .......................... pg 39
Nazko Lake Provincial Park ............................. pg 40
Ecological Reserves ......................................... pg 41
Ecological Integrity ......................................... pg 41

Ecosystems Restoration ............................ pg 42 - 45
Pinnacles Provincial Park ................................ pg 46
Puntchesakut Lake Provincial Park ................. pg 47
Ruth Lake Provincial Park ............................... pg 47
Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park ......................... pg 48
Species at Risk .......................................... pg 49 - 56
Water Wise ...................................................... pg 56
Tweedsmuir Provincial Park ................... pg 57 & 58
Tsyl-os Provincial Park............................ pg 59 & 60
Wetland of the Cariboo Chilcotin ............ pg 61 - 63
Ducks Unlimited Wetlands ...................... pg 64 & 65
Williams Lake River Valley Trail ...................... pg 66
Save Our Wildflowers ............................... pg 67 - 75
Bears & Cougars ...................................... pg 76 & 77
Wildlife Viewing ....................................... pg 78 - 81
Waste Wise & Wildlife...................................... pg 81
Birds of the Cariboo Chilcotin .................. pg 82 - 92
Marine Ethics .................................................. pg 93
Marine Parks ........................................... pg 94 & 95
Salmonids of the Cariboo Chilcotin.........pg 96 - 103
Salmon Sensitive Habitat Alert ..................... pg 103
Front Cover Photo:
Lupins & Paintbrush at Monarch Mountain

in the Cariboo Chilcotin,
photo Chris Czajkowski
Page 3
54
56
141
6. LAC LA HACHE
83
7. HORSEFLY LAKE
23
8. BULL CANYON
20
9. NAZKO LAKE - Deerpelt Lake
9. NAZKO LAKE - Loomis Lake
10. TSYL-OS - Nu Chugh Beniz
15
11. TSYL-OS - Gwa Da Tsih
12. SOUTH TWEEDSMUIR
42
13. PINNACLES
14. PUNTCHESAKUT LAKE
141
16. KLUSKOIL LAKE
17. BOWRON LAKE
Bo w
25
Canoe
Route
Showers
Hiking/
Walking
KLUSKOIL LAKE .20
5. MOOSE VALLEY
15. TEN MILE LAKE
BoatBOWRON
Launch LAKE .21
BARKERVILLE - Government Hill .18
25
16
51
4. GREEN LAKE - Arrowhead

4. GREEN LAKE - Emerald Bay
Read the white columns for the parks listed on the left and the green columns for the parks listed on the right.
Fishing- Ghost Lake .19

CARIBOO MOUNTAINS
87
46
25
Sani-Station
TEN MILE LAKE .17
BARKERVILLE - Lowhee .18

Swimming
BARKERVILLE
- Forest Rose .18
PUNTCHESAKUT LAKE .16
SOUTH
TWEEDSMUIR .14
Picnicking/
Day UsePINNACLES .15
TSYL-OS
- GwaCampsites
Da Ts'ih (North End) .13
16
15
4. GREEN LAKE - Sunset View
2. Big Bar Lake

3. BRIDGE LAKE
18
42
1. DOWNING
TSYL-OS
- Nu Chugh
Beniz (Movie Site) .12
Vehicle/Tent
CAMPGROUNDS
& DAY USE AREAS
DAY USE AREAS
Provincial Parks of the Cariboo
Page 4
Two red fox play in snow,

photo Chris Armstrong
Ootsa Lake
Tahtsa
Lake
How To Use This Matrix:
32
10. CEDAR POINT
9. NAZKO LAKE - Deerpelt Lake

9. NAZKO LAKE - Loomis Lake
4
5. MOOSE VALLEY
20
51
4. GREEN LAKE - Emerald Bay
8. BULL CANYON
16
4. GREEN LAKE - Arrowhead
83
54
4. GREEN LAKE - Sunset View
23
16
3. BRIDGE LAKE
7. HORSEFLY LAKE
46
2. BIG BAR LAKE
Battle Mountain, Bull Canyon Provincial Park,

photo Chris Armstrong
6. LAC LA HACHE
18
DAY USE AREAS
1. DOWNING
Class A Parks added in 2013: These 17 new Class A Parks and 5 enlarged Parks [areas in pink] on the map were
established to protect diverse habitat ranging from biologically rich wetlands to undisturbed grasslands.
They are home to many species at risk, as well as provide significant habitat for all fish and wildlife.
Burke
Channel
Whitesail
Lake
S.
t
en
Ar
12
Class A Parks
Added 2014
11
Ri v e r
TSYL-OS
PARK
Chilko
Lake
10
er
Taseko
Lakes
Alexis Creek
8
BULL
CANYON
PARK
NAZKO
LAKE
PARK
B r i d ge
Ri v
er
BIG
CREEK
PARK
er
FLAT
LAKE
PARK
MOOSE
VALLEY
PARK 5
Mahood
Lake
Green
Lake
400 - 640 Borland Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 4T1

TEL: (250) 398-4530 FAX: (250) 398-4214
Website: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks
Bo
na
GREEN
LAKE
4 PARK e
100 Mile House

BRIDGE
3 LAKE
SCHOOLHOUSE
LAC LA HACHE LAKE
PARK PARK
6
Crooked
Lake
Hobson
Lake
WELLS
GRAY
PARK
Clearwater
Lake
CARIBOO
MOUNTAINS
PARK
CEDAR Quesnel
POINT Lake
PARK
HORSEFLY
7 LAKE PARK
Horsefly
Likely
CARIBOO
RIVER
BAR
MARBLE 2 BIG
LAKE
CHURN
RANGE
PARK
CREEK
PARK
PROTECTED
AREA
Clinton
EDGE
HILLS
PARK
1
DOWNING
PARK
Gang
Ranch
JUNCTION
SHEEP
RANGE
PARK
Williams Lake
e sn e l R i v e r
BC Parks, Cariboo Region Office
NUNSTI
PARK
ko
Questions or comments
regarding these parks
may be directed to:
Tatlayoko
Lake
ti
i ver
Ta se k o R
Shoreline/Ocean
hi
BOWRON
LAKE
PARK
BARKERVILLE
r
er R i v e
Road, Loose Surface
Road, Paved
Bute
Inlet
Qu
17
Wells
as
Major Highway
Knight
Inlet
HOMATHKO
RIVER-TATLAYOKO
PROTECTED AREA
Charlotte
Lake
ITCHA ILGACHUZ
PARK
13
14
PINNACLES
PUNTCHESAKUT PARK
LAKE PARK
Nazko
TEN MILE 15
LAKE
PARK
Quesnel
Fr
ParkArea
BC Parks Campground
/Day Use Area
ve
Anahim
Lake
Bonaparte
Lake
er
Highway Symbol
i
ol
a R
an
LEGEND
Owikeno Lake
Co
De
Ro a
16
o Ri v e r
iv
in
Bel l a
TWEEDSMUIR PARK
t
es
k
Ch i l a
KLUSKOIL
LAKE PARK
e
Ri v
lc
Bella Coola
Eutsuk
Lake
Tetachuck
Lake
v er
se r
ve
r
Fr a
i R
i
iv
Kl i n ak l i n
Ri v
Ri
ll
hi
l
Wi
v er
B i g C re
Ri
rt
pa
ro
Page 5
Why Have Parks

& Protected Areas?
Pair of Mule Deer blend into their environment, photo Chris Armstrong
British Columbia is home to many nationally

and internationally significant natural
and cultural values. To ensure that these
values are afforded legal protection parks,
ecological reserves and protected areas have
been established. Parks and protected areas
are managed for important conservation
values and are intended to preserve natural
environments and cultural features for the
inspiration, use and enjoyment of the public.
Within the Cariboo and Chilcotin there are
spectacular glacier clad mountain peaks,
sparkling lakes (including the deepest fjord
lake in the world), rolling grasslands and
majestic forests. Whether you travel by foot,
Dantes Inferno, photo Trish Hoffos

Page 6
canoe or horseback; or simply wish to enjoy a

day at the beach with your family, you can find
it in the parks of our region.
British Columbians have worked to protect
special features such as habitat for endangered
species and special landforms of the province.
The parks of BC serve to represent each of the
provinces 100 ecosections, or natural regions.
In February 2013, seventeen new Class A parks
were established and additions were added
to five existing Class A parks in the CaribooChilcotin Region. These additions to the BC
Parks system were a result of the CaribooChilcotin Goal 2 (Special Features) land use
planning process. These are smaller
parks and include natural, cultural
and recreational areas.
These new parks and additions to
existing parks were established to
protect diverse habitat ranging from
biologically rich wetlands (Beaver
Valley Park) to undisturbed grasslands
of the porcupine grass ecosystems
(Bechers Prairie Park). Species at Risk
that use these new parks include
trumpeter swan, sandhill crane, fisher,
northern bittern, wolverine, sharptailed grouse, great blue heron and
flammulated owl. These significant
areas also contribute to moose and
Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy, photo Chris Armstrong
mule deer winter habitat and special features

like mineral licks and fish habitat.
Other biophysical features captured in these
new parks include complex glacial features
(Copper Johnny Park), high scenic values
(Dantes Inferno Park) and viewscapes (Dragon
Mountain Park), medicinal plants, and
archaeological values related to aboriginal use.
Although these new parks do not have any
Curious Moose, photo Chris Armstrong
park facilities, some were established for their

high recreational values: hiking trails, access
to heritage trail, horse trails (Big Basin Park),
fishing, wildlife viewing and water recreation
(Flat Lake Park and Bridge Lake Park Additions).
Protected areas are
set aside as nature
preserves,
as
scientific research
areas, and as places
for
education
and
recreation.
Protected
areas
help
conserve
our natural and
biological diversity,
and our cultural
heritage. They also
contribute to the
growth of tourism
and
economic
diversification.
Descriptions
of
Chipmunk, photo
these parks can
Marianne & Don Piller
be found on the
BC
government
website, www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks. The
BC government achieved its commitment to
meeting the 1992 United Nations challenge of
protecting 12% of our land base in protected
areas.
Page 7
Recreation Sites & Trails
Crooked Lake south recreation site, photo RST BC
BC offers a host of exceptional recreation

opportunities. While some of the Provinces
most spectacular recreation features are located
in parks, many more recreation resources are
found in the rugged and real backcountry. The
backcountry provides an abundance of great
places to have fun and enjoy nature through
activities such as camping, boating, fishing,
hunting, mountain climbing, hiking, kayaking,
mountain biking, ATVing, cross-country skiing,
snowmobiling, and exploring. So get to know
BCs backcountry its the perfect place to
experience the wonders of the outdoors and
create memories that will last a lifetime.
outside of parks and settled areas. They provide

enjoyable recreation experiences generally
within an integrated resource management
setting. Recreation sites and trails were formerly
known as Forest Service recreation sites and
trails, and were once the responsibility of the
BC Ministry of Forests and Range. They are now
the responsibility of Recreation Sites and Trails
BC (RSTBC) of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO).
Recreation Sites
Recreation sites provide a simple, rustic
camping experience. Generally located in
remote areas and accessed by gravel forestry
Recreation sites and trails are public roads, recreation sites provide only basic
campgrounds and trails located on Crown land facilities, such as fire rings, picnic tables,
outhouses, and, where appropriate,
boat-launching ramps. Potable water is
not available, and there is no electricity
at recreation sites. At a limited number
of recreation sites with on-site operators,
supervisory services are provided. There
are two basic types of recreation sites,
those with fees and those without.
Gavin Lake Recreation Trail, photo Mike Tudor

Page 8
Sites with Fees - These sites are managed

through
partnership
agreements
with recreation groups, community
organizations, First Nations, private
citizens, local governments and forest
companies. Camping fees are charged
to pay for the services provided by the
agreement holder, which may include
Chimney Lake recreation site, photo RST BC
supervision, daily maintenance, and facility/

structure maintenance. Camping fees can
range from $12-$15 per night for a person,
family or party of six. Overnight fees are
paid for a 24-hour period beginning at 12:00
noon on the day in which camping begins.
The Recreation Regulation states that each
person/party must only occupy one campsite.
The definition of a party is a group of
not more than 6 persons or parents and
unmarried children under 19, or guardians
and unmarried wards under 19 that arrive in
not more than one motor vehicle, other than
a motorcycle, unless the additional motor
vehicle is a commuter vehicle or towed.
Sites without Fees - These sites are managed
through partnership agreements or
maintenance contracts. No fees are charged for
the services provided because the agreement
holder has alternative ways of recovering the
costs (e.g., volunteers), or the ministry covers
the cost of the maintenance contract.
Recreation Trails
BCs recreation trails are used for many
different purposes (hiking, horseback riding,
mountain biking, ATV riding, cross-country
skiing, and snowmobiling). The types of trails
available can range from rustic, single-track
paths through dense forest to wide-tracked rail
trails with high quality tread surfaces. Many of
our trails are set in spectacular natural settings,
and in addition to providing access to beautiful
destinations (e.g., recreation features), they

also provide users with a sense of enjoyment,
fulfilment and accomplishment along the
journey. There are also many historical and
heritage trails in BC that traces the footsteps
of our forbearers and reminds us of important
events in the development of the province.
BC is blessed with an extensive network of
recreation trails and the potential to develop
a tourism destination of world-class stature.
Similar to recreation sites, some recreation
trails have user fees while others are free
of charge. Recreation trails where fees are
charged are managed under a partnership
agreement whereby the partner charges
a fee for services provided, such as trail
grooming, brushing, and other maintenance
activities. For More details please visit us at
www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca or on Facebook.
Recreation trail at Gavin Lake and Director Mike Tudor,

photo Darryl Triebner
Page 9
Back Country
Ethics
Wilderness lake in the Chilcotin, photo Chris Czajkowski
The Cariboo Chilcotins wilderness areas are

a popular destination for both residents and
visitors. Popularity has its drawbacks, though.
Over-use and improper traveling and camping
practices in the backcountry have led to damage
to the natural environment and unfulfilled
wilderness expectations. To retain the high
quality of our wilderness experiences, we all
must accept responsibility for minimizing our
impact.
Special care must be taken in alpine and subalpine areas. These are among the most fragile
because of severe conditions and a short growing
season. To preserve this pristine wilderness, it is
important to hike on designated trails, put up
your tent on tent pads where provided and use
a backpacking stove for cooking rather than an
open fire.
camp is broken, there should be no sign of

human use. Leave the area in better condition
than when you arrived.
IF YOU PACK IT INPACK IT OUT - Take
along a garbage bag and carry out all trash that
you generate including biodegradable scraps
such as apple cores, orange peels, etc.
Use portable gas stoves for cooking.
Boil or filter and treat water before drinking it.
Any washing activities should take place at
least 200 feet from natural water sources
If there is no outhouse provided, burying your
waste in a shallow hole is the best disposal
method. The hole should be located at least
200 feet from any water sources, campsites,
and trails.
Pack out all tampons and disposable diapers
Avoid urinating on plants because animals are
attracted to the salty liquid.
For washing and tooth paste, take phosphate
free, bio-degradable products.
If taking pets into the backcountry, especially

dogs, take extra care that they do not disturb
other campers, foul trails or aggravate wildlife.
If you are not confident that you can manage
them, leave the pets at home.
Take your photos and memories home with
you but please leave the site with no trace
Everyone who uses the backcountry must strive of your visit, so that others may also enjoy our
for no trace camping. In other words, when protected areas.
Page 10
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking on a Cariboo trail, photo John Wellburn
The Cariboo Region is your doorway to the

most unique mountain bike experience in the
North America. Fast, flowy and tight are the best
words to describe the experience youll have
on one of the largest legal trail networks in the
Province. From all mountain single track, to the
most progressive free-riding, to truly epic cross
country, the Cariboo has something for every
style and skill level of rider. The Cariboo boasts
seven trail networks across the communities
of 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, Quesnel and
Wells. For detailed trails maps, videos, photos
and trip planning information visit: http://
ridethecariboo.ca
muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage, so

when the trail bed is soft, consider other riding
options. This also means staying on existing trails
andnotcreating new ones.Building of mountain
bike trails and trail technical features on public
and private land is illegal and can be hazardous
for the inexperienced or unwary. Dont cut
switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much
as you pack in.
Always Yield the Trail. Respect your fellow
trail users and let them know youre coming.
Show your respect when passing by slowing to a
walking pace or even stopping. Anticipate other
trail users around corners or in blind spots.
Like all activities, however, mountain biking

needs to happen in the right place and with Never Frighten Animals. Respect livestock
consideration to other users and environmental and wildlife. All animals are startled by an
values.
unannounced approach, a sudden movement,
or a loud noise. This can be dangerous for you,
Ride On Open Trails Only. Respect trail and others, and the animals. Use special care when
road closures (ask if uncertain). Avoid trespassing passing horses on the trail. Disturbing wildlife is
on private land and a serious offense. Leave gates as you found them,
obtain permits or or as marked.
other authorization
if required. The way Within the B.C. Parks of our region, mountain
you ride will influence biking is in prominent use. In the Quesnel
trail management area, the recently established Dragon Mountain
decisions and policies Park is home to some of the best free-ride
in the future. Stay off mountain biking in the region. In the Chilcotin
the grass.
region, mountain biking in Big Creek park is
an established use that links to the legendary
Leave No Trace. South Chilcotin Mountains. Visithttp://www.env.
Respect the land you gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ for more details on specific
ride on. Practice low-impact cycling. Wet and Parks and mountain biking restrictions.
Page 11
Nature Education
and Resource Centre
Come enjoy our Urban Oasis!
Baker Creeks Spring Break Camp, photo Baker Creek Education Society (BCES)
The Nature Education and Resource Centre

was opened in 2002 and is still going strong
and constantly improving. It was started by
Baker Creek Enhancement Society to foster
awareness, stewardship and restoration of our
local environment. The centre is located on
the south side of the Quesnel River in West
Fraser Timber Park, adjacent to the Johnson
subdivision. From downtown head to Johnston
subdivision, cross the Johnston Bridge, turn
right and look for the West Fraser Timber Park
sign.
When youre done hiking come inside and

take a look around. We have freshwater and
saltwater tanks filled with local fish and marine
life that you rarely get a chance to see in their
natural habitat. Check out our many displays
and ever changing exhibits. If you are looking
for specific information feel free to browse our
many books ranging from childrens literature
to University level texts, and if you cant find
what youre looking for, feel free to ask. Well
help out with your questions as much as we
can.
There is plenty to do whether youre young or

old. Explore over six kilometers of forest and
wetland trails, ranging from easy walking to hill
climbing. Make sure to keep a camera ready for
the wildlife, squirrels, deer, moose and bear
that are common visitors. Check out the bird
observatory deck along the main trail for many
birding opportunities and a great view of the
local wetland area. For a spectacular view of
the entire area, check out the more challenging
Summit Trail.
Educational programs (field trips, hikes,

activities) can be booked by schools, youth
groups, and the general public. Topics include:
Orienteering. We have a newly installed
orienteering course with beginner and
intermediate levels: a great introduction
to orienteering, and how to properly use
a map and compass. Also a great teambuilding activity for work groups, etc.
Stream to Sea: connecting local fish
habitats to the ocean.
Page 12
Wildlife, Habitats and Ecosystems,

and human impacts.
Sustainable Living: learn how you
can do your part to reduce waste and
protect our ecosystem.
Air Quality: the air in the Quesnel
area is some of the worst in the
entire province of BC. Find out why
and what you can do about it.
Spring and summer day camps
for kids aged 5-12. Participants
will play games, go for nature
hikes and learn about the
environment.
Keep an eye out for our
special events such as
Environmental Mind Grind
(new to Quesnel), Earth
Day, Oceans Day, National
Wildlife Week and many more.
Just contact us and well arrange
something for you!
Baker Creek Education

Centre, photo BCES
Contact us: We are

located in West Fraser
Timber park, behind the
playground, upstairs of the
concession building. Phone
at 250-992-5833 or fax 250-9925010, or e-mail us at bces@telus.net.
A Swallowtail butterfly feeds on clover,

photo Marianne & Don Piller
Young fawn blends in, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Eastern Kingbird,
photo Kris Andrews
Don & Marianne Piller, wildlife photographers. Their

work reflects a driving passion to capture the animals
beauty and expressions and their love for all creatures.
Contact them at donpill@telus.net.
Page 13
Scout Island Nature Centre

The wild side of Williams Lake
Scout Island aerial view, photo Leo Rankin
A visit to Scout Island Nature Centre in Williams

