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Attention
Visitors - Important Notice!
- There
are no park alerts at this time.
Park
Info:
Tatshenshini-Alsek is considered to be one of the most magnificent river
systems on earth, and forms the basis of the British Columbia provincial
park that bears its name. Tatshenshini-Alsek Park contains nearly one million
hectares of glacier-cloaked peaks, wild rivers, grizzly bears and unusual
plant communities. Situated in the very northwest corner of British Columbia,
it nestles between Kluane National Park and Reserves in the Yukon and Glacier
Bay & Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks and Preserves in Alaska. Combined,
these parks comprise the largest protected area in the world, approximately
8.5 million hectares. The Tatshenshini-Alsek Park has been designated as
a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO. The Alsek and Tatshenshini rivers are responsible for much of what’s
special in the area. The great gap they’ve carved through the coastal
mountains allows cool, moist ocean air into the cold interior. The quick
change from ocean to interior environment, frequent floods, landslides and
avalanches, a varied geology and great elevation changes have together created
an exceptionally diverse range of habitat conditions.
Despite its remote location
the ruggedly beautiful Tatshenshini-Alsek region is attracting an increasing
number of recreationalists: kayakers and rafters are
drawn to the two magnificent river systems; hikers and
mountaineers confront a near-endless pristine wilderness that includes everything
from alpine meadows to the jagged edges of the Alsek Ranges and Mt. Fairweather,
at 4,633 metres the province’s highest peak; and mountain bikers can explore
old mining roads and other interesting and challenging terrain. Interestingly,
the Haines Highway provides an opportunity
to see much of the same unusual plant and animal diversity that river users
experience.
Park
Size: 958,000
hectares
Special
Notes:
- There
are no formal method of registration. The park is open
year-round; access depends on weather and snow conditions.
- Although rafting on this river is not technically
difficult, rafters must be aware that the remoteness
of this park is an essential factor to consider in
trip preparation and safety.
The exception to the level
of difficulty is Turnback Canyon on the Alsek River.
This section of the river
is extremely hazardous at all
water levels and travel
is not recommended for even the most skilled rafter/kayaker.
Portage is highly recommended/required for all trips.
- User
Fee in effect: Click
here for important information on fee payment.
- The
user fee for rafting the Tatshenshini and Alsek
Rivers though Tatshenshini-Alsek Park are:
- $125.00
per person per trip for all trips with
Dry Bay takeouts between July 6 and August
30
- $100.00
per person per trip for all trips with
Dry Bay takeouts between August 31 and
July 5
- $25.00
per person per day for trips other than
Dry Bay takeouts (typically Alsek River
trips with Turnback Canyon takeout
- Easter
long weekend, –April 14 - 17, 2006, BC Parks
and the RCMP plan to be regulating snowmobiling activities
on the Haines Summit with an eye to public safety.
- During
your trip through Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, you are in
the traditional lands of the Champagne and Aishihik
First Nations. Visitors are requested to remember that
they are guests on traditional native lands and visitors
stopping at Shäwshe (Dalton Post) are reminded
that they are on lands legally owned by the Champagne
and Aishihik First Nations. Please respect their land
use regulations and requirements.
- Comprehensive
archaeological studies of the Alsek and Tatshenshini
River corridors are not yet complete. If a visitor comes
across a site or artifact of cultural significance,
which they believe, is not widely known they are encouraged
to report its location and what they saw to the BC Parks
office in Haines Junction at (867) 634-7043. Please
remember that it is an offence to gather artifacts at
any site appearing to have cultural or archaeological
significance.
- Despite
the great diversity of life found in the Tatshenshini,
existence for its inhabitants can be a fragile one.
Winters are long, the growing season is short and damaged
vegetation rehabilitates slowly. This is one reason
why no motorized vehicles are allowed off the highway,
except in the winter when snowmobiling is allowed
within a specified area. Visitors are asked to take
special care to minimize their impact on the landscape.
Please pack out your litter and plan any camping or
campfires so there is no evidence of your passage. This
will ensure that future travelers will experience the
same wilderness that you do.
