Hiking in British Columbia - Peace Region






Hiking in Northern BC, Canada

Hiking in Northern BC
Peace River - Alaska Highway Region

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Travel info for Peace River/Alaska Highway.    Trails in this area.

This region of Northern British Columbia borders Alberta to the east and both the Yukon and Northwest Territories to the north. Much of it lies on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. Rolling plains, mountains high, rushing rivers and streams and miles of forests make up the Peace River/Alaska Highway, where wilderness areas are the norm not the exception. Once upon a time, dinosaurs roamed this region and the aboriginals date back some ten thousand years. Summer days are long and warm, winter days are short and cold, the land of the midnight sun is closer in the Peace Country.

The main industries are farming, logging, as well as gas and oil. People of the Peace are still pioneers and travellers quickly notice the laid back attitude and friendliness of the residence in this region. Starting from Dawson Creek, the Alaska Highway cuts through this northern region of BC as it makes its way to the Yukon and Alaska. Nature has not been tampered with and the adventures never stop, they include mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking, horse back riding, gold panning, hunting, fishing and ample hiking trails. When exploring the roadsides, they can quickly turn to wilderness and terrain can be rough and you could find yourself venturing into the unknown. Always be prepared!

Monkman Provincial Park: Monkman Provincial Park, south from Tumbler Ridge, rewards you with the Kinuseo Falls. Your adventure starts from the campground, that's 45 km (28 mi.) from Tumbler Ridge. A short walk from the Kinuseo Falls Campgrounds will take you to a viewing platform. Both the sound and spray of the falls needs to be experienced to be appreciated. A hiking trail from the campground will take you into the middle of the park and the Murray River Crossing. The south end of Monkman Lake is a 24 km (15 mi.) hike. There are primitive camp sites in this region which is bear country. Keep food away from your sleeping area, keep the area clean and watch for these four legged creatures that call this home.

Monkman Provincial Park is located in the Hart Ranges of the Central Rocky Mountains and foothills. This provincial park offers a diverse and inspiring landscape of jagged peaks, forested valleys, unique geological formations, pristine lakes and alpine meadows. Opportunities to explore encompass the gamut from easy two-hour trails, to challenging multi-day adventures with many possible side trips available for seasoned and adventurous hikers that can make for an expedition of seven to ten days.

Special features of Monkman Provincial Park include:

  • Kinuseo Falls which plunges 197 feet (60 metres) into the canyon below
  • a series of ten waterfalls named the Cascades
  • Stone Corral Trail, one of Monkman Provincial Park's most notable hikes, which leads visitors to small caves with stalactites, moonsmilk and other limestone formations.
  • The tarns region, Fontoniko valley, and numerous historic markings along trails.

The Monkman Pass Memorial Trail Hiking Route, in Monkman Provincial Park, goes through four different eco-regions … boreal, subalpine, alpine, and Columbian forest. The region traversed by the trail is remote rugged wilderness and the trail is classified as "difficult". The park offers a diverse and inspiring landscape of jagged peaks, forested valleys, unique geological formations, pristine lakes and alpine meadows.

Monkman Trail
Hiking the Monkman Trail. Courtesy Monkman Expeditions

Monkman Pass Memorial Trail Hiking Route

Northern British Columbia's "Monkman Pass Memorial Trail Hiking Route" is an unforgettable hiking route that includes major waterfalls and rivers, lakes, temperate boreal forest, as well as alpine meadows and alpine summits. This is an average six day journey on a wilderness trail that leads through magnificent, remote, untouched mountain terrain, filled with an with inspiring and tangible history, and sightings of Grizzly and Black Bears are numerous.

This hiking trail, a true wilderness experience, follows the route that Alex Monkman and pioneer residents created in the 1930s. Monkman Pass was surveyed as an alternative route through the Rockies, but the highway was never built. The majority of this spectacular, but little-known trail is in Monkman Provincial Park. The trail leads from one of its most famous features the Kinuseo Falls, and over the Rocky Mountains to Hobi's Cabin on the Herrick River.

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Muncho Provincial Park

680 km (421 mi.) beyond Dawson Creek on the Alaska Highway lies Muncho Lake and Muncho Provincial Park. The drive through the park which is 90 km (55 mi.) has a reputation of being the most scenic part of the Alaska Highway. After setting up camp at Muncho, enjoy day hiking the surrounding terrain. In the Toad River Valley, you will often see moose roaming and at the mineral licks in the western region of the park, stone sheep and caribou are frequent visitors.

Stone Mountain Provincial Park

Excellent back-country hiking and the superb beauty are the drawing cards to Stone Mountain Provincial Park and the Wokkpash Recreation Area, that lie west from Fort Nelson. The highest point on the Alaska Highway, Summit Pass, is in the park. Both Summit and Rocky Crest Lake are excellent places for bird watching. Hike into see the hoodoos on the Erosion Pillars Trail, with access from Rocky Crest picnic area. The five to seven day Wokkpash Trek is gaining popularity and takes you into a lunar type landscape of marvellous hoodoos. From these rock formation, the hiker is soon viewing Forlorn Gorge, a very picturesque canyon that's 25 metres (80 feet) wide and 150 metres (490 feet) deep. From here the trail loops north to MacDonald Creek and the Alaska Highway. This is remote wilderness hiking so come equipped. Be safe, have fun!

Kwadacha Wilderness Provincial Park

The Kwadacha Wilderness Provincial Park is wilderness to the extreme and a place for wildlife like wolves, elk, grizzly and black bears. There are no roads into Kwadacha but you can use one of the two guide-outfitter routes that lead into the park, or take the easier way and fly in. Trails within this park are not maintained and your wilderness navigation skills will be needed. This is rough country and only very experienced back country hikers should venture here. Weather conditions can change suddenly, be ready for rain and snow. Safety should be your first concern in this region. Be safe, have fun.

Other Regions:  

Northern BC - Northwest
BC Rockies - Columbia
Okanagan Similkameen
Thompson Nicola

BC Rockies - Kootenays
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Vancouver Island

   
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Hiking in British Columbia - Peace Region