Lake is an encounter with diversity. The
land, the people, the life forms, the range of
activities -- all contribute to a rich experience
every time.
wetland and riparian zones to rocky dry-belt

fir and grasslands, along with the remarkable
variety of birds, mammals, invertebrates
and plants that they support. Observation
platforms, boardwalks, eco-sensitive trails and
interpretive signs make Scout Island a prime
Within the Nature Centres 10 hectares, wildlife viewing site, according to the Ministry
youll find landscapes ranging from thriving of Environments Wildlife Watch program. The
extensive marsh linking Williams
Lake with its outflow river valley
attracts a vibrant community
of migrating and nesting water
birds, including swans, pelicans,
loons, geese, and many species
of ducks. The observation deck
on top of the Nature House is a
dandy place to watch bald eagles,
osprey and the great blue heron
dive for fish in the marsh. Check
out the Field Naturalists website
www.williamslakefieldnaturalists.
ca . An interactive bird checklist
for the region is available there.
Trumpeter Swans, photo Marianne & Don Piller

Page 14
The Williams Lake Field Naturalists,

who have operated the Nature
Centre in partnership with the City
of Williams Lake and the Nature
Trust of BC for over 30 years, have
enhanced this already diverse
ecology with plantings of

native tree, shrub and forb
species. Many are raised
on site in the native plant
nursery. The grassland plant
exhibit south of the Nature
House displays droughttolerant cactus, sturdy sages,
larkspur and delicate flax
and many other specimens
from the Chilcotin.
Because Scout Island is also
a community park, with
picnic grounds, beach and
boat launch, people enjoy
it in diverse ways. Walking
the trails, or skiing them
in winter, is popular with
A mule deer feeds at Scout Island Nature Centre,
dogs and the well-trained
photo Kris Andrews
humans on the other end
salamanders or get to feed the toad. In nesting
of their leashes. Painters,
photographers and wedding parties find it an season, be sure to check out the webcam
you might be lucky and see the tree swallows
ideal venue.
hatch. And dont miss the bat cave! The Nature
Nature education forms the backbone of Scout House is open from April to October, or by
Islands mission, and the log Nature House is appointment.
its heart. Within, youll get a better look at
many of the water birds (stuffed, of course) in Connecting children with the natural world
naturalistic display. Temporary live exhibits is a joy for the Field Naturalists and staff.
change throughout the year: you might see Classes visit throughout the school year, while
newly-hatched salmon alevins, peek at shy summer, weekend and spring break programs
help them explore through games,
crafts and lots of outdoor activities.
Even the little ones are enchanted
with nature in their Discovery Preschool.
Free public lectures and nature
walks throughout the year keep
adults on the learning trail as well.
For information on events and
programs, or to book a special
experience for your family or
community group, call 250-3988532.
Beaver at Scout Island Nature Centre,

photo Kris Andrews
The Nature Centre gate is open

from 8:00 am to dusk all year.
Come experience this microcosm
of Cariboo-Chilcotin diversity, right
in the city, throughout the seasons.
Page 15
Stream to Sea
at Scout Island Nature House
Future stewards sample soil at Discovery Preschool, photo Scout Island Nature Centre
Did you know that the water flowing out of

Williams Lake and down the Williams Lake
River will eventually touch a sea star? And did
you know that salmon swimming far out in
the Pacific Ocean right now will return to the
Williams Lake River and some may make it as
far as Williams Lake?
Others will return to the Horsefly and Chilcotin

Rivers to spawn. At the Nature House we have
tanks of living creatures and plants collected
from the near shore environment close to
Nanaimo B.C.
There are sea stars, boring sponges, giant
plumose anemones, scallops, kelp crabs,
giant barnacles and more, and if you
time it right, you can watch them being
fed. This tank is visually connected to the
stream/lake tank where there are fish from
our local lake and stream.
Next to that is the marsh tank with a turtle
and frogs. Throughout all of the tanks are
samples of the plants (and invertebrates
-bugs) that are important parts of these
habitats. This display offers you a chance
to observe these creatures closely and
learn how they are connected to each
other and to us.
Exploring the tank life at Scout Island Nature Centre,

photo SINC
Page 16
Dont miss this chance to follow the stream

to the sea and visit with the wildlife along
the way.
Gavin Lake Outdoor

Education Program
Gavin Lake in the sun, photo Gavin Lake Centre
Once run by the BC Forestry Association as a

summer camp, in 1996 the Gavin Lake Forestry
Centre was taken over by local volunteers who
have worked hard over the years helping to
put the camp together. The Gavin Lake Forest
Education Society was formed and the camp
has never looked back. The Society lowered
the rental rates for camp and began working
on school programs. Gavin Lake offers a below
cost or subsidized rental
rate to school groups, youth
groups and non-profit groups,
providing a great venue for local
organizations.
Gavin Lakes most significant
achievement has been its grade
6 Outdoor Education program,
a totally free program for kids
in both School District #27 and
#28. Classes stay for 3 days
during the Fall or in the Winter
and run through a series of
education
modules
that
broaden their understanding of
the forest and wetlands around
them, sharing with them the
fun of being outdoors. In the
past 16 years over 10,000 kids
have enjoyed this program. It
is significant to know that all this is funded by

local service clubs, businesses, truckers and
non-profit associations!
CCCS fully sponsors two modules each fall at
the Gavin Lake Centre as well as a winter Snow
Science program, a part of the CCCS Water Wise
education. Each year two fall modules are
chosen from the following six:
CCCS instructor Jenny Howell teaching the

Wetlands module, photo Gavin Lake Centre
Page 17
Cabins at Gavin Lake camp and camping module tents, photo Gavin Lake Centre
Species at Risk, which focuses on species

within the Cariboo-Chilcotin region and the
importance of habitat for healthy populations.
Watersheds, introduces students to the
concept of a watershed and the impacts of
human activity using games and models.
The Perfect Stream, students learn about the
fish in our waterways and what they need to
survive.
Invertebrates, demonstrates how aquatic
insect conditions are indicators of water
quality.
Ecological Footprints, shows how individuals,

in their daily activities, contribute to the
changing nature of CO2 in the planets
atmosphere. Students engage in a scavenger
hunt around camp, highlighting energy and
waste reducing options students can use at
home.
Wetlands, using an interactive model and a
walk along the Gavin wetlands boardwalk,
students share their species cards with others,
teaching each other about life in a wetland.
All the modules are designed to be mostly
outdoors and make use of the surrounding
natural environment as the
classroom. The Cariboo Chilcotin
Conservation Society is happy to
be part of this first class outdoor
education program that teachers
have come to depend on and that
the region can be proud of.
For further information on the
Gavin Lake Forest Education Society,
72 South 7th Ave, Williams Lake,
BC, V2G 4N5. Camp manager
Mike Tudor, at 604.629.9859 or
leave a message @ 1.250.392.2544
Moose, photo Marianne & Don Piller

Page 18
Big Bar Lake

Provincial Park
Big Bar Lake, photo Roland Stanke
Big Bar Lake Park, with its 46 campsites, is

a delightful park on the shore of a sparkling
blue lake and with views of the Marble Range
Mountains. To get there, turn onto a well
graded gravel road 13 km north of Clinton on
Highway 97. The park is 34 km along this road.
Millions of years ago, glaciers covered the area
and carved out the landforms. Unusual gravel
ridges near the picnic area are called eskers;
they were deposited by rivers running beneath
the ice. A 3.5-km trail leading over the eskers
and around the otter marsh provides excellent
bird-watching and beautiful
views.
Nearby Little Big Bar Lake and Beaverdam Lake

are also popular for fishing.
Horse-back trail rides can be arranged through
the many guest ranches in the area. Visitors
can also enjoy the Jesmond Loop driving tour.
This scenic drive passes the historic town site
of Jesmond, where the OK Corral - one of
the oldest ranches in the area - is situated,
then passes between Marble Range and Edge
Hills Provincial Parks and connects back to
Clinton via Downing Park. This Park accepts
reservations.
In 1998, eleven new campsites

were added near the lake shore
and the picnic area was rebuilt,
with funds from Forest Renewal
BC.
Fishing for rainbow trout is a
popular activity, as the lake is
stocked on a yearly basis. There
have been trout up to 6.5 lb caught
in the lake, and many fish are
in the two-pound range. Please
remember special restrictions on
Big Bar Lake include a 10-km/h
speed restriction, and no towing.
Squirrel with cone, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Page 19
Big Creek
Provincial Park
Twin Lakes, photo D. Evans
This 65,982 hectare wilderness park in the visitors must be experienced in backcountry
South Chilcotin was established in 1995. travel and completely self-sufficient.
There are no roads into the park; hikers
and horseback riders most often
use the southern trails, accessed
from near Gold Bridge. Visit the
BC Parks website http://www.
env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks for more
information.
The parks landscapes vary
from dramatic mountains and
alpine lakes in the south, to
gentler volcanic hills and lava
formations, to the flat, forested
Chilcotin Plateau in the north.
This park teems with wildlife;
you might see mountain goats,
California bighorn sheep, moose
or predators such as wolves,
black and grizzly bears.
The spectacular scenery in
the south makes it a popular
destination for horseback riding,
backpacking, hunting, wildlife
viewing, and mountaineering.
Because of the parks remoteness,
Page 20
Paintbrush in a wildflower meadow, photo Dan Kriss
Historic Barkerville
The rush is on
The Barkerville townsite, photo Barkerville Historic Town
Barkerville is the largest historic site in western

North America, and is named after William
Billy Barker who, in 1862, struck it rich
along the banks of Williams Creek. His find
inspired over 100,000 other fortune seekers who
journeyed north along the Cariboo Wagon Road
to Barkerville.
as alpine hiking, mountain biking, canoeing,

swimming and trout fishing.
In addition to regular special events and

programming in Barkerville, the nearby 1930s
era town of Wells is host to many cultural
activities throughout the year. Wells is home to a
unique selection of art galleries and craft stores,
Once the largest city west of Chicago and north and offers accommodation and other tourist
of San Francisco, Barkerville is nested within the amenities.
scenic Cariboo Mountain Range 700 kilometres
north of Vancouver. The Victorian-era town While travelling to Barkerville, there are a host
boasts more than 135 heritage buildings and of heritage experiences you can participate
a wealth of historic displays that chronicle the in, including Historic Hat Creek Ranch, 108
development of BCs mining heritage and the Mile Ranch, Cottonwood House Historic Site,
people who made Barkerville famous. The region Quesnelle Forks and many other historic sites
also offers a wealth of outdoor activities such and museums along the Gold Rush Trail.
Barkerville Campsites
Barkerville has three campgrounds located
adjacent to Barkerville Historic Town. The
first, Lowhee Campground, is the largest with
87 secluded sites. Showers and flush toilets are
on-site and a sani-station is located across the
highway. Government Hill campground has 23
sites it is the closest to the historic town but has
tight corners and is not recommended for larger
RVs. Forest Rose campground, with 54 sites is
our horse friendly site and includes a group site
with cooking shelter, 20 pull through sites, horse
paddocks, showers and flush toilets, is located
directly across Williams Creek from Lowhee.

All campgrounds are within walking distance
of Barkerville Historic Town. There are several
hiking, biking and horse trails in the area, as
well as a walking trail, which connects Lowhee
Campground with the Barkerville Cemetery and
the townsite. For camping reservations please
call our toll free number at 1- 866- 994-3297
www.barkervillecampgrounds.ca
For local area information check our websites at
www.barkerville.ca and www.wellsbc.com
Page 21
Let our trails lead you to the

largest historic site in
western North America.
BARKERVILLE:
G LD AND NEW SINCE 1862
1-888-994-3332 www.barkerville.ca A NATIONAL H ISTORIC SITE of CANADA
Page 22
Bull Canyon
Provincial Park
Bull Canyon, photo Chris Armstrong
Bull Canyon is located on Highway 20 just west

of Alexis Creek. This small, peaceful 20 campsite
park set along the amazing blue waters of the
Chilcotin River is often used as a home-base
while exploring the Chilcotin. The park offers
a short walking trail that meanders along the
riverbank, where you can see signs of native pit
houses. Across the highway is Battle Mountain,
formed millions of years ago by numerous
layers of lava flowing out of Mt Begbie, located
near 100 Mile House! Shallow caves and crevices
Prickly Pear Cactus, photo Maureen Byman
within these canyon cliffs make ideal roosting

and nesting sites for the many species of bats and
cliff dwelling birds in this area. The surrounding
area has a number of great fishing lakes, and
offers good bird watching and wildlife viewing.
Bull Canyon provides an excellent overnight
stop on the way to or from South Tweedsmuir
Park and Bella Coola. For more information visit
www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks
Mule Deer fawn, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Page 23
Bowron Lake
Provincial Park
Bowron Lake chain, a lifetime experience, photo Helen Rimmer
Bowron Lake Park is a 149,207-hectare wilderness

situated on the western slopes of the Cariboo
Mountains. The world-renowned Bowron Lake
Canoe Circuit encompasses a 116 km chain of
lakes, waterways and connecting portages. This
wilderness canoe trip takes from 6 to 10 days to
complete, depending on your time frame and
skill level. For those looking for a shorter trip,
the west side of the circuit can be paddled in 2
to 4 days.
Canoeing the Bowron,

photo Helen Rimmer
To get there, take Highway 26 from Quesnel to

Barkerville, then follow signs to the park, 28 km
further along a well-graded gravel road.
Campers enjoy a break at Bowron,

photo Helen Rimmer
Page 24
The park has tremendous diversity in topography

and vegetation. The rounded hilltops of the
Quesnel Highlands on the west side of the
circuit have a character quite different from
the imposing Cariboo Mountains on the eastern
A Bowron wetland, photo Chris Swan
and southern sections of the circuit. The park is

a wildlife sanctuary, closed to hunting. A great
variety of wildlife inhabits the area, including
moose, deer, caribou, black bear, grizzly bear,
waterfowl, beaver, and otter. Rainbow trout,
lake trout, bull trout, and Rocky Mountain
whitefish inhabit the parks waterways.
services: camping supplies, outdoor gear, canoe

and kayak rentals, a restaurant, and food.
If you are interested in canoeing the circuit, it

is recommended that you make a reservation.
Reserve your spot on-line at www.env.gov.
bc.ca/bcparks/reserve or call 1.800.689-9025 (a
surcharge applies to bookings through an agent).
Bowron Lake Park has a very pleasant 25-site You can also now reserve a campsite in the front
campground. The campground is located near country campground at Bowron.
the Registration Centre a short distance from
Bowron Lake itself. Enjoy a leisurely walk around
the Osprey Self-guided Interpretive Trail located
in the front country campground at Bowron
and learn about the natural and cultural history
of the area. Increasing visitor numbers during
recent years has placed a great deal of pressure
on the parks resources. If we are to preserve the
wilderness experience, it is up to each visitor
to treat this special area with the respect it
deserves -- please obey all park regulations. Pets
are not permitted on the circuit. It is important
that those who attempt the circuit have some
wilderness paddling experience.
Two commercial resorts and a general store
located near the park entrance offer a variety of
Black Bear, photo Chris Schmid
Page 25
Bridge Lake
Provincial Park
Bridge Lake, photo BC Parks
This high elevation Cariboo Plateau Park on open forest along the lake shore, for the hiker or
the shores of beautiful Bridge Lake is a popular fisherman that wants to explore the area.
stopping place for people travelling Hwy #24.
Fishing is good for both rainbow and lake trout. Bridge Lake Park is within driving distance of
numerous other popular fishing lakes on the
Pleasant shaded campsites provide easy access plateau and is located 51 km east of 93 Mile
to the shores for swimming, boating, paddling, House on Hwy #24.
and fishing. An easy trail meanders through
WILLIAMS LAKE HISTORY

RANCHING RODEO HISTORY
BC COWBOY HALL OF FAME
Summer Hours: Mon. to Sat. 10am - 4pm
Winter Hours: Tues. to Sat. 11am - 4pm
Museum
of the
Cariboo Chilcotin
Barrows Goldeneye ducks, photo Chris Swan
Page 26
Phone/Fax: 250-392-7404
mccwl@uniserve.com www.cowboy-museum.com
113 North 4th Avenue, Williams Lake , B.C. V2G 2C8
Cedar Point Class C

Provincial Park
Cedar Point, photo Robin Hood
Cedar Point was first mentioned in Hudson Bay

Company maps from 1832. The area was used
as a stopover and camping place by the Interior
Shuswap People and later as a rendezvous spot
for trappers and fur traders. The first prospectors
arrived here in 1858 and discovered gold in
Cedar Creek, which runs through the park.
deep, an impressive man-made canyon that can

be viewed from the trail above. This historic
8-hectare Class C Provincial Park is located on
Quesnel Lake, six kilometres from the town of
Likely. Access is by paved road from Highway 97.
The park is managed by a volunteer community
park board that is overseen by BC Parks.
The magnificent stand of old growth Cedar trees

in the Park escaped a forest fire that raged up
the Quesnel River in 1869. Miners broke a 2000
foot flume to flood the area, and this, along with
Quesnel Lake, and a huge mine tailings pile,
provided enough to save this stand of trees. In
1962 Cedar Point was made a provincial park.
Today, Likely is a central location for many
interesting day trips. Quesnel Forks is
an authentic ghost town where peaceful
walks through the many original buildings
give a glimpse into a bygone era. The city
of Quesnel Forks was established in 1859,
before Barkerville existed. The town site is
situated at the confluence of the Cariboo
and Quesnel Rivers. Its an ideal spot for
a picnic lunch and a bit of gold panning.
Quesnel Lake offers spectacular scenery and

excellent swimming, boating, and fishing.
White-water kayaking is a popular activity
on the nearby Cariboo and Quesnel Rivers.
The park offers 32 campsites, a sani station,
a boat launch and Big Toy playground,
nature trails that wind through the forest.
Along with our new 1500 sq. foot museum,

many pieces of historic mining equipment are
on display in the Park, including a gigantic 11
ton steam shovel, and a huge monitor nozzle
from the world famous Bullion Pit Mine, one
of the biggest hydraulic mining operations
ever. The Pit itself is 2 miles long and 400 feet
Cedar Point Park has a full size baseball

park, perfect for family reunions and
company picnics. For more information visit
Cedar Point, photo Robin Hood
Page 27
Cariboo Mountains
Provincial Park
Niagara Falls, Quesnel Lake, photo M. Evans
Cariboo Mountains Park, sandwiched between

Bowron Lake Park and Wells Gray Park,
protects habitat for caribou, moose, grizzly
bear, waterfowl, and fish, and represents an
important intact predator-prey ecosystem.
This wilderness park features high rugged
mountains and glaciers, steep valley sides with
dense forests, and narrow valley bottoms with
lakes and wetlands. There is a small, rustic
vehicle-access camping area at Ghost Lake.
Nearby, Cariboo River Park protects valley
bottom wetlands and forests, and offers wildlife
viewing and river recreation opportunities.
Also close by, the Quesnel Lake Park system

includes seven designated areas dispersed
along the shoreline of Quesnel Lake. The
sandy beaches and moorings provide excellent
camping and exploring opportunities for boat,
canoe and kayak users alike. The waterfalls,
wetlands, old growth forests and waterways
provide excellent wildlife and scenic viewing
opportunities.
Please check the BC Parks website http://www.
env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks for access and other
details.
Cow Moose and calves on Quesnel Lake, photo Elysia Resort

Page 28
Downing
Provincial Park
Downing Lake, photo BC Parks
Downing Park is a small but popular park

located 18 km west of Clinton on a paved
road. The campground has 18 walk-in tent
sites spread over a lush, grassy field adjacent
to the campground parking lot. Swimming in
Kelly Lake is enjoyable, with over 200 metres of
developed beach. If fishing is more your game
you can angle for rainbow trout.
property. Please respect their property by

keeping to the road when walking between
the day-use area and campground.
The Pavilion Mountain Road connecting the

