Skeena East. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Those that travel in this park should be experienced and well-equipped. There are no supplies of any sort and no park personnel in the immediate area.
- This park cannot be accessed by vehicle. Visitors planning to enter the park must do so by boat or aircraft.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
- Park Map [PDF] (July 16, 2020)
Getting there
Located in the northwest corner of the province, chartered access is available in the town of Atlin located along highway #7 from Jake’s Corner on the Alaska highway. Visitors cannot access the park by vehicle. Visitors planning to enter the park must do so by boat or aircraft.
Camping
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is the only camping available. You are asked to use “Leave no trace” camping techniques.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Things to do
There are four main hiking trails in the park:
- One trail begins in Llewellyn Inlet and leads to a knoll that provides good views of the Llewellyn Glacier. This is an 800m long trail with 55m of elevation gain to the viewpoint. It is possible to continue beyond the viewpoint, but the trail is not maintained.
- The Mt. Adams Trail starts in Sloko Inlet and climbs 170m over its 4.5km length. The trail leads to a glacial lake at the base of the spectacular Llewellyn Glacier.
- The start of the Sloko Lake Trail is also located in Sloko Inlet. This 2km trail has 145m of elevation gain and takes you to the shores of Sloko Lake.
- The Shortest Railway Trail is an easy 4km walk along an abandoned rail line, known as the Taku Tram, from Scotia Bay on Atlin Lake to the historic buildings of Taku Landing on Tagish Lake.
Swimming is possible but the water is very cool.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Kayaking and canoeing are popular on Atlin Lake. Anyone planning to paddle Atlin Lake should come to the park well prepared and with kayaking or canoeing experience.
This large glacial fed lake is subject to high winds and consequently rough waters. The water temperature is an average of four degrees Celsius which means hypothermia in mere minutes. Watch the weather and always wear life-jackets.
Canoeist may want to consider spray skirt. Topographic maps are highly recommended due to the vastness of landscape.
Kayaking and canoeing are popular on Atlin Lake. Anyone planning to paddle Atlin Lake should come to the park well prepared and with kayaking or canoeing experience.
This large glacial fed lake is subject to high winds and consequently rough waters. The water temperature is an average of four degrees Celsius which means hypothermia in mere minutes. Watch the weather and always wear life-jackets.
Canoeist may want to consider spray skirt. Topographic maps are highly recommended due to the vastness of landscape.
The waters of Atlin Lake contain lake trout, Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden and two species of white fish.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Hunting is allowed in the park. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis for more information.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
There are winter recreation opportunities available in the park. Snowmobiling is allowed on Atlin Lake within the park. Beyond Atlin Lake, snowmobile use is prohibited and considered to be an offence under the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation. Generally, the activity of snowmobiling is prohibited in most provincial parks.
Facilities
Campfires are permitted within this park using the fire pits at the designated campsites.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Pit toilets are located at camping locations noted on the park map.
About this park
The area has been used by the Taku River Tlingit for many years. There are several archeological sites and cultural sites within the park. It was gold that gave Atlin its reason for existence.
Hordes of prospectors poured into Alaska and the Yukon during 1898 spurred by a number of rich strikes. Many of these became weary of travel and were lured aside to discoveries that were easier to reach. The gold rush came to Atlin Lake country in 1898 and was one of the richest offshoots of the klondike rush. By the end of the mining season of 1899 about 5000 people flocked to the region, and Atlin was a busy and important town.
Although creeks in the present day park must have been prospected, none bore any gold. Although production was greatest in the early years, the Atlin field still produces today. Total placer gold production has exceeded $23,000,000, making it second only to the Cariboo in the history of British Columbia.
Atlin is a corruption of “Ah-lah”, a native word meaning stormy weather. Atlin/Áa Tlein Téix̱’i Park is occupied by approximately one third glaciers, Llewellyn Glacier being the most prominent.
Atlin/Téix’gi Aan Tlein Park contains three important ecosections: Teslin Plateau, Tagish-Highlands, Boundary Ranges (only partial representation for all three). It also contains Lake Trout Fishery, which is internationally significant.
This environment provides exceptional habitat for grizzly and black bear, mountain goat, caribou, moose, stone sheep, and various wolf population. There are many small animals such as the hoary marmot, Arctic ground squirrel, picas, beaver and the otter. Birds also inhabitant the park area. The most obvious birds are the various gulls, and the Arctic tern, there are also blue-grouse, ruffed-grouse and the rock, willow and white-tailed ptarmigan that have been spotted near the upland.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| BC Parks regional office (Atlin) | |
|---|---|
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