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For more information on snowmobile use in this park,
contact the Klondike
Snomobile Association.
- The
Tatshenshini-Alsek area lies in a region of high earthquake
activity. Slippage along the Fairweather and Hubbard/Boarder
Faults to the west and the Denali Fault to the north
cause regular quakes. The Yukutat Gap, about 150 kilometres
off of the Alaska coast has registered some of the biggest
earthquakes in history
- National
Topographic Series Maps 114O and 114P, at a scale of
1:250,000 cover the Tatshenshini-Alsek area. These maps
are available from Government Agents and most map retailers
in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.
Management
Planning:
Cooperative
Management - The park lies entirely within the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation
(CAFN) traditional territory and is managed under the terms of the 1996 Tatshenshini-Alsek
Park Management Agreement signed by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation
and the Province of British Columbia.
Location:
Tatshenshini-Alsek Park
is located in the extreme northwestern corner of British Columbia. The park
is continguous to the neighbouring parks in the Yukon and Alaska.
Map/Brochure:
Any maps listed are for
information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be
used for navigation.
Nature
& Culture:
Visitor
Safety:
- Visitors
to Tatshenshini-Alsek Park are reminded that this is
a rugged wilderness area: appropriate clothing, camping
gear and sufficient supplies are a necessity. If planning
to hike or mountain bike, it is important to remember
that weather conditions in the summer are highly variable.
Although clear skies and sunshine are common, it can
snow any day. High winds are frequent and there are
often spells of cold, wet weather.
General
Visitor Safety Information (park
safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)
Reservations:
If
reservable campsites are available at this park, all vehicle
accessible campsites (with the exception of group sites)
must be reserved through Discover
Camping.
Reservations
are not accepted at this park, all campsites are on a first-come, first-served
basis. For parks that accept reservations or information on the reservation service,
click here.
Explore
Parks: Fees, park listings, what
you should know before you go and other useful links.
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No
vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
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Wilderness, backcountry
or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
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No
group campsites.
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No
day-use or picnic facilities.
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There
are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
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Bring your own drinking
water as potable water is not available in the park.
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There
are only two toilet facilities that are both located along the eastern
edge of the park: One at the Mule Creek grader shed and the other Mosquito
Flats on the west side of the Haines Highway. |
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No
showers.
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No
sani-station/dump facilities.
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No
firewood available.
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BC
Parks do not have electrical hook-ups. |
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There
are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
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Hikers
and mountaineers confront a near-endless pristine
wilderness that includes everything from alpine
meadows to the jagged edges of the Alsek Ranges
and Mt. Fairweather, at 4,633 metres the province’s
highest peak. For your own safety and the preservation
of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated
trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life
and soil structure.
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This park does not have
a playground.
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No
swimming.
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Kayaking
and river-rafting opportunities are available
by permit
only, except for non-commercial trips along the
relatively flat water on the upper Tatshenshini
River from Mosquito Flats downstream to the Yukon
Territory. Here are maps showing
camping areas within the park.
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This park does
not have a boat launch.
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Fishing is possible. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate
licence.
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Bicycles must keep to roadways.
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
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In this park, horses and
horseback riding are allowed by permit only. |
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Backcountry areas are not suitable for
dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with
bears. |
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No
wildlife viewing opportunities.
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Snowmobiling is allowed in this park but there
are restricted areas. Here are regulations
and guidelines if you wish to snowmobile in
this park. For avalanche conditions, check with
the Canadian
Avalanche Association. The Klondike Snowmobile
Association is working with BC Parks and other agencies
to ensure safe and appropriate snowmobiling use
in the park; click
here to view a list of non-government web links.
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No
SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities. |
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No
windsurfing opportunities. |
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No
waterskiing opportunities. |
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Hunting is allowed in the park. Please consult
the current BC Hunting
and Trapping Regulation Synopsis for detailed
hunting information.
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No
climbing or rock climbing opportunities. |
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No
spelunking or caving opportunities. |
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No
cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.
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