Cariboo to Lillooet and the Duffy Lake Road,
is a scenic, though windy, route to the Lower
Mainland. Travelers often stop at Downing
Park to camp or refresh themselves with a
The park was donated by C. S. Downing in 1970, swim in Kelly Lake.
and his family still owns the adjacent
Mayfly on Fireweed, photo Don Olesiuk
Canada Goose prepares for flight,

photo Marianne & Don Piller
Page 29
Green Lake
Provincial Park
Green Lake, photo Don Olesiuk
Green Lake Park, set amongst the rolling

aspen and pine forests of the Cariboo, is
situated 15 km northeast of 70 Mile House,
on the emerald-green waters of Green Lake.
This is a recreational paradise, popular with
anglers, water-skiers, and canoeists alike. The
shallow, warm waters are great for swimming.
Autumn is a particularly nice time to visit
Green Lake, as the aspens turn a brilliant
shade of gold, creating marvelous photo
opportunities.
Emerald Bay campground (51 sites,

developed beach, picnic shelter, pit toilets
and day-use area).
A few of the private resorts in the area have

boats to rent, and some offer trail rides.
There are many great fishing lakes within a
half-hours drive of Emerald Bay campground.
Although Green Lake is very clean, there is
almost no flushing action, and everything that
goes into the lake stays in. Please dispose of
fish entrails and garbage in the receptacles
The park is made up of 9 parcels of land. Six provided. Please do not bathe, wash clothes,
of these are developed, consisting of three or use soap in the lake.
campgrounds, two day use areas, and a sanistation. The sani-station is situated at the This Park accepts reservations, and the
junction of North and South Green Lake Roads group campsite must be reserved. For more
and has flush toilets as well as information information visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks.
on the park. From here, continue down South
Green Lake Road to Sunset View campground
where you will find 54 campsites, developed
beach, picnic shelter, day use area, hiking
trail, boat launch and group campsite area.
Alternatively, if you make the turn past the
sani-station on to North Green Lake Road, you
will come across, in order of appearance:
Blue Spring day-use area (picnic tables, pit
toilets, and developed beach),
Arrowhead campground (16 waterfront sites,
pit toilets),
Little Arrowhead day-use area (boat launch,
picnic tables, pit toilets, and developed
beach),
Page 30
Grebe, photo Chris Swan
Horsefly
Spawning Channel & Trail
Spawning Sockeye, photo DFO
Historically, the Horsefly sockeye salmon run

had been second only to the Adams River
in its importance to Fraser River fisheries.
However, due to a combination of factors
at play in the late eighteen/early nineteen
hundreds (dam construction at outlet of
Quesnel Lake, passage problems at Hells
Gate, high commercial fishery catches) - the
stock dropped drastically in size for many
generations to follow. Constructed in the late
eighties, the spawning channels original
objective was to aid in rebuilding the
Horsefly River sockeye stock to historic
levels in the subdominant and offyears.
In addition, the channel would
supplement the dominant cycle to
test Quesnel Lakes juvenile carrying
capacity during cyclic dominance
studies. To accomplish this, Fisheries
and Oceans Canada operates and
maintains the channel to maximize egg
to fry survival. In 1989, unusual late
fall flooding in the main stem Horsefly
River caused an almost total loss of the
dominant cycle spawn. We now know
that without the additional production
from the spawning channel, the impact of this

freshet on production of the 1989 dominant
cycle, and future cycles, would have been
far greater. Starting in the mid-nineties,
dominant year operation was discontinued
as returns from natural spawning areas
were sufficient to test Quesnel Lake carrying
capacity. However, a sharp decline in stock
size in recent years prompted dominant cycle
channel operation in both 2009 and 2013.
Salmon eggs, photo DFO
Page 31
Horsefly Lake
Provincial Park
Beach at Horsefly Lake Provincial Park, photo Don Evans
Horsefly Lake Park is a small park with a

popular 23 site campground, including some
lakeside sites and an accessible tenting and
overflow area for larger groups, located 13
km northeast of the community of Horsefly
on Horsefly Lake. Set amongst a forest of fir,
spruce, birch, and cedar, the parks landscape
is typical of the rolling Quesnel Highlands. The
park features a developed beach, basketball
net, tether ball, and horseshoe games and an
easy trail to a lookout over the lake.
Spawning channels on the Horsefly River

provide spawning beds for sockeye salmon that
travel up the Fraser River to the Quesnel River,
Quesnel Lake, and finally the Horsefly River to
spawn. The best time to view these brilliant red
and green salmon is mid-September. This Park
accepts reservations. All campsite reservations
must be made through Discover Camping
at https://secure.camis.com/Discovercamping.
When reservations are not available all
campsites function as first-come, first-served.
Fishing for rainbow trout is a favourite

pastime of many visitors. Horsefly
Lake is a large, deep lake and is
usually fished on a troll. There are
also a number of small lakes in the
area that are excellent for fly fishing.
Boat, canoe and paddle boat rentals
are available.
In the community of Horsefly you can
obtain groceries and gasoline. There
are shower and laundry facilities
near the park. Trails to Viewland
Mountain, and to alpine meadows at
Eureka Peak are easy to access. There
are also historical features to explore;
ask the Park Facility Operator for
more information and directions.
Page 32
Lakeside campsite, Horsefly Lake Provincial Park,

photo Marg Evans
Horsefly Falls, photo Don Olesiuk
Horsefly
EST
1859
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Mule Deer doe & twin fawns, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Page 33
Churn Creek
Protected Area
Churn Creek Protected Area, photo Don Evans
Churn Creek Protected Area was established in

1995 under the Cariboo Chilcotin Land Use Plan
and expanded in 1998 to include the Empire
Valley Ranch. . Its 36,747 hectares rise from the
western shore of the Fraser River south of Gang
Ranch. Covering a wide range of elevations,
it is the most ecologically representative
grassland protected area in British Columbia.
It also has a rich cultural history. Its lands
have been inhabited by Secwepemc (Shuswap)
people for thousands of years; ranches were
established following the 1858 gold rush which
also brought many Chinese miners prospecting

for gold. Parts of the area were logged prior to
it becoming a protected area. It is very popular
with hunters and horseback riders.
The roads through Churn Creek P.A. can be
extremely slippery when wet; four-wheel drive
is recommended. Visit the BC Parks website
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks for more
information.
BC Parks led a public management planning
process for Churn Creek. Some strategies
identified in the Plan are:
Churn Creek Protected Area will be
managed for its nationally significant
grassland conservation values. The Empire
Valley Ranch will continue to operate at its
historic levels as a cow-calf ranch operation.
Three large areas will be served as natural
benchmarks with no cattle grazing. These act
as natural laboratories, helping to explain
how grassland ecosystems function.
The Friends of Churn Creek Protected Area

Society was formed in 2009 to promote and
help achieve the vision for this protected
area as described in the management plan.
Visit their website at www.friendsofchurn.ca
California Bighorn Sheep, photo Don Olesiuk

Page 34
Junction Sheep Range

Provincial Park
Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park, photo Marg Evans
The Grasslands Conservation Council of

British Columbia: Working together for the
conservation of BCs grasslands.
The Junction Sheep Range Park was designated

a provincial park in 1995, most notably
because of an internationally significant herd
of California Bighorn Sheep that range there.
Along with the sheep, youll find a host of other
species, many that are endangered or at
risk. These include: Sharp-tailed Grouse,
Rubber Boas, Flammulated Owls, and
Long-billed Curlews. The park is also
home to over 40 species of butterflies,
Golden and Bald Eagles, and Great
Horned Owls.
Junction Sheep Range Park is one
of relatively few protected areas
specifically established to protect BCs
grassland ecosystems. Slightly less than
one per cent (0.8) of BCs land base are
in grasslands equaling approximately
644,207 hectares of which approximately
8.8 % or 57,000 hectares are managed
within in protected areas. Nearly 44 %
of grasslands are privately owned, the majority

of which is held in ranches. Slightly over 10%
is in federal ownership with the majority being
held in Indian Reserve, slightly over 46% is
held in provincial crown land.
Grasslands and rangelands of British Columbia
are under increasing pressures from human
activities such as urbanization, invasive plants,
inappropriate recreation and grazing practices,
agricultural conversion, forest encroachment
and industrial development. The result is
Kiosk at park, photo Don Olesiuk
Page 35
The GCC is the only organization of

its kind in the province and has
become a well-respected voice on all
grassland-related issues, including:
range management and monitoring,
sustainable ranching, grassland
species at risk, provincial distribution
of grasslands, rural development and
urban sprawl, and abusive recreation.
The GCC has focused on four main
program areas from 2009-2014:
Farwell Canyon, photo Don Olesiuk
1. Education and Outreach: This

program is designed to foster
grassland stewardship and long-term
grassland sustainability by raising
awareness of grasslands, including
their importance to BC and the
threats and issues around them, and
by inspiring action.
concern for the long-term sustainability of 2. Sustainable Ranching Program: This

these special spaces and the future of the many program emphasizes the critical link between
intact working ranches and the long-term
wildlife species that depend on them.
health of grassland
In response to these pressures, a diverse group ecosystems in BC.
of grassland enthusiasts gathered at Big Bar The GCC encourages
Guest Ranch near Clinton, BC in 1996. As they the use of tools
discussed the threats facing grasslands in BC and strategies that
healthy,
and how best to mitigate them, one thing support
became clear: a province-wide organization vibrant ranching
able to work with stakeholders and for the operations. At the
public on behalf of the grasslands habitat was same time, the
GCC actively works
needed.
with the ranching
and
The Grasslands Conservation Council of British community
to
Columbia (GCC) was born. Established as a governments
society in August 1999 and a registered charity address and mitigate
in December 2001, the GCC is a strategic economic and other
alliance of organizations and individuals forces that lead to
dedicated to the education and outreach, the fragmentation,
Northern Hawk Owl,
photo Kris Andrews
stewardship and conservation and of B.C.s loss and degradation
grasslands. GCC members and partners are a of grasslands.
diverse group government, range managers,
ranchers, agrologists, grassland ecologists, First 3. Community Stewardship Program: This
Nations, environmental groups, recreationists program complements the Sustainable
and grassland enthusiasts - all focused on Ranching Program by working with government
the future well being of British Columbias on developing appropriate incentives for land
owners who are stewards of their grasslands at
grasslands.
a landscape level. This includes focusing on the
Page 36
California Bighorn Sheep, photo M. Evans
ecological goods and services that grasslands

provide and maintaining important grassland
corridors and ecosystem representation
throughout the province. GCC will also focus
on building support for stewardship and
securement of grasslands with communities
and large-scale landowners, as well as
encourage and facilitate the development of
best management practices for recreation and
other sectors.
4. Grassland Ecology and Science Program:
This program focuses on ecology and science
and the process of generating and extending
this information to industry, government, nongovernment organizations, and partners to
address and support our vision of healthy,
life-sustaining grassland ecosystems in British
Columbia.
The GCC is a province-wide organization,
encompassing grasslands throughout the
province, including the extensive grassland
steppes and plateaus found in the Thompson,
Nichola, Fraser and Chilcotin Valleys; the
grasslands of the East Kootenay Trench; the
South Okanagan pocket desert grasslands; the
Garry Oak pocket grasslands in the Georgia
Basin; the cold air drainage type grasslands
in the Muskwa Kechika, Pink Mountian and
areas in the North West along the Stikine and
Francois lake and the steep south-facing
slopes along the Peace River around Dawson
Creek and Fort St. John.
life-sustaining ecosystems with them provide

critical habitat for more than 30% of British
Columbias threatened or endangered species.
So the next time you are out exploring in
the Junction Sheep Range Park, be thankful
for such special places and know that there
are organizations like the GCC working
collaboratively and pro-actively for the
conservation and wise use of all grasslands in
British Columbia.
Take action by joining the GCC and add your
voice to the growing number of citizens
working for the conservation of BCs grasslands.
Your contribution goes a long way toward the
long-term sustainability of one of Canadas
most endangered ecosystems.
You can contact the GCC by telephone at (250)
361 1652, email at gcc@bcgrasslands.org or
visit their website at www.bcgrasslands.org .
Remember
GRASSLANDS ARE FRAGILE. Long lasting
damage occurs when they are driven on.
Noxious weeds cause irreversible damage to
natural grasslands, always stay on the roads
and report any sightings of noxious weeds to
the local Parks office.
For a brochure on the Junction Sheep Range

Provincial Park or on the Grasslands of the
Cariboo Chilcotin drop by or contact the
Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society office
Grasslands are one of Canadas most or view them online at www.ccconserv.org
endangered habitats and the rare, unique,
Page 37
Lac La Hache
Provincial Park
Lac La Hache, photo M. Evans
Set amongst a Douglas-fir forest that shades

campers from the hot summer sun, Lac La
Hache Park is located on Highway 97, 12 km
north of the community of Lac La Hache. It has
83 campsites, a sani-station and a nature trail.
The day use area is located across Highway
97 on the shore of Lac La Hache and has
an adventure playground, picnic shelter, boat
launch, developed beach, and change-house.
Lac La Hache, also known as Axe Lake, is one
of the most popular recreation lakes in the
Cariboo. There are many stories to explain
how the lake was named; according to one, it
gained its name when a trapper lost his only
axe when chopping a hole in the frozen lake.
Paint brush, photo Chris Czajkowski

Page 38
This area is rich in tales of fur traders, gold

seekers and cattle ranchers. By the 1860s, gold
fever was running high, as miners searched for
the motherlode first near Likely, and later at
Barkerville. With teams of horses, mules and
oxen, the fortune-seekers plodded north along
the Cariboo Wagon Road skirting the eastern
shores of Lac La Hache.
Year round angling for kokanee and lake trout,
as well as rainbow trout and burbot during the
summer months, make this an excellent fishing
lake. However, the lake is also a popular place
for power-boating and water-skiing. This Park
accepts reservations. All campsite reservations
must be made through Discover Camping at
https://secure.camis.com/Discovercamping.
When reservations are not available all
campsites function as first-come, first-served.
Ground Squirrel, photo M. Evans
Moose Valley
Provincial Park
Moose Valley Provincial Park, photo Don Olesiuk
Moose Valley Provincial Park is located west of

100 Mile House. Access is by 30 kilometres of
gravel road from Highway 97. A high clearance
4x4 vehicle is recommended because the last 9
km are rough. A park brochure is available on
the BC Parks website which also offers access
details and a map.
The park consists of 2,322 hectares of
interconnected lakes and wetlands and
surrounding forest. The lake depressions
were formed when large chunks of buried
glacial ice melted after the last ice age. The
landscape provides habitat for muskrat and
beaver, waterfowl, and as the name indicates,
moose. The park abounds with birds: owls,
hawks, grouse, woodpeckers, ducks, loons,
grebes, sandhill cranes, and a wide variety of
songbirds.
people such as Stuart Maitland, a local guide,

who first cleared and named portage routes in
the mid-1970s.
Please use the portage trails, trail braiding
increases the environmental damage.
Wetland floating vegetation is easily damaged
by canoeists trying to walk or line canoes
through it. A wetland restoration project was
undertaken in 2004 by BC Parks, the Wetlands
Institute and other stakeholders to repair the
environmental damage caused to the floating
vegetation from portage trail usage during low
water level. The eastern lakes, beyond Kirkland
Lake, may be inaccessible at low water. Obey
signs and use the new portage routes. There is
no fishing allowed in these lakes.
Moose Valley is a wilderness park with few

facilities. Canoeing is the recreational focus
of the park; both day and overnight trips are
popular. The canoe route consists of a chain of
12 small lakes and is a leisurely two day trip.
The main canoe launch at Marks Lake provides
parking as well as 3 campsites and a pit toilet.
Maitland and Kirkland Lakes are also accessible
by walking trail.
The names of the lakes recognize the efforts
of those who established the canoeing area;
Moose Valley Provincial Park,

photo L.A. Lyons
Page 39
Nazko Lake
Provincial Park
Pelicans at Nazko Lake, photo Chris Armstrong
Nazko Lake Provincial Park is 7,918 ha in

size and is situated approximately 100 km
northwest of Williams Lake in the Chilcotin
Plateau. Access is via a well-graded logging
road off Highway 20. A park brochure, access
details and a map are available on the BC Parks
website. The park protects several lakes, the
connecting sections of the Nazko River and a
large wetland area that drains into the river.
You may encounter moose, beaver, muskrat,
waterfowl and shorebirds. The lakes are known
as feeding areas for the spectacular and
endangered American White Pelican. All these
creatures rely on the wetland environment.
20 km route spans six lakes and has short easy

portages. The chain offers dispersed camping,
fishing, and excellent wildlife viewing. The
portages are clearly marked. There are four
designated sites on the canoe chain as well
as three rustic vehicle-access campgrounds in
the park; at Summit Lake, Loomis Lake, and
Deerpelt Lake. Facilities are limited to picnic
tables and outhouses --no drinking water or
firewood are provided. Note: Loomis Lake is
not connected to the canoe chain. For more
information visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks
Nazko Lake Provincial Parks small chain of

lakes is ideal for a 2 to 4 day canoe trip. This
Nazko Lake, photo Stan Navratil

Page 40
An inquisitive Coyote, photo Helen Rimmer
Ecological Reserves
Cardiff Mountain Ecological Reserve, photo Kris Andrews
Ecological reserves are areas selected to:

preserve representative and special
ecosystems;
protect rare and endangered plant and
animal species;
preserve unique, rare or outstanding
botanical, zoological or geological
phenomena;
scientific research and educational use.
Volunteer Ecological Reserve Wardens assist

BC Parks by visiting the reserves regularly, and
reporting their findings.
Ecological Reserves are not created for outdoor
recreation. However, some are open to the
public for observational purposes such as bird
watching and photography. Camping and the
use of motorized vehicles are not permitted.
BC Parks is responsible for the management There are 10 ecological reserves in the Cariboo
and protection of British Columbias ecological Region, covering a total of 17,307 hectares.
reserves, under the Ecological Reserve Act. Please cooperate in caring for these areas.
Ecological Integrity
In the Cariboo Chilcotin are the most beautiful
places, the most diverse living landscapes, the
most treasured ecosystems: it is vital we all
share in and care for what we have. Numerous
organizations such as the Cariboo Chilcotin
Conservation Society share the BC Parks goals
for Ecological Integrity. Ecological integrity
makes the ecological needs of the parks
the primary responsibility of BC Parks and
supporting organizations, while recognizing the
diversity of natural, cultural and recreational
values in the system. Ecological integrity is
a way of managing that sees maintaining
the wholeness of nature as a major priority.
successful when:
protected ecosystems are unimpaired by
stresses from human activity
natural ecological processes are intact and
self-sustaining
protected ecosystems evolve naturally and
their capacity for self-renewal is maintained,
and
the
protected
areas
biodiversity
(variety of living things) is ensured.
BC has some of the worlds most wonderful
places. These are places of great beauty, of
great diversity our natural treasures.
Together we must care for these places forever,

Ecological integrity helps us to understand ensuring that this generation passes along to
what we need to be aiming at throughout the the next a system just as beautiful, and just as
protected area system. We will know we are diverse.
Page 41
Ecosystems Restoration
in the Cariboo Chilcotin
Spring burn at Becher Prairie, where several cavity nesting trees were protected, photo CCERSC
Why is ecosystem restoration important?

