This coverage is from BC Government and the original article can be found here.
Trail and backcountry-campground upgrades are now underway in Seven Sisters Park to provide beginner hikers and families more opportunities to connect with nature.
The first kilometre of the three-kilometre Watson Lakes Trail is being widened and the grade is being reduced to make it easier for hiking. The $400,000 project also includes new gravel tent pads, a backcountry toilet, a bear cache and picnic tables at the first camping area, located approximately one kilometre from the trailhead. In addition, the parking lot is being expanded with 13 new spaces.
“We know how important outdoor recreation is for people in British Columbia. These upgrades are about making the outdoors more welcoming for people new to hiking or exploring B.C.’s backcountry,” said Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks. “Investing in our trails and backcountry campgrounds is about more than just improving infrastructure, it’s about supporting local communities and connecting people to the natural beauty that makes B.C. so extraordinary.”
Located between Terrace and Hazelton, Seven Sisters Park is a wilderness area that provides fantastic hiking opportunities ranging from short lower-elevation trails to multi-day backpacking excursions. The Watson Lakes Trail is an easy, scenic hike that passes by small lakes with picnic sites and fishing opportunities.
Lakelse Lake Park is also scheduled to receive more upgrades. Accessible parking stalls will be constructed, along with a pathway and accessible mat to improve access to the beach. Some picnic tables will be replaced with accessible tables and the toilet building will be upgraded to improve accessibility. Upgrades to the access trail between the group campsite and the main campground are also part of the $200,000 project, scheduled to begin in winter 2025-26.
The upgrades are among several improvements that have been made at the park during the past three years.
“The recent upgrades to Seven Sisters Park and Lakelse Lake Park will increase access to outdoor recreation for more people while promoting physical activity, social connection, and enjoyment and appreciation of nature,” said Cyra Yunkws, chair of the board of directors, regional district of Kitimat-Stikine. “We are grateful to the Gitxsan and Ts’msyen Nations for their stewardship of these lands over generations, maintaining the vibrant, healthy ecosystems within their unceded traditional territories. The regional district of Kitimat-Stikine commends BC Parks for their investment in accessible outdoor recreation.”
Located in the Skeena River watershed near Terrace, Lakelse Lake Park is surrounded by the mountains of the Kitimat range. It preserves stands of old-growth forests and is a popular destination for camping, fishing, swimming and boating.
Quick Facts:
In 2023, two kilometres of the Twin Spruce Trail in Lakelse Lake Park were upgraded to be more accessible and resilient to weather.
In 2024, eight new campsites were added to the Furlong Bay campground, outdoor taps and aging water lines that provide campers with potable water were replaced, and electrical hookups were installed at 41 existing campsites as part of the $1.8-million project.
The name Lakelse is an anglicized version of the Tsimshian language word “LaxGyels” for freshwater mussel, which are found on the bottom of both the lake and river.
Seven Sisters Park is aptly named for a row of rugged peaks, four of which are higher than 2,500 metres.
Resident mountain goat herds live within the protected area adjacent to Seven Sisters Park and use the peaks and ridges during the summer.
Learn More:
For more information about Seven Sisters Park, visit: https://bcparks.ca/seven-sisters-park/
For more information about Lakelse Lake Park, visit: https://bcparks.ca/lakelse-lake-park/