In the fire maintained ecosystems of BCs
interior, decades of wildfire suppression and
the absence of prescribed fire has contributed
to trees encroaching onto historic grasslands,
as well as, excessive in-growth of trees in
previously open forests. Throughout the
province, hundreds of thousands of hectares of
open forest and grasslands have been affected
by this ecological change, causing a reduction
of ecosystem resiliency to climate change
pressures and a loss of biodiversity.
and maintaining open forests with grassy understories that merged with native grasslands.
Covering less than one percent of BC, native
grasslands are home to the highest diversity of
at-risk plant and animal species.
In response to changes in ecosystems and loss

of biodiversity, increasing measures are being
taken throughout the world to rehabilitate
or restore ecosystems. Ecosystem restoration
is recognized internationally as the process
of re-establishing ecological characteristics,
species composition and natural processes of
Since the early 1900s forest encroachment has degraded or destroyed ecosystems.
been occurring in many grasslands throughout
the province. Before this time period many Throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin, the benefits
more cool fires occurred every 7-20 years, of ecosystem restoration reach far beyond
killing off most of the small, thin-barked trees, ecology. Restoration provides many economic,
social and cultural benefits such as: recognition
of managed fire as an inherent First Nation
land use technique; reduction of excessive
fuel loads to lessen catastrophic wildfires;
improved air quality by managing emissions
through prescribed fire as opposed to emissions
resulting from a wildfire potentially occurring
during less favourable atmospheric conditions;
improved long-term timber harvest values
through spacing over-dense stands while
also providing a potential bioenergy source;
increased natural forage to sustain wildlife and
livestock and their related industries; increased
resilience of community watersheds to
Portable sloop allows the burning of debris
maintain potable water supplies; and improved
without damaging groundcover and scorching soil,
recreational and aesthetic values.
photo CCERSC
Page 42
November, berfore restoration work
Grasslands restoration initial stage
Next July
above photos University of BC Alex Fraser Research Forest
A 2007 report found that forest encroachment on

arid grasslands and open range in the CaribooChilcotin had become widespread because of
intentional suppression and management of
natural wildfires for public safety. As trees
spread and their density increased, they reduced
the abundance and diversity of understory
grass species. With an eye to restoring historic
grasslands, the Cariboo Chilcotin Ecosystems
Restoration Steering Committee (CCERSC) has
been working to identify and restore critical
grasslands in the region since 2008.
What is the Cariboo Chilcotin Ecosystems
Restoration Steering Committee?
Early in 2008 the CCERSC dedicated its initial
efforts in the region to the Cariboo Chilcotin
Grasslands Benchmark lands. These benchmark
areas were identified in the Cariboo Chilcotin
Land Use Plan Grasslands strategy (2001). Today,
the CCERSC has widened its scope of ecosystem
restoration to areas beyond the Benchmark
lands to include community forests, mule-deer
winter range sites and other sensitive habitats.
The CCERSC is a collaborative initiative between
First Nations and various stakeholders in
the region. The committee is made up of
representatives of three Provincial Ministries
(Forests, Range and Natural Resource
Operations, Agriculture and Environment);
three First Nations groups (Tsilhqotin,
Carrier Chilcotin and Northern Shuswap);
the Department of National Defense; four
cattlemens groups (Cariboo-Chilcotin, Clinton,
Quesnel and South Cariboo); three non-profits
(Grasslands Conservation Council of BC, Cariboo
Chilcotin Conservation Society and BC Wildlife
Federation), and the Fraser Basin Council, all of
whom use or promote ecosystem restoration as

a land management tool.
What does the work of the Cariboo Chilcotin
Ecosystems Restoration Steering Committee
accomplish?
The restoration of grasslands and open forests
contributes to the regions rich biodiversity by
providing habitat for a wealth of species, many
of which are at risk
because habitat
has been lost or
degraded. These
plants
provide
forage and browse
for
domestic
cattle, elk, deer
and bighorn sheep
in the region.
Restoration has
economic benefits
Northern Flicker nests in
dead wildlife tree,
for
ranching,
photo Kris Andrews
forestry, hunting,
guide-outfitting,
tourism, recreation and communities.
Through ecosystem restoration management,
controlled burning in areas close to communities
mitigates wildfire risks. All communities and
First Nation governments are notified through
the appropriate channels when burns are
scheduled in their area or territory.
How is ecosystem restoration carried out in
the Cariboo Chilcotin?
Ecosystem restoration in the Cariboo Chilcotin
involves a combination of machine thinning
and hand slashing as well as industrial logging
to remove excess trees from grassland and open
Page 43
forest sites. Sites are logged, machine thinned

or hand slashed depending on the size, density
and current commercial value of trees on site.
- Trees are sold as sawlogs, chipped for
pulpwood, made into pellets, piled and burned,
or left scattered on the ground as biomass.
- Tree removal is followed by prescribed burning
to maintain grassland and open forest sites.
- The Wildfire Management Branchs Fire
Centre uses some prescribed burns as training
activities. This shared cost strategy makes
ecosystem restoration less costly, resulting in
more sites being restored.
Cathy Koot of UBC Research forest monitors birds

during restoration activities, photo UBC Alex
Fraser Research Forest
How is University of British Columbia Alex

Fraser Research Forest participating in
Ecosystem Restoration?
The Knife Creek Block of the University of
British Columbia Alex Fraser Research Forest
contains just over four hectares of the
Grassland Benchmark that had experienced
forest in-growth for many decades. In 2008 the
UBC Research Forest completed a tree removal
project to return it to its former open forest
condition.
a variety of machinery and piled for grinding

into hog-fuel for use in electricity production
in Williams Lake. It was important to remove
this material, as the vast quantities of it would
have smothered the grassy groundcover and
posed a significant fire hazard if left on site.
If a portable burning bin or sloop on skids
had been available at the time, another option
would have been to burn the slash on site.
Sloops are useful in priority areas to reduce the
extent of soil scorching, caused by hot fires.
Biodiversity of the Knife Creek site was taken into

consideration during planning stages. A hectare
of mature trembling aspen, valuable habitat
for cavity-nesting wildlife (eg many species
of birds) and a cold-air pooling site occupied
by spruce, add habitat elements to the site..
Widely spaced stems of old growth and future
veteran Douglas-fir were retained, along with
trunks of downed trees to provide habitat
and ecosystems
functions.
The
balance of the
in-growth
was
cut and removed
to
a
nearby
landing. Stems
large enough to
be milled were
sold as saw-logs
to contribute to
financing
the
project. Smaller
Evening Grosbeak,
stems and slash
photo Kris Andrews
were collected by
To minimize soil disturbance, tree removal

occurred during winter when the ground was
frozen and covered by snow. Contractors expertly
avoided exposing any mineral soil with the aim
of preventing establishment of invasive plants
and encouraging recovery of existing native
grasses. Reintroduction of low intensity, low
severity fire was considered in the spring. Since
the combustion of moss and needles increases
soil and litter pH, and grassland soils tend to be
more alkaline than forest soils, it was decided
to do a light burn to assist with the conversion
of the plant community. An antiaggregation
pheromone for Doulas-fir beetle was attached
to the residual Douglas-fir to prevent infestation
by bark beetles. Future efforts in this area will
include a controlled burn to kill seedling fir and
encourage native grasses to flourish. Annual
monitoring for grass establishment, invasive
plants and new encroachment, will follow this
restoration effort.
Page 44
Bird Monitoring: As a part of monitoring
American Robin, photo Jeffrey Newman
for changes in biodiversity after restoration

activities have been undertaken in three
sites in the Cariboo Chilcotin a songbird and
woodpecker project was initiated in three sites
in 2008.. With over fifty point count stations
in the three study areas, 40 species and 712
individual eligible song birds and woodpeckers
were identified. The three areas included one
west of Meldrum Creek Road, another at an
Iron Wood Springs section west of Alexis Creek
south of the confluence of the Chilcotin and
Chilko Rivers and the third at Deer Creek, west
of the Chilko River.
Each site had a mix of grasslands, aspen copses,
and Douglas-fir forest edges. The surveys were
in the breeding season, just prior to sunrise for
up to five hours and all species seen and heard
calling or singing, as well as nests and flyovers
were recorded.
The most numerous species observed were
Chipping Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Dark-eyed Junco and American Robin. Also
in abundance were Dusty Flycatcher, Vesper
Sparrow, Mountain Chickadee and Brown
headed Cowbird.
Other bird species of open habitat encountered
in these areas were Brewers Blackbird, Mountain
Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, Savannah
Sparrow, Lincolns Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird,
Black-billed Magpie, Mourning Dove, Red tailed
Hawk, Common Nighthawk, Killdeer and Longbilled Curlew. Forest nesting birds observed
included Hairy and Downy Woodpecker, Rednaped Sapsucker, Hammonds Flycatcher,
Robins nest amongst slash, photo Cathy Koot
Cassins Finch, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak,

and White-winged Crossbill.
Unlike the Vesper Sparrow that breeds only in
open areas and grasslands, the Robin, Chipping
Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco utilize a variety
of habitats. Numerous Dusky Flycatchers had
territories in the deciduous trees and shrubs,
while the provided homes to many cavity
nesters such as Mountain Bluebird, Mountain
Chickadee, Northern Flicker, Tree Swallow and
Bufflehead (near wetlands).Aspen copses also
were used by Hermit Thrush, Least Flycatcher,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Warbling Vireo and
WesternWood-pewee. Interestingly, territorial
Mountain Bluebird and Vesper and Savannah
Sparrows were often utilizing live and dead
conifer encroachment in and adjacent to the
grassland for perching and singing. Being such
hotspots for biodiversity, it was recommended
that prescribed fire in restoration efforts be
restricted from aspen copses as they could
easily be lost. The timing of cutting and burning
of encroachment trees in monitoring is a vital
part of ecosystems restoration and contributes
to adaptive management decisions.
For more information about ecosystem
restoration or the CCERSC please contact
Maureen LeBourdais, Regional Manager for
the Fraser Basin Council at 250-398-1400 or
mlebourdais@fraserbasin.bc.ca.
For more information about the UBC Research
Forest, contact Cathy Koot, RPBio, at UBC Alex
Fraser Research Forest at 250-392-2207 or
cathy.koot@ubc.ca.
Page 45
Pinnacles
Provincial Park Day Use Area
Pinnacles, photo Chris Armstrong
Pinnacles Provincial Park features unique

geological formations, walking trails, and
panoramic views of Quesnel. The park is 128
hectares in size, forested by pine, spruce, fir and
hardwoods. To view the pinnacle formations,
walk along a pleasant trail for about a kilometre
to the edge of a basaltic cliff. These pinnacles, or
hoodoos, began their formation when molten
lava flowed onto the earths surface 12 million
years ago. The lava cooled in flat basalt layers
over older layers of ash and rock. The Ice Age
followed, and when the ice mass receded one

of its melt-water streams was responsible for the
formation of the valley below. The basalt was
eroded away, revealing the more resistant ash
layer. This process formed the pinnacles, and it
continues to this day, as frost and rain erode the
softer rocks. To reach Pinnacles Park, cross the
bridge to West Quesnel, turn right onto Baker
Drive and follow this road for 8 km. For your
safety, and to protect the hoodoos, please stay
behind the fence. Climbing is not permitted.
Male and female Franklin Grouse, photo Helen Rimmer

Page 46
Puntchesakut Lake
Provincial Park
Puntchesakut Lake, photo BC Parks
This park is a 38 hectare day use area situated

on the shore of Puntchesakut Lake, west of
Quesnel. To reach the park, cross the Fraser
River bridge to West Quesnel, taking the first
turn right. Drive 0.5 km, turn left on Nazko
Road, and travel 35 km on a paved road.

Puntchesakut Lake Park is an excellent place
to fish, swim or have a picnic. It has a boat
launch, picnic shelter and large parking lot,
and is popular with local area residents.
Ruth Lake
Provincial Park - Day Use Area
Puntchesakut Lake
Ruth Lake, photo BC Parks
In 1959, Ruth Lake was designated as a Park

for recreational opportunities in the South
Cariboo. Since 2003, the day use area has been
managed by the Forest Grove 94 Lions Club.
The day use area is a grassy area with a small
beach, picnic table, boat launch, bear proof
garbage can and pit toilet.
boat launch ramp provides access to Ruth

Lake. There are no facilities for swimmers or
lifeguards on duty at the Park.
Ruth Lake Park is located 30 km northeast

of 100 Mile House. Turn off Highway 97 just
north of 100 Mile House, drive towards Forest
Grove. At Forest Grove continue straight ahead
The day use area is popular with local residents to the Park.
for trout fishing and swimming. A single-wide
Page 47
Ten Mile Lake

Provincial Park
Beaver pond, Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park,

photo BC Parks
Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park is a 260

hectare park located 11 km north of
Quesnel on Highway 97. There are 141
campsites in two campgrounds. One
campground, set in the forest, has some
pull-through sites; the other is located
near the lakeshore.
Ten Mile Lake was named for a milepost
of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in the
early 1900s. Following WW II, the railway
engineers discovered a better grade in
which to cross the Cottonwood River, and
the original line was abandoned. Today
there is still evidence of the abandoned
railway line in the park.
The large swimming beaches and
playground attract campers and locals,
and the covered picnic shelter is popular
for group events.
The lake offers good rainbow trout
fishing in early spring and in the
summer evenings, and there are 10 km
of trails, including a trail leading to a
beaver pond. In winter these trails are
transformed into cross-country ski trails.
Page 48
Mallard & ducklings, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Species at Risk
in the Cariboo Chilcotin region
Mountain Caribou swim Quesnel Lake, photo Elysia Resort
The broad range of contrasting ecosystems,

from dense forests to dry grasslands and prickly
pear cactus, to the wet cedar rainforests of the
Quesnel and Horsefly Lakes areas, and large
rivers (Fraser and Chilcotin), to lush green
valleys, fjord lakes (Quesnel Lake is the deepest
fjord lake in the world), to mountains complete
with glaciers, pristine glacial lakes and alpine
meadows, are all here in the Cariboo Chilcotin!
With it, we have the abundant wildlife and
plant species whose endurance of time
and human inhabitation are showing some
significant changes. We did not plan these
changes, or wish them, however, we now
know we have to counteract them or suffer
further species fading into extinction. Species
are ranked in BC by their risk of extinction:
red listed means the species is extirpated,
endangered or threatened, blue listed is a
species of concern due to characteristics that
make them sensitive to human activities and/
or natural events.
Mountain Caribou
The area known today as the Cariboo
Region was named after the caribou that
historically were much more abundant and
widely distributed than at present. In an 1861
dispatch to the Duke of Newcastle, Governor
Douglas mentioned Cariboo country, in

speaking of which I have adopted the popular
term and more convenient orthography of the
word, though properly it should be written
Cariboeuf or Reindeer, the country having
been so called from its being the favourite
haunt of that species of the deerkind. In BC
the mountain caribou population occurs from
just north of Prince George to the U.S. border
and occupies the area commonly known as
the interior wet-belt. There are less than 1,700
mountain caribou in the world and about
ninety-eight percent of these animals live in
BC.
Mountain Caribou are a red listed species in
BC which means that they are declining and
at risk of extinction if current trends continue.
Mountain caribou are also listed as threatened
at the national level which will require the
province to address conservation concerns
under federal endangered species legislation. As
a result, a provincial recovery strategy has been
developed and a local Recovery Action Group
established to implement recovery efforts.
Mountain caribou are an ecotype of the
woodland caribou, living most of the year
at higher elevations in sub-alpine areas. In
winter, very deep snow prevents the caribou
Page 49
from digging for food thus they

feed almost exclusively on arboreal
or tree lichens. Those lichens only
become abundant in old-growth
forests. Mountain caribou live at low
densities throughout the Cariboo
Mountains. If you are lucky enough
to spot a caribou check to see if it
is wearing a radio-collar around its
neck, as a portion of the population
is being monitored as part of the
recovery program.
Badger
Shy by nature, this nocturnal
mammal was widespread until
the late 1800s. Now there are less
than 300 badgers in our region. Related to
wolverines and otters, badgers are powerful
animals. They dig incredibly quickly up to
a metre deep in a minute! Red-listed, the
badgers loss of habitat has been mostly from
housing development and agriculture. Since
badgers are the only carnivores (meat eater)
in Canada that burrows to find and eat other
burrowing animals such as ground squirrels,
muskrat, marmots and pocket gophers, the
badger is important in keeping the number
of rodents in check. In the Cariboo Chilcotin,
researchers are working to save the badger
and if you see a badger or a den site, you can
contact 250.398.4671 to help with the research
or go online to www.badger.bc.ca.
American White Pelican
BC has only one nesting colony of redlisted American White Pelicans, located in
White Pelican Provincial Park in the Chilcotin
region, 70 km west of Williams Lake. Although
they have only a single nesting site, they feed
on fish in over 25 shallow lakes, sometimes
hundreds of km from their nests. Pelicans
have a wing span which makes them highly
mobile and efficient fliers and they can
often be seen catching thermal air currents.
Pelicans forage singly or in multi-sized
cooperative groups, moving in an arc and
head dipping in unison. They are also known
to forage at night. Pelicans may often be
spotted feeding on Williams Lake, Alkali Lake,
Page 50
Female Badger near den, photo Richard Klafki
Chimney/Felker/Brunson Lakes, Anahim Lake

and Loomis Lake (in Nazko Provincial Park).
In recent years we have experience varying
degrees of nesting failure. Exact reasons are not
known although human induced disturbance is
possible. There is an aircraft restriction over
the colony and boats are prohibited during
the breeding season (March 1st to August
31st). When frightened, pelican may abandon
their nests or in a panic crush eggs and knock
over nestlings as they flee. Unattended eggs or
nestlings are preyed on by gulls, ravens, crows,
or may die from exposure to cold, rain or hot
sun! With their large white wings-spanning up
to 3 metres and huge orange bills (with pouch),
these birds are easy to spot. It is advised to
American White Pelican, photo Chris Swan
keep a good distance away from feeding or

resting pelicans. Report sightings of pelicans
to Julie Steciw, Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations 250.398.4671.
Fisher
The fisher is a forest animal and lives all across
northern and central North America, as far
north as the Yukon border in BC. They do not
occur on any of the coastal islands, including
Vancouver Island. Streams and rivers support
important food (prey species) to fisher. Fisher
are reluctant to cross wide open spaces and
prefer forests with closed overhead cover.
Fisher use dens for resting and sleeping,
sometimes taking over old squirrel and
raptor nests. Natal dens, where the female
raises her kits, may be found in large dead tree
cavities over 10 metres above ground where
the young will be safe from most predators.
Fisher are the primary predator of
porcupine. Using their speed, they
repeatedly attack the face of the porcupine,
something that no other animal does.
Fishers are abundant
in eastern provinces
and states, but were
upgraded in BC from
the Blue to the Red
List in 2003. After
further
research,
Fisher in 2005 were
once again placed on
the blue List. Fisher
depend on old growth
forests, with large old
trees and younger
trees in the under
story, lots of downed
logs, snags and a
closed canopy. When
habitat disappear, so
Great Blue Heron,
do fisher. By limiting
photo Kris Andrews
the size of clearcuts
, by cutting blocks in
irregular shapes to increase the amount of
edge, by not cutting trees in drainage bottoms
and along ridgelines, fisher can survive better.
For den sites if snags are preserved and mature
and old stands, fisher will benefit. They may not
A Fisher from the Cariboo released in the Olympic

Penninsula, photo PaulBannick.com
colonize if natal dens are not available. In the

Cariboo/Chilcotin Region in 1996-1998 a three
year translocation program moved fisher from
their homes in the Cariboo/Chilcotin to the East
Kootenay where they were extirpated. Again in
2007-2010 fisher from our region replenished
the Olympic Pennisula in Washingon, U.S.A.
with fisher. Fisher populations are very
plentiful in some areas of our region, allowing
us to translocate and still maintain a healthy
fisher population.
Great Blue Heron
The heron with its large gray-blue body, white
head with plumes, black stripe above each
eye, fly with its neck bent back. It is very
sensitive to human disturbances, especially
during nesting March through August. Herons
prefer to nest in high trees, well away from
predators, and build these huge nests with
sticks. They nest in colonies called heronry
They may often be seen perched on trees
or objects above a marsh, or wading in the
shallow waters in search of a meal of small
fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes and large
insects. Sensitive to human activity, heron may
abandon their nests if disturbed. Their eggs and
nest trees are protected by the BC Wildlife Act.
Painted Turtles
The blue listed painted turtle resides within
lakes, ponds and marshes. Painted turtles
feed on aquatic plants and the abundant
invertebrate life where fresh water shrimp and
snails are plentiful. Turtles possess no teeth
and rely on a sharp beak for chewing. They
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Long-billed Curlew
The flat open dry grasslands of the region are
the breeding and nesting site for BCs largest
shore bird the blue listed long-billed curlew.
With wing spans of up to a metre and bills on
the female reaching as long as 19cm, these birds
require large areas of undisturbed grasslands.
Curlew pairs will defend a territory of 15-24
hectares in size and dive-bomb intruders.
Feeding on grasshoppers, toads, nestling birds
and berries, the long-billed curlew migrate
back to the beaches of California and Jamaica
once their young are strong enough to begin
the flight.
Painted Turtle shedding cuticles, photo Kris Andrews
can stay submerged for long periods without

breathing and in our region survive six months
of hibernation in the mud at the bottom of
lakes, ponds and marshes. Painted turtles
dig their nests in June/July, in dry sandy soil
where the eggs are deposited and remain in
the ground until the hatchlings emerge the
following June/July. Alteration or destruction of
the painted turtles habitat is the main threat.
Watch for them on roadways at dawn and dusk
where they are vulnerable to being run over.
In Williams Lake the painted turtle may be
seen basking on logs at the Scout Island marsh.
White Sturgeon
In contrast to the small streams, where trout
and salmon fry spend their first year of life,
the deep waters of the Fraser River are home
to the great White Sturgeon. The largest fresh
water fish in Canada, the White Sturgeon
reaches up to six metres in length, and 700
kg in weight. Living to over one hundred
years in age, it is believed these primitive fish
appeared approximately 175 million years
ago. With a diet of live fish and fish carcasses,
the sturgeons survival is linked with that
of other species, including salmon. In our
area the sturgeons primary diet is sockeye
salmon. White Sturgeon only reside in two
watersheds in Canada, the Columbia and
the Fraser. Due to habitat loss, over-fishing
in past and pollution, the White Sturgeon
is red listed in BC and also listed under the
federal Species at Risk Act as in 2006 as an
endangered species.
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Wolverine
The wolverine, largest terrestrial member of
the weasel family, lives mostly on scavenged
dead animals but are also known to prey on
caribou and small mammals such as marmots,
beaver and snowshoe hares. Their large feet
are ideal for walking in snow, enabling them
to travel long distances over high mountain
passes in winter. Males on average have
home ranges of 1200 sq kilometres and
females 300 sq km. Human interaction has
been determined as the greatest current threat
to wolverine, who tend to thrive in areas
of undeveloped mountainous landcapes.
Overharvesting and human encroachment into
their habitat, particularly recreational use such
as heli skiing and backcountry skiing, and in
summer logging activities, cause wolverine to
avoid habitat. For more on wolverine visits
http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/
White Sturgeon, photo Maurice Lirette
Califoria Bighorn Sheep, photo Marg Evans
California Bighorn Sheep

Roaming the terraces and ravines of the
grasslands of our region are the historic
California bighorn sheep herds from which all
other herds in North America were re-stocked!
Sure footed, these bighorn sheep graze the dry
grasslands and steep slopes along the Fraser
and Chilcotin rivers. These sheep probably
migrated north along the North American west
coast when the glacial ice receded, inhabiting
this area for over 10,000 years! Predators of
the bighorn sheep are cougar, coyotes and
bald eagles (particularly preying on the lambs).
Spring is lambing time and bighorn ewes
(female sheep) travel in groups separate from
Wolverine, photo Eric Lofroth
the rams. In the fall the bighorn rams join the

ewes and fight for dominance of the herd
often banging heads up to 40 times a day at
combined speeds of 80 or more km per hour!
Now blue-listed, the California bighorn sheeps
continued survival depends on our success
at preserving the grasses that sustain them.
Grizzly Bear
A solitary bear that lives in sub alpine mountain
forests and alpine tundra, the grizzly is blue listed.
The main portion of their diet consists of
roots, sedges, horsetails, grasses and berries!
Insects, carrion (dead animals), fish and small
mammals (eg marmot) make up the lesser
portion of their diet. Cubs (usually 2 per
mom), remain with the mother for two years.
Once well distributed across Eurasia, North
America and North Africa, the grizzly bear
has been extirpated from most of its range.
Now, there are only populations of grizzlies
in north west North America and Russia!
Any human based activities should be done in
such a way as to avoid displacing bears from their
habitat to ensure this bears continued survival.
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Another bird of the grasslands is the Columbian
sharp-tailed grouse. Blue listed, these birds are
now seen on less than
10% of their original
grassland range. In
flight the sharp-tailed
grouses pointed tail
is accented by the
white markings on
either side of the
tip. In spring the
coos and stomps
of the male sharptail announce a lek
(breeding ground)
where, if observed
in their dance, these
Long-billed Curlew,
grouse display bright
photo Kris Andrews
purple air sacs and
Page 53
Grizzly Bear feeding on Salmon, photo Tom Hughes
yellow eyecombs to attract a mate. In 2002,

the Provincial government along with the
Upland Birds Society and other organizations
initiated a five-year project to attempt to
recover Sharp-tailed Grouse populations in
grassland habitats.
Sharp-tailed Grouse, photo Ernest Leupin

Page 54
Bats
Of the twelve species
of bats found in our
region several are at
risk. The red listed
Pallid bat, a large
big eared bat with
pale fur, hunts for
grasshoppers
and
crickets on open
fields. The smallest
bat in BC, the Western
Small-footed Myotis,
weighing in at less
than a nickel, also
resides here and is
blue listed, along with
the Townsend Bigeared bat and Fringed
Myotis. The Cariboo is Townsend Big-eared Bat,
home to the largest
photo Anna Roberts
bat in Canada, the
spotted bat, which is blue listed. With ears
approximately 4 cm in length, and a wingspan
of around 35cm, the black body of the Spotted
bat is marked by three large white spots.
Unlike most bats, the spotted bats call may
be heard by humans. The Spotted bat hunts
moths and other insects flying over tree tops.
Other species of bats hunt insects from dusk
until dawn over lakes, grasslands, and some
(including the Townsend Big-eared bat)

even glean insects, including the Mountain
Pine beetle, right off the branches of
conifers! All bats play an important role in
our ecosystem and need to be appreciated.
Great Basin Gopher Snake
(subspecies Pituophis c.Deserticola)
This subspecies of gopher snake occurs
in a limited area within the region, and
are at their northern limit in our region.
Degradation or loss of habitat through
urbanization and cultivation are two major
factors causing their decline. Blue listed
in BC, these snakes are vulnerable to
destruction of den sites and fragmentation
of grassland habitat. Once emerged from
their winter hibernacula (den), these
snakes feed
on mammals.
Eggs are laid in
rodent burrows
or talus slopes
in early July
and in early fall
the hatchlings
emerge
from
the nest sites.
By accidentally
running
over
Gopher Snake,
them
on
roadways
photo Karl Larsen

or purposefully
killing the snakes due to their large size or
simply due to a dislike for snakes, humans
are also a threat to these snakes. The Gopher
snake plays an important role in controlling
crop pests and are known to remove large
proportions of the small mammals (rodents) in
an area where they reside.
Great Basin Spadefoot
The Great Basin spadefoot is a small rotund,
brownish grey amphibian with dark spots,
often with orange centres and is provincially
blue-listed. A distinguishing feature of this
amphibian is the dark sharp-edged ridge on
the inner side of each hind foot that is used for
burrowing. The spadefoot lives in the Fraser
watershed in mid elevation shrub-steppe and
open forest, laying its eggs in wetlands in the
spring. Once the young evolve from tadpoles
Great Basin Spadefoot, photo Karl Larsen
to juveniles they move to the land burrowing

underground in sandy soils where they live off
invertebrates throughout the winter. Since 2001
they have been COSEWIC listed as threatened
due to habitat loss contributed to housing
development, roads, and crop production.
They have also been negatively effected by
non-native fish and bullfrogs (an invasive
species), as well as reduced reproduction
due to pesticide pollution. Along with this,
disease and climate change effects are being
researched as emerging issues. Spadefoots are
found in the Meadow and Alberta Lakes area in
the south Cariboo.
Good News for the Sandhill Cranes
Status UPGRADED!
Previously blue-listed, the Sandhill Cranes
have been upgraded to the yellow list!
Sandhill cranes, a very secretive bird, nest in
open areas in the fens, bogs and marshes but
unlike the heron they never perch on trees.
Their nests are made of grasses, rushes, and
moss, and either are anchored in shallow
water or lay directly on the ground. Their
long legs and non-webbed feet are built for
walking on the ground and in water. The
bare red skin over the forehead and upper
face and white cheeks stands out against the
Sandhill cranes gray neck, body and wings.
Cranes have a courtship ritual that has evolved
Page 55
Sandhill Cranes, photo Geoff Moore
over thousands of years and includes a rattle

like call. The red markings on its head and
straight neck in flight distinguished it from
the heron. Threats to their nesting habitat and
small populations caused these cranes to be at

risk initially. Continued management for these
birds is essential to keep them from returning
to their previous at risk status.
Water Wise
Water conversation awareness for travel
Summer in the cool, clear waters of Horsefly Lake, photo Don Evans
By necessity campers tend to manage with

less water than they are used to. It is a great
way to discover how little water we actually
need, compared to what we tend to use and
waste daily back at home. It is important to
remember that everything put on the land will
eventually reaches water and in turn is carried
further down the watershed.
Here are some tips to help minimize your
water footprint while traveling:
Purchase biodegradable soaps, shampoo
and toothpaste
Page 56
Plan ahead to avoid toxic spills such as oil

leaks or harmful cleaning products
Avoid driving through lakes and streams, as
you will stir up sediment that damages fish
and other aquatic organisms downstream
Use only what you need, as often the supply
of safe drinking water is limited.
Remember, Water is Life Use Responsibly. For
more on Water Wise in the Cariboo Chilcotin
visit our Water Wise pages at www.ccconserv.
org or email waterwise@ccconserv.org
Tweedsmuir
Provincial Park
Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, Coastal Mountains, photo Chris Armstrong
Tweedsmuir Park was designated a park back

in 1938. At 981,000 hectares, it is the largest
provincial park in British Columbia. The park
was named for the 15th Governor General of
Canada, Baron Tweedsmuir, (also known as
John Buchan, author of The Thirty-nine Steps),
who travelled extensively in the park in 1936.
His comment: 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 honour to
call by my name.
hiking. The park is located on Highway 20,

approximately 400 km west of Williams Lake,
between Anahim Lake and Bella Coola. It can
also be reached by way of the Discovery Coast
Passage ferry from Vancouver Island. Three
brochures describing the different aspects of
the park are available on the BC Parks website.
Two campgrounds are situated along Highway 20
in the Bella Coola Valley. Atnarko campground,
located at the bottom of the Hill, has 28 sites
and a small day use area situated in a grove
of old growth Douglas Fir. Located near Stuie,
Fisheries Pool Campground is popular with
anglers. There are 14 high density sites, a small
day use area and covered picnic shelter. Short
hiking trails, car-top boat launches and picnic
areas are located along the highway corridor.
Due to the parks size and geographical

differences, it has been separated into two
sections for management. North Tweedsmuir
is managed by BC Parks Skeena Region out
of Smithers, whereas South Tweedsmuir is
managed by the Cariboo Region.
Fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout and
Dolly Varden is popular in the parks numerous
Tweedsmuir (South) Park has something for lakes and streams. If youre after salmon,
everyone, offering excellent fishing, vehicle- head to the Atnarko or Bella Coola Rivers,
access campgrounds, horseback riding, which provide world class fishing for chinook,
backcountry camping, wilderness canoeing and coho, pink, and chum (both these rivers were
Page 57
Feeding Grizzly sow and cubs, photo Chris Armstrong
designated BC Heritage Rivers in 1997). If fly

fishing is your style, try the Dean River. Licensed
guides in the Nimpo Lake area can fly anglers
into any number of remote lakes. Different
restrictions apply in the various lakes and
rivers. Please consult the BC Freshwater Fishing
Regulations.
The Rainbow Range north of Highway 20 offers

a network of excellent backpacking and horsepacking trails and wilderness campsites. There
are incredible views of the surrounding Coast
Range mountains from the open, sub-alpine
meadows. This range of extinct volcanoes is
home to grizzly bear, black bear, mountain
goat, caribou, wolf, moose, and mule
deer.
For a 3 to 4 day trip through spectacular
mountain scenery, try the Turner Lake
Canoe Chain. Access it by hiking up
the 16 km Hunlen Falls Trail to Turner
Lake, or by chartering a floatplane
from Nimpo Lake. Canoe rentals and a
campsite are available at Turner Lake.
From this lake a short trail leads to a
view of Hunlen Falls, the third highest
in British Columbia, which plunge
260metres into the Atnarko River. Also
starting from Turner Lake you can enjoy
alpine rambles up to Ptarmigan Lake
and the Panorama Lake loop.
Ptarmigan Lake, photo Rosemary Neads

Page 58
Due to the large population of grizzly

bears in the park, visitors should use
caution while camping, hiking and
fishing, particularly during the salmon
spawning season. Information on
bears and how to avoid encounters
is available on the BC Parks website
Tsyl-os
Provincial Park
Tchaikazan Valley, photo BC Parks
Tsyl-os Provincial Park encompasses 233,240

hectares in the central Chilcotin. It is bounded
by the rugged peaks of the Coast Mountains
to the west and the dry Interior Plateau to
the east. The park was established in 1994
to protect the areas rare and endangered
wildlife and outstanding wilderness recreation
opportunities. The park is managed through a
cooperative relationship between BC Parks, the
Tsilhquotin People of Xeni (http://xenigwetin.
com). Traditional uses permitted in the park
include hunting, trapping, and cattle grazing.
Beniz campground, reached via Hanceville,

with 16 defined sites, and Gwa Da Tsih
campground (via Tatla Lake) with 8 rustic
sites. Facilities at both campgrounds include
water pumps, tables, fire rings, pit toilets, and
limited firewood. NOTE: Due to bear hazards,
Gwa Da Tsih campground may be closed
during salmon spawning season (mid-August
to mid-October).
Roads to the park are rough, washboard gravel

roads: be prepared to spend 4 to 6 hours from
Williams Lake on either route. High clearance
Tsyl-os Provincial Park (pronounced sigh-loss) 4x4 vehicles are recommended. Additional
is part of the traditional territory of the Xeni park information and a map is available on the
Gwetin and offers visitors an opportunity to BC Parks web site www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks .
appreciate their cultural history. Tsyl-os, the
namesake of the park, is the imposing summit Chilko Lake dominates the park. It is the
also known as Mt. Tatlow. It is spiritually largest, natural, high-elevation, freshwater
significant to the Xeni Gwetin. To them, Tsyl- lake in Canada, and it is stunningly beautiful,
os is a place of respect. Tsyl-os keeps watch with blue-green hues and dramatic mountain
over the Xeni and their territory.
backdrops. Motor boating and sea kayaking
are both popular. CAUTION: Chilko Lake
There are two developed campgrounds located should only be navigated by experienced
in the northern half of the park: Nu Chugh boaters. Canoeing is not recommended. Due
Page 59
Chilko Lake, photo Don Evans
to its length, unpredictable winds, and

mountainous shores, dangerous waves
often form on the lake.
Chilko Lake supports rainbow trout, bull
trout, and productive spawning areas
for Chinook and Sockeye Salmon. BC
Parks is taking a conservative approach
to managing fish stocks in the park.
Respect gear restrictions and lowered
catch limits on bull trout. Anglers are
encouraged to carefully release fish
whenever possible.
The backcountry of Tsyl-os Park is
recommended for experienced travellers
equipped for route-finding, first aid, and
survival situations. Hiking routes are not
maintained and there are no facilities.
Chilko Lake, Tsyl-os Provincial Park,

photo Don Olesiuk
Page 60
The park provides habitat for species

such as black bear, mule deer, moose,
mountain goat, cougar, and bald eagle.
The park also protects ecologically
sensitive populations such as California
bighorn sheep, peregrine falcon, grizzly
bear, fisher, and wolverine.
Wetlands
of the Cariboo Chilcotin
Kibbee Lake, Bowron Lake Chain, photo Chris Swan
Thousands of ponds, marshes, bogs, fens and

meadows dampened by flood waters and
precipitation dot our region. They appear within
the grasslands, forests and alpine meadows of
the Cariboo Chilcotin. Crucial for water storage,
and providing valuable nutrient exchange and
habitat for wildlife and fish, the wetlands play
a vital role in the ecological balance. Smoothed
and flattened by the glaciers massive weight,
the plateaus and valley pockets of the Cariboo
Garter Snake, photo Don Olesiuk
Chilcotin became dotted with many lakes and

wetlands as the Cordilleran Ice sheet receded.
Ponds and marshes appeared as the lowland
began to drain off the excess melting waters.
Pied Billed Grebe & chick, photo Kris Andrews
Moistened by mineral-enriched ground water,

the deep peat soils of fens that dominate
our wetlands are ideal for sedge, moss and
willows. Bogs receive their water only from
rain and snow, so their acidic, nutrient-poor
Page 61
Female Red Winged Blackbird, photo Don Olesiuk
soils suit the black spruce, Labrador tea and types of birds and amphibians. Fresh water
sphagnum moss that grow there. Wet meadows shrimp and snails are plentiful. Amphibians
salamanders, frogs, toads, reptiles, snakes and
the blue listed painted turtle abound in ponds,
marshes and other wetlands.
Beaver, the largest rodent in North America,
dam creeks creating ponds and marshes -sites
for nesting flocks of migrating water birds.
Once abandoned, beaver dams deteriorate and
the marshes drain allowing new vegetation to
flourish. Another rodent of the wetlands, the
muskrat, feeds on the plentiful supply of cattails
around marshes. The homes of the beaver and
Male Barrows Goldeneye, photo Kris Andrews
contribute to nearby streams and marshes that

rise and fall with snow melt and rainstorms.
These meadows, effective for storing water and
cycling minerals, provide for lush plant life that
soaks up excess water which would otherwise
cause erosion.
An abundance of invertebrate life is found in
wet meadows and marshes and feeds numerous
Page 62
Beaver, photo Jennifer Stone
muskrat are especially visible

when the ponds freeze. The
moose, largest of the deer
family, frequents marshes
where they may consume up
to 14 kg (30 lbs.) of willows
per day. Travelling over the
soft ground is made easy for
moose by their long legs and
cloven hooves. Their hair is
hollow, allowing for more
efficiency when swimming
and drying out after. As well,
the black bear, considered
75% vegetarian, feeds on
the herbs and lush greens of
wetlands.
The importance of wetlands
with their systems of water
purification, soil enrichment
and plant and wildlife habitat,
is significant to maintaining
a healthy balance in all the
ecosystems of the Cariboo
Chilcotin.
Water logged Bog Fungi, photo Chris Czajkowski
Long Toed Salamander,

Painted Turtle, photo Kris Andrews
Young duckling takes first swim,

photo Don Piller
Western Toad, photo Steve Monk
Page 63
Ducks Unlimited Wetlands

Theyre for the birds!
Chilanko Marsh, photo Ducks Unlimited Canada
the potential to remove and store greenhouse

gases from the Earths atmosphere.
As Canadas leading conservation organization,

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has worked
to restore and manage wetland habitats in
the Cariboo Chilcotin for over 40 years. DUC
currently has 102 conservation projects and
The Cariboo Chilcotin landscape offers a a total of 320 wetlands in the region. While
diverse range of opportunities for recreational impossible to showcase them all, we shine a
enthusiasts to observe its natural wonders. spotlight on two wetlands that are well worth
Some of the most awe-inspiring are marshes visiting, whether youre a long-time resident or
and other wetlands, which in addition to their new to the area!
recreational appeal, play an important role
in preserving wildlife habitat, preventing soil 100 Mile Marsh
erosion, improving water quality and also have Nestled right in the heart of downtown 100
Mile House lies beautiful 100 Mile Marsh.
Situated on property owned by The Nature
Trust of BC, and home to a myriad of wildlife
species, this marsh truly is the towns crown
jewel. On your next road trip, stop for some
fresh air and stretch your legs on the short
walking trail that encircles the marsh. Or bring
your binoculars and a bird book and try your
hand at bird-watching. Bird species commonly
observed include 17 species of ducks, as well
as geese, swans, grebes, coots, rails, blackbirds,
marsh wrens and herons.
Columbia Spotted Frog, photo Ducks Unlimited Canada

Page 64
Tundra Swan and pair of Redhead Ducks, photo Ducks Unlimited
In 2007, a storm water settling pond was

constructed on the east side to improve the
quality of water entering the marsh from the
surrounding urban area. On the west side,
near the footbridge that crosses the outlet
stream, visitors can see the water control
that maintains the marsh. This water control
a concrete weir with stop logs which allow
adjustment of the water level was rebuilt
in 2004.
Access to the marsh is very easy as it is located

right on Highway 97 just turn off the
highway and park at the giant cross-country
skis!
Chilanko Marsh
Out in the Chilcotin region to the west of
Williams Lake is the amazing Chilanko Marsh.
Over 265 hectares (654 acres) in size (the
equivalent of 503 football fields), the marsh
features three separate wetland basins,
including a small salt marsh. The diverse
surrounding habitats include scenic Chilcotin
grasslands, tall willows, aspen stands and dry
conifer forests. As a conservation project in
partnership with the B.C. Ministry of Forests,
Lands and Natural Resource Operations,
and The Nature Trust of B.C., the marsh
and surrounding area provide habitat for
waterfowl, moose, furbearers, sharp-tailed
grouse and other wildlife species. Mule deer
and coyotes can also be regularly seen, and
since 1984, members of the Williams Lake
Field Naturalists have recorded an incredible
139 bird species!
This marsh also offers something for the

history buff. Situated at the western end is
a historic home site that served as ranch
headquarters from the late 1800s or early
1900s to the Nygaards of Bella Coola.
Access the marsh via the graveled Puntzi

Airport Road. From Highway 20, turn north at
Chilanko Forks, then west onto Puntzi Airport
Road. From here, two separate trails head
south to the marsh; these are suitable for
two-wheel drive vehicles in dry weather only.
Alternately, visitors with cars can park on the
Puntzi Airport Road and walk in to the marsh
or view it from the road. There are few signs
marking the area so its advisable to have a
good map or air photo in hand, or ask for
directions beforehand.
With wetlands like Chilanko Marsh and 100

Mile Marsh in need of funding to pay for
repair of the water control structures and
on-going maintenance, your support of DUC
is more important than ever. As a registered
charitable organization, DUC depends on
contributions from donors and volunteers to
help achieve our conservation vision for the
benefit of waterfowl, wildlife and people.
There are many more beautiful wetlands

in the Cariboo-Chilcotin to visit. For more
information call the Williams Lake office of
Ducks Unlimited Canada at 250-398-7028.
Page 65
Williams Lake River Valley Trail

Extending from Williams Lake
to the mighty Fraser River, the
River Valley Trail meanders with
the creek for 12 km, through
forest and grassland beneath the
magnificent cliffs and vistas of
the valley walls.
Visitors can hike, cycle, or
horseback ride this dynamic trail,
either in part or along its entire
length. Benches and toilets are
located at various points along
the trail and interpretive signs
provide visitors with information
on the natural and cultural
history of the River Valley. The
area is traditional territory of
the Williams Lake Indian Band,
and the mouth of the creek at
the Fraser River is federal Indian
Reserve land.
Access to the trail can be gained
at the main trailhead located on
Mackenzie Avenue across from
Comer Street or by following
The Ashtray, River Valley Trail, photo Brian Carruthers
Frizzi Road past the landfill site. The

latter route can be extremely slippery
when wet and is not recommended for
recreational vehicles.
The lower part of the trail after the
last parking lot begins at an interesting
marsh fed by fresh water springs. This
is a great bird watching site. The marsh
was recently fenced (by the Williams
Lake Field Naturalists) to allow for the
riparian edge to grow offering more
extensive habitat to wildlife.
Boardwalk on the River Valley Trail,

photo City of Williams Lake
Page 66
You can read about the great natural

history on the Williams Lake River Trail
in Stepping Into Nature, a Guide to
the Williams Lake River Valley (Steen
and Roberts), available at the Scout
Island Nature Centre 250-398-8532.
Save our Wild Flowers

fight Invasive Plants
Lupine and Paintbrush in a mountain meadow, photo Chris Czajkowski
From early spring to late fall, the Cariboo

Chilcotin is a bloom with a vast array of wild
flowers. For so many of us when traveling we
first just want to enjoy the changing scenery,
the brilliant colours be it a field of purple
fireweed, a mass of blue lupine, bright yellow
arnica and the red, pink or sulphur greens of
paint brush.
some cases just as beautiful brilliant gold/

orange fields of the orange hawkweed, slopes
of white oxeye daisy and the brilliant flowers
of blueweed. Along our shorelines, native
bulrushes and water lily compete with invasive
domesticated yellow flag Iris and the beautiful
large plumed purple loosestrife. In this section
we wish to highlight some of our native wild
flowers and raise awareness of the invasive
As we relax into our journey, small details plants we have unknowingly introduced into
and a curious mind may take over. Walking their habitat, and the potential threat they
amongst the forest we may be delighted to find pose to our regions biodiversity.
the delicate, waxy, yellow blooms of tiger lily
sharing a bed with the ornately designed red
columbine. There is a wide range of habitat in
the Cariboo Chilcotin which accounts for the
large number
and diversity of
wild flowers.
Birds Beak Lousewort,

Unfortunately,
some of this
beauty
is
being
eroded
by the fierce
competition of
invasive plants.
Many of these
plants
came
from Europe and
Asia, and are in
Columbine & Lupins,

Page 67
Mountain meadow with Aster, Arnica and Paintbrush, photo Chris Czajkowski
First - what defines a wild flowers? They

include both native plants and non-native
flowering plants that grow without human
tending, from desert to mountain-tops, to
city sidewalks. From mountain meadows
to the dry-belt grasslands, even down to
road side banks, we are treated to splashes
of colour and sometimes masses of radiant
blooms. Some are native plants those wild
plants that originated in the area, while others
have been introduced from other parts of the
country or world. Introduced plants do not all
become invasive or pose threats to our native
wild flowers. An invasive plant differs from
what we call a weed. Weeds are defined as
any plant not wanted where it is found and
Bog Laurel, photo Chris Czajkowski

Page 68
they vary from

area to area. In
California, lupine
is
considered
a weed, while
in
England
dandelion,
lambs quarter,
peppermint,
mustard, mullein,
St. Johns wort,
burdock, coltsfoot
and wormwood
are used for
m e d i c i n a l
purposes and not
considered weeds,
as they are here.
Invasive plants,
however, are plant
species (usually
non-native) that
are regarded as
harmful in that
they
adversely
affect ecosystems,
plants, animals,
or human health,
or
interfere
with economic
pursuits.
The long-leaved Sundew

captures dragonfly,
photo Tim Quinnell
Tiger Lily,
photo Maureen Byman
Wildflowers From Spring to Fall

Spring is a time when first we notice the
land greening and splashes of early colour.
Flowering shrubs of Saskatoon with its
bouquet-like white flowers later provide a
deep blue berry in clusters. Chokecherry
with its fragrant, white, drooping blooms
mature into bitter but bright mahoganyred cherries which hang like wild miniature
grapes. Low to the ground the waxy, serrated
edged leaves of Oregon Grape are graced with
clusters of brilliant yellow flowers in spring,
followed in summer by grape-like bunches
of blue berries on red stems. Tiny, fragrant,
pinkish flowers of Dogbane or delicate pink
bell flowers of kinnikinnick grace the dry,
open spaces. Ornamental clusters of bell-like
purple flowers of penstemon grow on dry,
sunny gravel banks. In the grasslands the
silvery-green leaves of arrowleaf balsamroot
surround clusters of sunflower-like yellow
blooms. The drylands prickly pear cactus
also blooms in May and June, with delicate,
yellow flowers set amidst the sharp spines
of the cactus. Another flower found on dry
meadows and along roadsides is brown-eyed
Susan, with its dark brown centre surrounded
by brilliant yellow rays. Wild onion blooms with
soft white petals, while delicate violets draw
the eye close to the ground, with their regal
purple blooms. Come summer, wildflowers are
found blooming
in moister areas
of our region
the tall brilliant
blue arctic lupine
may be spotted
from forests to
roadsides or en
mass in subalpine
meadows during
m i d - s u m m e r.
Watch for marmots
which are fond
of eating these
lupines. On open
grassy slopes and
in moist to dry
forests, at midDelicate Fairy Slipper or
Calypso Orchid,
elevation
grow
photo Jeffrey Newman
Inky Gentians, photo Chris Czajkowski
the bright red paintbrush. Considered once

by the Carrier or Nlakapmx peoples as
sacred, paintbrush attracts hummingbirds.
Another common native plant is the delicate
red columbine. Stored in the tips of the
columbines five reddish spurs under which
hangs a skirt of yellow petals, sweet nectar
attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Variety
abounds, from the delicate and rare Calypso
orchids on forest floors, to clusters of brilliant
pink moss campion and vibrant yellow blooms
of succulent lance-leaved stonecrop in rocky
terrain of the alpine. Interesting to know, in
False Hellebore, photo Chris Czajkowski
Page 69
Alpine Harebell, photo Chris Czajkowski
Mountain Marsh Marigolds, photo Chris Czajkowski
the Chilcotin there are at least four types of

insect eating plants. The long-leaved sundew
traps mostly small insects in fine hairs on
the leaves, which move the insect to the leafs
centre which contains a digestive enzyme.
Tall, nodding Indian Hellebore and pure white
blooms of yarrow, decorate mountain meadow
paths. In late summer and fall the grassland
rabbit-brush and big sagebrush glow with
small flowers creating yellow tips. The reds
and golden leaves falling in the forests often
surround clusters of purple asters, while wild
roses don brilliant red rose-hips and juniper
bushes produce blue berries.
Early Mountain Fireweed, photo Chris Czajkowski
Roseroot, photo Chris Czajkowski

Page 70
Brown Eyed Susan, photo Kris Andrews
Heather, photo Chris Czajkowski
Why fight Invasive Plants and Details on the

areas top trouble makers:
Invasive plants are known for their ability to
grow and establish quickly in disturbed soils,
and spread rapidly by massive seed production
and/or aggressive root growth. Compared to
other threats to biodiversity, invasive plants
are second only to habitat destruction. The
environmental impacts caused by invasive
plants are degradation of wildlife habitat and
the choking out
of native plants.
Greater
even
than pollution or
disease combined,
invasive plants
negatively impact
agriculture,
forestry, fisheries
and cost billions
of dollars a year
in North America
to these industries
in lost production
or costs of control.
When visiting an
area there are
simple ways to
Alpine Forget Me Nots,
ensure you do
your part in preventing the spread of these

plants, especially when you plan your activities
to have a minimal amount of disturbance
to the environment. Unlike many areas, the
Cariboo Chilcotin is relatively weed-free, so we
have a chance to try to keep it that way!
Mountain Arnica & Mountain Daises,

Page 71
Dont drive or ride on grasslands, stay

on designated trails, frequently check
yourself, your vehicles and pets for
clinging branches or seeds/burrs and
dispose of hitchhikers to the landfill.
Learn to recognize invasive plants and
report sightings to the local invasive
plant committee in the area
Spotted Knapweed, photo Marg Evans

Inset photo CRD
How You Can Help:

Prevent soil disturbances in all activities.
Undisturbed, natural soil cover (even the thin
lichen crust) provides the greatest resistance to
invasive species.
Pull/dig out new patches of invasive plants
and carefully bag and dispose to landfill
(spotted knapweed seeds need to be burned
at a temperature higher than a campfire
temperature).
Leafy Spurge, photo CRD

Page 72
Particularly Invasive, Unwanted

Plants (details)
Spotted & Diffuse Knapweed are
two species found in our region that
possess extremely invasive tendencies.
Both are capable of producing large
quantities of seeds - thousands from
one plant alone that can survive in
the soil for over 20 years. They are
able to invade undisturbed ecosystems,
and once established, require longterm management to control their
spread. Spotted knapweed (Centaurea
biebersteinii) flowers blooms in July
and August. The purple flower head
is surrounded with a black tipped
fringe, giving it a spotted appearance. The
plant will have many blooms at one time,
tolerates a wide range
of temperatures and
elevations, and is
quick to spread along
road systems. Diffuse
knapweed (Centaurea
diffusa) has white
to pink flowers with
short rigid spines
around the flower
heads. It is common
in dry microclimates
Diffuse Knapweed,
throughout
the
photo MOF
Cariboo Chilcotin.
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) establishes
itself in an area through an extensive creeping
root system (up to 9 horizontal meters) with
up to 300 new plants (buds) on these roots! It
is able to invade healthy plant communities,
and prefers dry roadsides, grasslands and open
forest at low to mid elevations. Leafy spurge
reduces forage and contains a white, milky
Orange Hawkweed, photo Marg Evans - Inset photo CRD
substance that can cause severe irritation

swelling and itchy blisters on people and
livestock.
Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) has a
snapdragon-like flower with pale green heartshaped waxy leaves on tall stems. The flowers
are bright yellow with an orange spot on the
lower lip. This plant is a perennial that spreads
by tap-roots and seeds that can still grow after
Dalmation Toadflax, photo Cariboo Chilcotin Coast

Invasive Plant Council
10 years in the soil. It prefers roadsides, wet

meadows and fringe forest areas, and tolerates
low temperatures and poor soil conditions at
low to mid elevations. It can be effectively
controlled by biocontrol (use of a beetle
Mecinus janthinus) to reduce plant density in
areas where eradication is no longer possible.
Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum)
spreads through seed production as well as
by fibrous root systems that cause blanketlike monoculture infestations to form. Fields
of the vibrant orange-red hawkweed can be
quite impressive, and many a gardener has
Field Scabious, photo Percy Folkard
Page 73
it is slow spreading, is very

difficult to eradicate. Field
scabious invades meadows,
roadsides and openings and
tolerates a wide range of
elevations. A large infestation
exists east of Quesnel near
the Cottonwood House
Historic Park where agencies
are coordinating control
efforts in order to stop this
plant from spreading further.
Marsh Thistle, photo CRD - Inset photo
MOE
unknowingly taken the seeds of this invasive

home mistaking them for wildflowers. They
grow at mid to high elevations and invade
meadows, roadsides and clearings.
Marsh Plume Thistle (Cirsium palustre) is
a biennial with clusters of purple flowers
that spread rapidly by wind-borne seeds and
are extremely fast growing and invasive. It
grows from a single, unbranched stem, can
reach 2 metres in height and create a spiny,
impenetrable wall that chokes out wetlands.
Marsh plume thistle can form dense clumps
in cut-blocks, causing irreversible damage to
tree seedlings.
Field Scabious
(Knautia arvensis) has
violet-blue flowers that bloom from July to
September, reproducing seeds at 2,000 per
plant! It forms dense infestations and though
Oxeye Daisy, photo Kiani Evans

Page 74
Blueweed (Echium vulgare)

also known as Vipers Bugloss,
begins as a low growing plant
forming a flat rosette from
which, single dark stems covered with stiff hairs
arise. It grows up to a height of 1metre and
its tap root reaches deeply for moisture in the
dry, gravelly soils it
prefers. Blueweeds
brilliant blue flowers
grow in bristly
clusters.
Though
it is a short lived
biennial, it produces
many seeds and is
very hard to control.
It is often spread by
the transportation of
gravel into which its
seeds have fallen.
Sulphur cinquefoil
(Potentilla
recta)
has sulphur yellow
flowers with 5
heart-shaped petals
and leaves that
Blueweed,
photo Marg Evans
are divided into 5
7 hairy, toothed
leaflets. It is a long lived perennial that likes
grasslands and dry forests at low to mid
elevations. There are over 20 native cinquefoils
in BC making positive identification of the
invasive sulphur cinquefoil, difficult. This
cinquefoil produces many seeds and spreads
through creeping root systems.
Small
infestations can be managed by digging.
Hoary Alyssum (Berteroa incana) likes to

invade disturbed plant communities,
preferably in gravelly areas. The entire multistemmed plant is covered in star-shaped
hairs. In bloom the white flowers contain
deeply notched petals, which mature to form
flat, oval seedpods attached close to the
stems.
Hoary
alyssum can be
toxic to horses,
and
prefers
low
to
mid
elevations. Many
herbicides and
biological control
are ineffective in
its control and
biocontrol is not
Sulphur Cinquefoil,
possible due to
photo MOF
its similarity to
canola.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is
found in wetlands, along lake shores and
in wet ditches and marshy areas from low
to subalpine elevations. This perennial is
sometimes confused with our native fireweed.
Purple loosestrife can be distinguished by its
square stems and when in flower, its purplemagenta clusters of flowers.
Oxeye
Daisy
(Chrysanthemum
leucanthemum)
is found along
roadsides,
pastures
and
in
disturbed
openings with
poor soil and
moist to dry
sites. It frequents
areas from low to
mid elevations,
invading fields
and replacing
native grasses.
Hoary Alyssum,
photo MOF
Purple Loosestrife, photo CRD

Inset photo close-up of square stem CRD
More Information:
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Invasive Plant Council
Society, 104-197 Second Ave N, Williams Lake
BC V2G 1Z5 ph 392-1400.
Cariboo Regional District, Cariboo Regional
District Invasive Plant Management Program
1-800-665-1636,
invasiveplants@cariboord.bc.ca
Websites with detailed photographs and
management plans for invasive plants:
www.weedsbc.ca
For more on Chris Czajkowski, writer,
naturalist and wilderness dweller, visit her
site www.wildernessdweller.ca to hear
the latest on her books and wilderness
experiences!
Page 75
Bears & Cougars
Grizzly Bear, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, photo Joanne McLeod
Bears and cougars are wild animals and as

such are often unpredictable. Normally they
are wary of people but can become habituated
and food conditioned in a very short period.
Even though there are numerous bear human
encounters each year those that result in injury
are very few. Sightings or human contact with
cougars are very rare, but do occur.
Once bears associate food with people they
become increasingly aggressive towards
humans in their search for food. It is almost
impossible to reverse these habits.
Always keep children close and in sight

If you encounter a bear or cougar - DO NOT
RUN or CRY OUT, stay calm, retreat slowly,
talk softly and avoid eye contact.
When selecting a camp site:
Choose an open site off a trail, not along a
running creek, a game trail, ridge or near a
berry patch
Do not sleep in the open (without a tent)
Store food and garbage at least 100-200
meters from the sleeping area in bear proof
containers or suspend high between two
trees.
Keep your camp clean, burn all
combustibles, pack out your garbage
Never cook or store food, utensils, toilet
articles or cosmetics in your tent or tent
trailer
Eliminate or reduce food odours. Avoid
cooking greasy foods and foods with strong
smells. Freeze dried foods are relatively
odour free. Keep yourself and gear free of
food smells
There are many things that you can do on the

trail to prevent bear or cougar encounters:
Make enough noise so as not to surprise a
wild animal at close quarters
Be aware of tracks, droppings, digging, torn
stumps or carcasses
Avoid thick brush and stay in the open
Avoid concentrations of natural food stuff,
i.e. berries when ripe
Keep your dog under control, on a leash, or
leave at home.
Avoid walking in twilight hours or dark as Additional information and precautions:
bears and cougars are more active during Never approach a young bear or cougar, females
will defend their young very vigorously
twilight and dark
Page 76
Bears will often stand

on their hind legs to
better identify you
and may move closer
to identify what they
are smelling or have
seen. If a bear comes
at you with its head
high it will most
likely not charge.
However, if it moves
towards you in the
low crouch position
it will likely attack.
Bears will likely make
a series of woofs and
pop their teeth as a
warning that they do
not want you around.
Rather than risking
confrontation, it is
better to back track or
re-route.
Cougar kitten, photo M.Evans
WANTED
Nature Lovers
The Wilderness Committee
has helped create more than 55 parks

protecting millions of hectares of wilderness in
Canada. Become a member and help us do more.
WildernessCommittee.org/support
WILDERNESS
C O M M I T T E E
Canadas largest member-based wilderness

preservation organization since 1980.
Page 77
Wildlife Viewing
Red Fox, photo Chris Armstrong
Catching a glimpse of wild animals in their View or photograph from a distance, use
natural habitat is a real thrill for many people.
binoculars and telephoto lenses.
But remember, you are a visitor in the animals Avoid noises or actions that might cause
home please respect the needs of wild
animals to flee, wasting unnecessary energy.
animals for space, and their natural food and Respect den sites and nesting areas. Nesting
shelter. To avoid stressing wildlife, please:
birds are very sensitive to disturbances,
birds who molt (lose their flight feathers)
after nesting, must grow new feathers
Badger kits, photo Richard Klafki

Page 78
Bull Moose, photo Paul Welch
before they can fly again. Roosting and

hibernating bats are very sensitive to being
disturbed.
Wild animals may be dangerous if they feel
threatened or have young. If you find a wild
young animal leave it, the mother is near
by.
Feeding wildlife is illegal and unsafe.
Feeding often leads to unnatural food
dependency, habituation to humans,
disease or even death.
River Otter with shellfish, photo Kris Andrews
Mountain Goat, photo Mary Forbes
Swallowtail, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Yellow Bellied Marmot,

photo Kris Andrews
Page 79
RESPECT private property and other

viewers need for space. Keep the area
clean! Take your garbage out with you.
REPORT any abuse of the environment
and its wildlife to the nearest conservation
officer.
Ensuring that species habitat needs take
precedence over human use helps protect
threatened, endangered and vulnerable
wildlife. Many groups and organizations
contribute to conservation projects and
public awareness in our region. Be sure
you are doing your part to preserve
healthy, functioning ecosystems.
In the Cariboo Chilcotin region there are
several designated Wildlife Viewing Sites.
To mention a few 100 Mile Marsh, the
Chilcotin Grasslands, Riedmann Wildlife
Sanctuary on Alkali Lake, and the Beaver
Pond trail at 10 Mile Lake Provincial Park.
Bald Eagle, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Keep pets under control, they may chase or

injure wildlife.
Avoid trampling or damaging vegetation
its part of the wildlifes ecosystem.
Lynx, photo Lara Roorda

Kris Andrews, a naturalist located in Williams
Lake, reflects her joy of the natural world in her
photographs of wildlife and flora.
Twin Fawns, photo Kris Andrews
Page 80
Bobcat, photo Chris Schmid
Mule Deer bucks, photo Marianne & Don Piller
Porcupine, photo Julie Steciw
Weasel in summer coat, photo Chris Schmid
Waste Wise & Wildlife

When traveling in the Cariboo Chilcotin it is
important to consider how you will transport
your garbage back to a refuse bin. Wildlife is
susceptible to harm, especially when things
such as glass bottles, or sharp cans and plastic
can holders are left in their habitat. They may
become cut or entangled in the garbage, and
then left vulnerable to prey. Also, pouring
contaminates near or into streams endanger
aquatic life.
you are in the

back country,
or
dropped
off at the
Potato House
Composting
Project at 49
Borland Street
in
Williams
Lake.
BC Parks have both garbage and recycle bins

available, as do many highway rest stops. If
you include a sealable tin for your compostable
refuse, it can be added to your compost bin
once you arrive home, buried in the earth, if
For more on
Waste Wise in the
Cariboo visit the
Waste Wise pages online at www.ccconserv.org
or email wastewise@ccconserv.org
Page 81
Birds
Common Yellow Throat, banded at the Tatlyoko Lake Bird Observatory, photo Steve Ogle
The Cariboo Chilcotin has as much diversity in

its birds as in its landscapes. There are birds
that prefer forests, rivers, lakes, high alpine,
grasslands, wetlands and even those from the
joined in seasonal bird counts and assist in

the setting up of nesting boxes. The more
knowledge gained on bird habits and habitat,
the greater the tendency to design local
gardens with native bird friendly plants and
avoid the use of unnecessary herbicides and
pesticides. Several regional organizations
work with volunteers and private land owners
on habitat restoration and bird banding and
research.
Located in the remote and beautiful
Tatlayoko Valley, the Tatlayoko Lake Bird
Observatory (TLBO) was established by the
Nature Conservatory of Canada (NCC) in 2006
to monitor migratory bird populations in
Rough-legged Hawk, photo Kris Andrews
ocean that travel here to nest. Over 250 species

occur here, from the smallest hummingbirds
to the larger eagles and owls. Birds feed, nest
and fill the air with their unforgettable songs
throughout the year.
The people of this region are fascinated by our
birds and many households provide birds with
much needed winter feed, allowing them to
survive harsh temperatures and late springs.
As people enjoy observing birds, many have
Page 82
Bird Banding Station, photo Peter Shaughnessy
Cedar Waxwing, photo Kris Andrews
the valley. The banding station is active in

August and September. Volunteers come from
across Canada and around the world to join
NCC biologists as they observe and track the
thousands of birds that pass through this
key migration corridor. Since 2006 TLBO has
banded more than 14,000 birds and catalogued
186 species in
the valley. In
addition to the
fall banding,
volunteers also
come for ten
days in the
spring to band
the multitude
of
tiny
hummingbirds
on
their
northward
migration. TLBO
contributes
its data to
the Canadian
Migratory
Monitoring
Network, part
Northern Flicker at feeder,
of a world-wide
photo Don Olesiuk
database that
monitors bird population trends and supports
efforts by scientists and conservationists to
overcome threats
to bird biodiversity.
Visit
www.
natureconservancy.
ca/tlbo
for
information
on
how to participate,
or follow the daily
adventures from
afar through the
TLBO blog at www.
tatlayokobirds.
wordpress.com.
Many birds make
their homes along
the
thousands
Stellar Jay,
of kilometres of
photo Don Olesiuk
lakeshore
and
rivers, and in
banks
along
streams as the
Belted Kingfisher
specifically does,
where it nests
in burrows and
hunts from bushes
overhanging
the
waters
edge. Flocks of
American White Male Raifous Hummingbird,
photo Kris Andrews
Page 83
Black Billed Magpie, photo Mary Forbes
pelicans can be
observed herding
fish as they feed
on these and other
aquatic life. The
Killdeer, although
a shorebird, prefers
open areas away
from water for
nesting.
Often
nesting amongst
stones where its
black and white
Red Winged Blackbird,
stripes work as
photo Don Olesiuk
camouflage,
if
flushed from its nest it will feign a broken
wing to distract intruders from its young. The
Long-billed Curlew, whose distinct shorebird
call haunts the grasslands in spring, makes its
way from California to nest here and care for
its young.
Take caution when viewing nesting birds, as
some birds molt or lose their flight feathers
after nesting and are very vulnerable. Others
Don Olesiuk, photographer and former
Park Ranger, captures wildlife and nature
in his stirring photographs. Contact him at
dolesiuk@telus.net
Page 84
may be flushed from their nests leaving eggs

or young unprotected. Gulls if disturbed
when nesting will eat each others young.
Nesting water birds flock to the marshes, lakes
and rivers in the region each spring, Canada
Geese, Pied billed Grebes, Coots, Lesser Scaup,
Mallards, Harlequin, Green and Blue-winged
Teal, and Ruddy Duck are a few. Some ducks
feed on the bottom of ponds and are called
divers. Divers include Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck
and Lesser Scaup, and usually nest in vegetation
directly over the water. Their large paddle-like
feet are used to help them take off, pattering
over the surface for some distance before they
lift off. Ducks often dive underwater from
1 to 2m, though Scaup and Goldeneye may
go down to 15 metres!
Other ducks called
dabblers are shallowwater feeders, tipping
their heads up to sift
vegetation. Dabblers
such as Mallards,
Green and Bluewinged Teal take off
directly from the water
and generally have a
larger wing span than
divers.
The Canada goose, the
most visibly abundant
of large waterfowl,
can be found nesting
in marshes and along
lakesides. Its wild
honking often heralds
spring and again
marks the coming of
winter as flocks travel
by the hundreds in a
V-formation, landing
to feed. Also migrating
through our region are
the exotic Trumpeter
swans the largest
species of waterfowl
with a two metre
wingspan, and Tundra
swans.
Warbling Vireo,
photo Kris Andrews
Yellow Headed
Blackbird,photo
Male Cinnamon Teal, photo Kris Andrews
Barn Swallow, photo Kris Andrews
Trumpeter swans populations have dropped

dangerously low in the 1930s and are slowly
recovering, through protection and captive
breeding programs. Ducks Unlimited Canada
(DUC) has recently been involved in surveying
Trumpeters in northeastern B.C., in cooperation
with the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). DUC
also performs annual waterfowl surveys with
CWS , and partners in research projects that
will lead to better understanding of waterfowl
populations and habitats (from more info visit
www.ducks.ca or call (250) 398.7028).
American White Pelican & Great Egret,

photo Kris Andrews
Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds,

Sandpipers, Marsh Wrens, Fox and Whitecrowned Sparrow, Yellow Throat Warblers,
Barn Swallows and Flickers feed over the
marshes and waterways, perching on bulrushes
and tree branches as they fill the air with their
songs. The largest birds in North America
that frequent our region are the Great Blue
Heron and Sandhill Crane, both reach over
1 m in height and are blue listed.* Tundra
Swan, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilsons
Phalarope, Herring, Ring-billed and Mew
Gulls frequent the wetlands during migration
period. A real treat for birdwatchers in the
Cariboo is to spot migrating Snowy Egrets
fishing in the marshes.
In the canyonlands the White-throated swifts,
rock wren and rosy finches find shelter in the
high rock and limestone cliffs. Soaring above
Raven, photo Don Olesiuk
Page 85
these canyons or perched on

craggy tree tops, are Bald
and Golden eagles.
Rough-legged and redtailed hawks, and Great
Horned Owls glide over the
grasslands in search of small
rodents. Meadowlarks use
fenceposts as singing posts
and bluebirds nest in boxes
along highway fencelines.
Living in habitats with the
harshest climate, the three
ptarmigan species in the
Cariboo-Chilcotin Willow,
White-tailed and Rock
Ptarmigan spend most
of the year in windswept
alpine areas above treeline in the mountains in the eastern and
western edges of the
region. Ptarmigan
have feathered feet
for insulation andto
serve as snowshoes
for walking on
the snow surface.
Ptarmigan winter
plumage is almost
entirely white to
help this bird blend
into the snowy
surroundings and
thereby
avoid
predators.
The
familiar
drumming sound
in aspen and mixed
Greater Yellow Legs,
forests in the spring
photo Kris Andrews
are male Ruffed
Grouse marking their territories and trying
to attract mates. Adult Ruffed Grouse feed
primarily on the buds of aspen and shrubs
for most of the year, and will burrow into soft
snow for shelter in the winter. Spruce Grouse
snap their wings and have elaborate displays
to attract their mates in wetter spruce and fir
forests. These grouse are well camouflaged
Page 86
Ruffed Grouse, photo Ken MacKenzie
and will often remain motionlessly hiding

which allows observers to approach closely, a
habit that has led to their nickname of Fool
Hen.
In spring and summer, Blue Grouse are found
in habitats where forests and grasslands meet.
The dry Douglas-fir forests along the Fraser
and Chilcotin Rivers are a prime area to
see Blue Grouse, but they are also common
in the mountains near treeline, where the
trees begin to thin out into alpine areas. The
only true grassland grouse native to British
Columbia is the Sharp-tailed Grouse. The
numbers of both Ruffed and Blue Grouse have
been declining in British Columbia according
Male Blue Grouse displaying,photo Ken MacKenzie
White-tailed Ptarmigan, photo Ken MacKenzie
to breeding bird surveys carried out in the

province since 1966. The cause of the declines
seen in the populations of these species is
poorly understood, but is probably related to
habitat loss.
Blue grouse are the largest grouse in British
Columbia and they can be found in many of
the grasslands and open Douglas-fir forests
of the Cariboo Chilcotin. They nest on the
ground in tall grass or under a shrub or log,
and the young eat a wide range of foods and
often have a high proportion of grasshoppers
in their diet. During the winter, however, Blue
Grouse walk (not fly) from their low-elevation
summer range to south-facing forests where
they roost on large branches in Douglas-fir
Male Spruce Grouse, photo Ken MacKenzie
trees. Since the high-energy seed and berry

foods of the adults and the insect foods of
young grouse are unavailable during winter,
they consume almost exclusively conifer
needles. The Upland Birds Society is dedicated
to determining the causes of these population
declines and to restoration activities that will
restore the populations of these species and
benefit other species that use similar habitats.
Among the birds of prey in our region are
hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, ospreys and owls.
Of the larger raptors, the Bald and Golden
Eagles may be seen perched in snags by rivers
with spawning fish or along lakeshores. The
eagles swoop down to catch fish at the waters
surface, or may steal from the smaller Osprey
whose sole diet is fish. The eagle also feed
Female Spruce Grouse, photo Don Olesiuk
Page 87
on dead fish and carrion. A sure indicator of

available carrion is viewing a cluster of eagles,
ravens, crows, grey jays and the flashy black
and white magpies circling around above.
The Northern Goshawk, our largest forest
hawk, has a fierce reputation for defending
its nesting and hunting grounds, feeding on
birds, squirrels and even rabbit. Other species
of hawk present are the smaller Coopers
Hawk and Sharp Shinned Hawk. The Red-tailed
Hawk resides in forest along the edges of open
fields, feeding on voles, mice, amphibians
and reptiles. The smallest of the falcons,
the American Kestrel (sometimes referred to
as a Sparrow Hawk), is a fierce predator
although not much larger than a Robin. Often
seen perched on poles or lines, it feeds in
open fields and grasslands mostly on insects,
rodents and birds. A rare treat is to view a
Peregrine Falcon, a superior hunter and one
of the fastest birds, reaching speeds of 300 km
per hour as it swoops down to strike its prey.
The red-listed* Peregrine Falcon hunts the
wetlands, feasting on smaller birds.
A night hunter,
the owl is a bird
with exceptionally
sensitive
ears,
often locating its
prey by hearing
their movements
in the grasses.
Owls see with
binocular vision
both eyes face
forward, allowing
for accurate judging
of distance, but
impaired
allaround vision. For
this reason, owls
rotate their heads
Pair of Pileated
in a circle up to 270
Woodpeckers, photo
degrees! Raptors

eyes are much
larger in proportion than humans, giving them
twice as much light and allowing them much
better night vision. Whether you spot one
Page 88
Pine Grosbeak, photo Mauren Byman
of the larger Great Horned, Great Gray,

or Snowy Owls, or a Northern Hawk Owl,
Northern Pygmy, Barred, Long or Short Eared
Owl, Boreal or Northern Saw-whet search
the ground for the fuzzy pellets found below
their nests. These are regurgitated undigested
parts of their food. Due to a poor sensed of
smell Great Horned Owls are the only regular
predator of skunks. Snowy Owls feed largely
on lemmings whose numbers drop drastically
every four years. During these periods more
Snowy Owls may be found in this area. The
Northern Pygmy Owl is our smallest and
guards its back with false eyes on the back of
its head. During our cold winters some owls
stockpile food (small mammals and insects)
thawing them to eat by sitting on them.

What do woodpeckers, hummingbirds and
upland birds have in common? They all use
their bodies in courtship rituals to claim
Redpolls, photo Jeffrey Newman
Great Grey Owl, photo Don Olesiuk
or
defend
territory. The
hummingbirds
ritual require
the most energy
with its small
heart beating up
to a thousand
times a second.
Watch for the
Rufous, Annas
or
Calliope
Hummingbird
in our region.
Backside of Northern Pygmy
Owl, photo Kris Andrews
Of the ten
species
of
woodpecker
you may spot
in your travels,
the sounds of
the
largest,
the
Pileated
W o o d p e c k e r,
with its unique
red crest, may
be found in our
woodlands yearSinging White-crowned Sparrow, round, tapping
Great Horned Owl, photo Kris Andrews
for grubs and ants. A breeding pair needs more

than 100 acres of forest to settle. The Northern
Flicker feeds on ants and other land insects in
fields, meadows and forest edges from the
foothills to the subalpine. Flickers often bathe
in dust to absorb harmful bacteria and oils
from their feathers. They clean themselves
with crushed ants, high in formic acid, to kill
small parasites on their skin. The soft tapping
of the Downy, the smallest and most common
of the woodpeckers is often heard in the aspen
forests. The blue-listed Lewiss Woodpecker,
photo Don Olesiuk
Page 89
however,
captures
most of its meals in
flight.
The songs of perching
birds (e.g. warblers,
finches,
thrushes,
larks, vireos and
blue-birds) are highly
developed, and the
very specific with
mating and courtship
songs are repeated
in sequence, most
often by the males. Of
these, crows, ravens,
magpies and jays are
thought to be the most
White Crowned Sparrow,

photo Jeffrey Newman
Belted Kingfisher, photo Marianne & Don Piller
intelligent, and
are capable of
mimicking other
animals and often
tricking to steal
their food. The
range in size of
song birds varies
from the smaller
sparrows, kinglets
and warblers, to
the large raven.
Some
might
migrate while
others, such as
chickadees, jays,
Kildeer, photo Marianne & Don Piller

Page 90
crows and ravens make their home here yearround. Those that do migrate use natural
sources- tanagers, warblers, sparrows, vireos
and orioles fly by night using the stars, while
robins, swallows and blackbirds use the sun to
find their way.
The regal Stellars Jay, the official bird of BC,
has a raucous call and lofty black plume.
It likes to stash seeds and acorns in caches
in the forest trees. The official harbinger
of spring, the American Robin, feed on the
juniper berries in spring before the ground
thaws. Traveling often with the robins are
flocks of Bohemian Waxwings, feeding on the
sap, insects, fruit and berries. Cedar Waxwings
courtship involves prospective mates passing
a berry back and forth to each other. If
Common Merganser pair, photo Kris Andrews
Jeffrey Newmans photographs reflect his love of nature

and wildlife. Visit his website www.jnweb.com.
Grey Jay, photo Jeffrey Newman
receptive, the female will eventually eat it. The

spectacular flash of colour red crown, yellow
and black wings and tail - of the Western
Tanager may be seen in Douglas-fir stands. In
the marshes, the spring often is heralded by
the arrival of Red-winged and Yellow-headed
Blackbirds. Nesting amongst the cattails and
shoreline rushes, they weave cattail leaves and
grass for nests, and young birds learn to swim
early, often after falling out of nests in their
first week.
Common Loon, photo Chris Armstrong
Read more on birds of the area in this guide

[Species at Risk, Ducks Unlimited article,
Ecosystems Restoration: Song Bird Monitoring]
or check in at the 100 Mile House Tourist
Info Centre, Scout Island Nature Centre in
Williams Lake or Baker Creek Education Centre
in Quesnel (see articles for contact info).
Semi-palmated Plovers, photo Kris Andrews
On-line at www.birdatlas.bc.ca the British

Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas is a site with
Page 91
great sources, including

lists of birds for the
different regions.
* Details on the definition
of red and blue-listed
species in the Species at
Risk section of this guide.
Read more on birds of
the area in this guide
[Species at Risk and
Ecosystems Restoration:
Song Bird Monitoring]
or check in at the 100
Mile House Tourist Info
Centre, Scout Island
Nature Centre in Williams
Lake, and Baker Creek
Education Centre in Quesnel
(see articles for contact info).
Turkey Vulture, photo Don Olesiuk
Male American Kestrel with Meadow Vole, photo Kris Andrews
Chestnut Backed Chickadee,

photo Kris Andrews
Page 92
Horned Lark, photo Kris Andrews
Marine Ethics
Orca, photo Don Evans
Trash is the most visible pollution in our ocean.

There is an amazing range of litter on our
shorelines plastics, discarded nets, styrofoam,
cans, garbage bags, bottles, oils, detergents,
sewage and other potentially harmful products
carelessly discharged into the water. Fish,
seabirds, shellfish and other forms of aquatic
life require a balance of nutrients, oxygen
and clean water to survive. Here are some
suggestions for preventing the kind of pollution
that often ends up in the water:
Chris Armstrong is an Area Supervisor with

BC Parks who is passionate about the CaribooChilcotin area and takes every opportunity
to photograph the stunning scenery and
abundant
wildlife.
livesArmstrong
in Big Lake, BC.
Chris
Ocean
kayaking
photo He
Dont dump garbage or discharge pollutants

in our waters.
Dispose of trash in port or take it home.
Dont pump your sewage overboard in
anchorages, marinas or swimming areas.
Use bilge cloths or pillows to collect engine
oil, fuel, transmission fluid and other
pollutants.
Never fill portable fuel tanks on board.
Consider not using anti-fouling paints.
Dont burn driftwood from salt water as this
produces toxic air emissions.
Do not go onto bird rookeries.
Observe seals, otters, whales and sea lions
from a distance.
Kayakers please use toilet facilities where
available.
In undeveloped areas, plan to pack out your
waste. Practice no trace camping.
Page 93
Marine Parks
Goose Island off coast, photo Chris Armstrong
BC Parks manages over 50 marine parks, from

Discovery Island near the southern-most point
of British Columbia north through the Inside
Passage to Prince Rupert. The Central Coast
area offers these gems:
CODVILLE LAGOON
MARINE PARK
excellent and scenic all weather anchorage. A

rustic trail leads to Sagar Lake, which is noted
for its red sand beach and warm water.
GREEN INLET
MARINE PARK
Green Inlet is on the east side of Tolmie

Channel across from Princess Royal Island, just
Codville Lagoon is a small marine park located west of Fiordland Recreation Area. It offers a
on King Island in Fitz Hugh Sound, 80 km sheltered anchorage set in a scenic fiord with
west of Bella Coola. Codville Lagoon offers an tidal lagoon, reversing rapids and estuary.
JACKSON NARROWS
MARINE PARK
Jackson Narrows is at the northeast tip
of Susan Island where Jackson Passage
joins Mathieson Channel, northwest
of Bella Coola. It offers an anchorage,
fishing, and diving, in an attractive
little bay suitable for small boats.
OLIVER COVE
MARINE PARK
Oliver Cove is at the south end of Don
Peninsula near the junction of Milbanke
Sound and Mathieson Channel. It offers
a good anchorage for small boats.
Coastal boulders reflect, photo Chris Swan
Page 94
Coastal shoreline, Goose Island, photo Chris Armstrong
PENROSE ISLAND
MARINE PARK
Penrose Island is between Fitz Hugh Sound
and the entrance to Rivers Inlet. Enter from
Klaquek Channel into sheltered anchorages on
the east side of the island. There is a network
of narrow channels, with beaches along the
southwest shoreline. Scuba diving, kayaking,
and fishing are popular.
Map, Jim Young
SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE PARK

This small historic park is near Elcho
Harbour on Dean Channel. It is located at
the westernmost point in the journey of Sir
Alexander Mackenzie where, in reddish paint
made of vermilion and bear grease, he wrote
on a rock: Alex Mackenzie from Canada by
land 22nd July 1793.
Sea Lion, photo Al Hobler
Page 95
Salmonids
Sockeye Salmon spawning in Horsefly River, photo Mark Conlin
Throughout the rivers, streams and lakes of

the Cariboo Chilcotin, salmonids (salmon,
steelhead, char and trout) play a vital role in
the health of our ecosystems. Salmon are of
great biological, social, cultural, and economic
significance for the people and environment of
British Columbia. They have provided food for
First Nations peoples of British Columbia for
thousands of years and, since the late 1800s,
have supported an active commercial fishing
industry, which was vital to the establishment
and well being of many coastal communities.
Salmon from the Pacific Ocean are close to ten
times more abundant than those found in the
Atlantic Ocean. Chances are if you hike along a
river bed late in the summer/fall or winter, you

will see a flash of red from the bright coloured
spawning salmonids. In our region Sockeye,
Chinook, Pink, Interior Fraser Coho, Kokanee
and Rainbow Trout are frequently visible.
From the land locked Kokanee and trout
(including Whitefish, Rainbow Trout and blue
listed Bull trout) to the anadromous salmonids
(those that hatch in freshwater, migrate to the
sea and when mature return to freshwater to
lay their eggs) all are an important food source
for wildlife and humans alike. One feature that
distinguishes salmonids from other fish is the
presence of an adipose fin (located along their
back between their dorsal
and caudal or tail fin). Their
strong caudal fin propels
the salmon forward through
rough water, strong currents
and waterfalls, in order to
travel from the ocean to
their hatching grounds
where they release eggs and
sperm. Female salmonids
use their tails to dig the redd
(hollow) where they lay their
eggs. She may build several
redds and once her eggs are
fertilized, she covers the nest
with gravel. Shortly after
spawning the adult salmon
will die and fill the water
Salmon Redds as viewed along Chilko River, photo Lisa Christie

Page 96
First Nations dipnetting on Chilcotin River, photo Don Olesiuk
with nutrients used by other fish, birds, and water for up to 3 years before heading to the
numerous other wildlife species.
ocean, where they spend 2-3 years at sea.
As they travel home to spawn, the sockeye
Over the winter the young salmon begin to turn a brilliant scarlet red with pale green
grow inside the eggs in their den of gravel. heads. The males develop hooked jaws with
Only one in ten will survive. If the water gets large teeth. The sockeyes average age is 45
too hot or cold, stops running (providing the years and weight 2-7 kg. Sockeye are unique
egg with air absorbed through the egg wall) from other the salmon species in that they
or dirt smothers the egg, it dies. In spring the are almost always associated with lakes. The
fry (young fish) emerge, feed and grow in the juveniles are dependent on lake ecosystems
stream, river or lake of their birth for up to two to feed on zooplankton for the first two years
years. They are preyed on by ducks, herons of their lives before migrating to the ocean.
and other fish predators. Those that survive Chilko and Quesnel Lakes represent the most
will find their way back to the ocean where significant nursery lakes in the region where
they will feed on abundant plankton, shrimp, millions of juveniles from a variety of rivers
crab, and small fish. Depending on
their species, the salmonids spend from
one to seven years at sea, feeding and
growing. Once they return to freshwater,
journeying back to their native spawning
grounds, they do not eat. Living off
stored body fat, these salmon battle their
way home, arriving torn and scarred,
most of their energy spent.
Each species of salmon have different
spawning habits and are unique in
appearance. With the exception of
steelhead, spawning occurs in late
summer and through the fall. The
sockeye salmon, whose name is believed
to be derived from the First Nations
name sukkai, spawn in streams that
drain into lakes. They remain in fresh
Spawning Pink Salmon, photo Don Evans
Page 97
Grizzly Bear feed on Salmon in the Atnarko River, photo Wayne Levesque
such as the Mitchell, Horsefly, and Chilko are

reared annually. These lakes also support
large numbers of beach spawners that utilize a
variety of habitats from shallow shoals to deep
water bench spawning to depths exceeding
45m. Time of spawning for these stocks usually
takes place between mid-September and early
October and slightly earlier for the Upper
Bowron River and Taseko Lake stocks. Unlike
Chilko, Quesnel system stocks exhibit a four
year pattern of production characterized by
one strong year followed by a moderately
abundant year, then two relatively weak years.
This pattern is referred to as cyclic dominance
and is maintained by the high proportion of
sockeye maturing at age 4.
Creek to larger rivers such as Chilko where

a combination of gravel and cobble located
within a riffle or run is preferred. Time of
spawning varies greatly among the different
stocks of the Fraser River with the mid-river
stocks, such as Quesnel and Chilcotin Rivers,
spawning from early September to early
October, while some of the upper river stocks,
such as the Westroad and Bowron River, spawn
from mid-July to late August. Many river
systems have more than one stock of Chinook.
These rivers can have spring, fall and winter
runs. Chinook are a unique salmon species
because the flesh of adults can range in colour
from white through pink to deep red. When
spawning the Chinook becomes very dark in
colour, some almost black.
Chinook salmon are the largest of the salmon,

averaging between 7-9 kg. Occasionally, a Pink salmon, the smallest of the salmon
tyee or king is found, some reaching over species ranging in size from 1.5-3 kg, have a
50 kg!
Chinook are also called spring
salmon because some populations or
stocks return to their natal streams in
the spring.
Most of the chinook in the
Cariboo / Chilcotin area display Streamtype behaviour and over-winter in their
natal stream feeding on insect larvae before
migrating to the ocean as smolts in the
second spring of their life. Chinook spawn
in large rivers and are found as fry in many
of the smaller tributaries of the Fraser River
in our region. After spending up to a year in
fresh water, they head for the ocean where
they spend 3 to 5 years before returning to
Red and white Chinook Salmon from Quesnel River,
their spawning grounds. Spawning habitat
spawning at the Quesnel River Research Centre,
ranges from small streams such as McKinley
photo Sarah Lehnert
Page 98
short 2 year life span. Soon

after they emerge from the
gravel spawning beds, the
young pinks migrate to the
sea. Some 18 months later,
they return to spawn and
die. Due to this short life
cycle, there is no overlap
between pink stocks from
one year to the next. Two
very unique stocks of
pink salmon may use the
same stream for breeding.
Spawning habitat ranges
from small tributaries of
the Fraser Mainstem, such
as Churn and Williams Lake Creek, to larger
rivers such as the Quesnel and Chilcotin and
the mainstem Fraser. In the Fraser River,
there is a predominately larger run of pinks
in odd-years. The mature males are known as
humpies due to the large hump they develop
on their backs during spawning.
Our region is home to one of five Interior
Fraser Coho salmon populations identified by
the Committee on the Status of Endangered
Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) designated as a
unit. COSEWICs concern is that the Interior
Fraser Coho distribution has become too
fragmented and that the genetic exchange
within the populations will not be sufficient
for their long-term survival. Interior Coho
Sockeye travel to spawning grounds,

photo Paul Welch
Coho Salmon, photo Ernest Keeley
have a 3 year cycle, and average between 2

and 14 kg. Spawning in the streams emptying
into the Fraser, the young Coho then spend
the following year of their lives feeding and
growing, preferring cool water (15c or less),
and heavy vegetation provided in these
streams. Small stocks exist in some of the
tributaries of the Quesnel system, as well as
the Chilcotin system. Juveniles emerge in
spring and over-winter in small tributaries,
backwater channels, ponds, and along lake
margins associated with the natal stream. A
unique aspect of juvenile coho is that they
are very territorial, and consequently, their
abundance and growth potential is limited
by the available rearing territory and food
supply. Spawning habitat is very diverse,
ranging from small back channels and streams
such as Wasko creek to larger rivers such as
Chilko. Time of spawning for coho is quite
late compared to other salmon species and
usually occurs from late October to midJanuary. Maintaining healthy stream habitat
is vital for the Interior Cohos survival.
Annual estimates of the number of Pacific
salmon that return to spawn in the streams
and rivers of the Fraser River watershed
are the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans (DFO) responsibility. Approximately
80 adult sockeye stocks, 12 adult Coho
stocks and 14 adult Chinook stocks are
visually enumerated each fall throughout
the Quesnel and Chilcotin watersheds.
Stock assessment is done through various
Page 99
by DFO. The Dual Frequency

Identification Sonar (DIDSON)
has the ability to confirm deep
water lake spawning areas and
observe associated habitat
requirements and spawning
distribution and densities.
Fish with transmitter, photo DFO
methods: visual surveys, fences/weirs, and

mark-recapture studies. Visual surveys are
done by direct observation, and counts of
spawners, redds and carcasses. Mark-recapture
studies of sockeye are conducted annually
on the Chilko River and 3 of every 4 years on
the Horsefly and Mitchell rivers. A fence is
constructed on McKinley Creek most years to
estimate adult Coho and sockeye stocks. On
the Chilko River a fence is used annually to
estimate the total sockeye juveniles.
Telemetry studies - radio transmitters attached
to the fish, have allowed the movement of
summer run sockeye to be tracked along the
migratory route from the lower Fraser River
to their spawning grounds in the Chilcotin and
Quesnel systems. The information gathered
from
these
studies
provides
invaluable
insight into migratory
behaviour of salmon.
Persons finding a spawned
salmon with one of these
transmitters attached is
asked to return it to the
nearest DFO office.
To further improve our
knowledge on the various
biological and stock
assessment issues, a small,
portable sonar system
that produces videolike images using sound
has recently been used
Page 100
Steelhead trout are the

anadromous form of rainbow
trout. They are born in
freshwater streams where they
spend their first 1 3 years of
life, then migrate to the ocean
where most of their growth
occurs. After spending 1 4
growing years in the ocean, steelhead return
to their native fresh water stream to spawn.
Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead do not
necessarily die after spawning and are able to
spawn more than once.Most steelhead spawn
from December through April in small streams
and tributaries where cool, well oxygenated
water is available year round. Anadromous
steelhead and resident rainbow trout did not
arrive from two distinct evolutionary lines.
Anadromous forms of trout can convert to
resident populations when drought events or
damming of rivers blocks their access to the
ocean. Conversely, resident trout populations
can become anadromous if ocean access
becomes available. It is typical to have both life
history patterns occurring in the same stream.
Quesnel Lake Rainbow Trout, photo Marg Evans
Kokanee spawners at Ten Mile Lake, photo Skip Rimmer
In fact, resident and anadromous parents can

produce offspring of both varieties. It has been
speculated that there is a food availability
trigger which determines whether a particular
fish emigrates to the ocean or remains in the
stream. It may be that if there is abundant
food in the stream and a fish is growing at a
rapid rate, it will remain in the stream. If food
is limited and growth is slow, the fish will have
a tendency to emigrate. Steelhead habitat
requirements change as they go through
different life phases. Adult steelhead need
to have access to their natal stream. This
means that streams must be free of barriers to
migration, as the majority of spawning occurs
in the upper reaches of tributaries. Adults also
need access to spawning gravel in areas free

of heavy sedimentation with adequate flow of
cool, clear water. Escape cover such as logs,
undercut banks and deep pools for spawning
adults is also important. For steelhead eggs
and pre-emergent fry the most important
consideration in terms of habitat is cool water
with adequate dissolved oxygen. Fine sediment
will smother developing eggs, so the area must
not have excessive fine silt or mud. Elevated
water temperatures >18 C. can greatly impair
growth rates of juvenile steelhead. Warmer
water also holds less dissolved oxygen and
increases a fishs susceptibility to disease.
The rainbow trout, most widely distributed

member of the trout
family, is one of the top
5 sport fishes in North
America. The rainbow
has an elongated body,
with an iridescent reddish
band running along each
side from head to tail. In
the sea-run type, the back
is dark blue, with sides
and under parts silvery.
In the non-migratory
type, the back is bluish
to olive green shading to
silvery green on the sides
and white over the belly.
The colour of the lateral
Spawning Sockeye Salmon in the Horsefly River, photo Chris Swan
stripe varies from light
Page 101
pink to a vivid red or reddish purple and is

most pronounced in mature fish, especially
breeding males. Sides, tail and dorsal fins
are profusely dotted with small, dark spots.
In general, large rainbows are caught in large
bodies of water and small ones in streams and
ponds. Rainbows that have migrated to sea
or a large inland lake may weigh 6- 7kg. The
Chilcotin River Bull Trout caught by angler,

photo Ministry of Environment
rainbow trout is well adapted to both streams

and lakes. While it prefers cold, clear, swiftflowing water, it can tolerate warm water. For
a lake population to be self-sustaining, there
must be a gravelly river to which adults can
migrate during the spawning season. Rainbow
trout spawn in the spring. The usual spawning
site chosen is a bed of fine gravel in a riffle
above a pool. The eggs hatch in approximately
4 7 weeks. The fry commence feeding
about 15 days after hatching
and their diet consists mainly of
zooplankton. Adult rainbow trout
are predacious and feed on aquatic
and terrestrial insects, mollusks,
crustaceans, fish eggs, minnows
and other small fishes.
Kokanee is a native word meaning
red fish. Kokanee are a form
of sockeye salmon that spends its
life in fresh water. Because they
never migrate out to the ocean to
feed, kokanee are much smaller
than sockeye, but other than their
size have very similar identifying
characteristics as sockeye. Most
kokanee live in a lake for most of
Page 102
their lives and can usually be seen spawning

near the edge of a lake or in a small tributary
that feeds into the lake. Spawning time is
generally during the month of September in
the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. Average length
for a kokanee is 1018 inches. Kokanee are
food for numerous fish and waterfowl species
such as rainbow trout, lake trout, burbot,
mergansers, and common
loon.
The blue listed Bull trout is
a predator, and as an adult
eats almost exclusively other
fish. Threats to the bull trout
include loss of habitat and
habitat damage, competition
with introduced species
and illegal poaching either
intentionally or unintentionally
through misidentification. A
late-maturing species, the bull
trout doesnt spawn until after its sixth year.
Bull trout require clean stream gravel and
cold water temperature to survive. They are
like canaries in a coal mine, serving as an
early warning system for habitat changes such
as stream siltation. Studies have shown that
when the amount of fine sediment (particles
less than a quarter of an inch) amount to more
than 40% of the stream bottom, less than of
the bull trout eggs will hatch and survive to
Spawning Sockeye Salmon, photo Paul Welch
viable fry. Many anglers have a difficult time

distinguishing bull trout from other species
particularly the lake trout. Both the bull trout
and lake trout are chars: members of the
trout family which generally have light spots
on a dark background. The most reliable way
of telling a lake trout from a bull trout is the
tail. The lake trouts tail is deeply forked; the
bull trouts tail fin is only slightly forked. The
bull trout has a body that is snake-like and
the head does not dominate the body. The
names, bull trout and dolly varden, were used
interchangeably until 1980 when the bull
trout was genetically proved to be a separate
species. There is no definitive way to identify
bull trout from dolly varden in the field.
Whether you are watching grizzly, bald eagles,

or black bear fishing spawning salmonids
along the Atnarko River (Tweedsmuir
Provincial Park), Quesnel Lake (Cariboo
Mountain Provincial Park), the Bowron chain
(Bowron Lakes Provincial Park), or Horsefly
River or Lake (Horsefly Provincial Park), the
enjoyment of seeing the lifecycle of a salmonid
in completion can not
help but bring awe.
CCCS wishes to thank
the Pacific Salmon
Foundation for their
contribution towards
the publishing of this
article.
Salmon Sensitive
Habitat Alert
Boating through or near sensitive shallow
stream habitats can cause large wakes and
bottom pressure. Surveys conducted in these
rivers of the Cariboo have shown that juvenile
fish are dying in large numbers from being
washed-up and stranded in sandbars and
mud flats.
Wake from
boat caused
The source of the disturbance has been found
damage to
to be the passage of large boats, including
habitat,
jet boats. These boat wakes and bottom
photo
pressure increase stream bank erosion, disrupt
BC Parks
spawning adults, strand juvenile fish and
on the Mitchell River,
increase the mortality of incubating eggs. Jet Boat
photo BC Parks
Also, sediment resulting from a boat wake
can smother incubating eggs and fish food
The damage one large wake can cause in these
sources, as well as harm fish by damaging their rivers is extensive. The deaths of large numbers
gills.
of fry and/or eggs in just one pass can result in
extremely reduced future runs.
In the Cariboo Chilcotin, the Horsefly, Mitchell, Please, help assure we have great fishing for
Chilco, Chilcotin and Quesnel Rivers and their future generations, stay off of sensitive rivers
tributaries, provide critical spawning, rearing with jet boats.
and foraging habitat for many important
freshwater and anadromous salmon species For more information contact the Cariboo
including Kokanee, Sockeye, Chinook and Coho, Chilcotin Conservation Society at 250.398.7929
as well as large sized Rainbow and Bull Trout.
or sustain@ccconserv.org
Page 103
The Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society

working to maintain the integrity of
Parks & Protected Areas of the Cariboo Chilcotin

Many of the provinces most beautiful places, most diverse habitats
and most treasured ecosystems are now protected through land use planning
by the citizens of British Columbia. The challenge for all of us is to ensure that we pass
our natural legacy of parks and protected areas along to the next generation...
just as beautiful, just as diverse, and just as undiminished!
www.ccconserv.org
Sunrise on a Chilcotin Lake, photo Chris Czajkowski

CCCS BC Parks Guide

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Cariboo Chilcotin and Central Coast

BC Parks and Trails

Our Parks, Our Heritage

The Cariboo Chilcotin

Tatlyoko Lake, photo Marg Evans

Our Parks Our Heritage guide is one of the

Cariboo Chilcotin (viewable on our website), and

For more information on the Cariboo Chilcotin

Coastal stream, photo Chris Armstrong

Ecological Integrity ......................................... pg 41

Front Cover Photo:

Lupins & Paintbrush at Monarch Mountain

9. NAZKO LAKE - Deerpelt Lake

9. NAZKO LAKE - Loomis Lake

10. TSYL-OS - Nu Chugh Beniz

11. TSYL-OS - Gwa Da Tsih

12. SOUTH TWEEDSMUIR

14. PUNTCHESAKUT LAKE

16. KLUSKOIL LAKE

17. BOWRON LAKE

KLUSKOIL LAKE .20

15. TEN MILE LAKE

BARKERVILLE - Government Hill .18

4. GREEN LAKE - Arrowhead

Fishing- Ghost Lake .19

BARKERVILLE - Lowhee .18

PUNTCHESAKUT LAKE .16

4. GREEN LAKE - Sunset View

2. Big Bar Lake

DAY USE AREAS

Provincial Parks of the Cariboo

Two red fox play in snow,

How To Use This Matrix:

9. NAZKO LAKE - Deerpelt Lake

Battle Mountain, Bull Canyon Provincial Park,

DAY USE AREAS

400 - 640 Borland Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 4T1

100 Mile House

BC Parks, Cariboo Region Office

Road, Loose Surface

Why Have Parks

British Columbia is home to many nationally

Dantes Inferno, photo Trish Hoffos

canoe or horseback; or simply wish to enjoy a

Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy, photo Chris Armstrong

mule deer winter habitat and special features

Curious Moose, photo Chris Armstrong

park facilities, some were established for their

Recreation Sites & Trails

Crooked Lake south recreation site, photo RST BC

BC offers a host of exceptional recreation

outside of parks and settled areas. They provide

Gavin Lake Recreation Trail, photo Mike Tudor

Sites with Fees - These sites are managed

Chimney Lake recreation site, photo RST BC

supervision, daily maintenance, and facility/

destinations (e.g., recreation features), they

Recreation trail at Gavin Lake and Director Mike Tudor,

Wilderness lake in the Chilcotin, photo Chris Czajkowski

The Cariboo Chilcotins wilderness areas are

camp is broken, there should be no sign of

If taking pets into the backcountry, especially

Mountain biking on a Cariboo trail, photo John Wellburn

The Cariboo Region is your doorway to the