User:Chenitha Palugaswewa

Atna River Park

Atna river park is located in west-central British Columbia, approximately 100 km southwest of Houston. Access to the park is by air or by the Morice River Forest Service Road from Houston to Morice Lake, then by canoe to Atna Bay, and three short portage trails to Atna Lake. Atna River Park includes the Atna River, Atna Lake and most of the area surrounding the lake to the height of land. The park protects a broad subalpine valley with vegetation that is transitional between coastal and interior ecosystems and contains important Grizzly Bear and Mountain Goat habitat, and an extensive wetland complex along the Atna River. The park also contains important fish habitat, including spawning habitat for Sockeye Salmon.

Atna River Provincial Park

• Date established: July 11, 2008
• Size: 21092 hectares

Safety Info

• Strong winds are often present in this area. If canoeing, it is advisable to paddle in the early morning and to stay close to the sides of the lake in case the winds pick up
• Road access to Morice Lake Park follows a radio controlled logging road; public vehicles are permitted, but please proceed with caution and be aware that loaded logging trucks have the right of way.

Activities

• Hiking

• Swimming

• Canoeing

• Kayaking

• Fishing

• Wildlife viewing
• Pets on leash
• Climbing
• Hunting

History

Atna Lake was first labelled on George Dawson’s 1879 Geological Survey map “British Columbia and the Northwest Territory from the Pacific Ocean to Fort Edmonton.” Atna River Park was established as a “Class A” Park in July 2008. The park is one of seven new parks and protected areas resulting from the Morice Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and associated government to government discussions with the Office of the Wet’suwet’en.

Culture

Atna River Park is located within the traditional territory of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. Known as the “people of the lower drainage” the Wet’suwet’en have been living in this part of the continent since time immemorial. Within the Wet’suwet’en territory, Atna River Park lies in the C’iniggit Nenikëkh house territory in the house of Yextsowiten (Thin House) that belongs to the Gilseyhyu (Big Frog) clan.

Wildlife

Atna River Park provides important habitat for wildlife that live in and around the park. Atna River Park contains moderate to high value grizzly bear summer and fall habitat and high quality mountain goat winter range. The park lies within the Caribou Habitat Management Area as identified in the Morice LRMP. The low pass (1200 m) at the southwest end of the park provides an important wildlife corridor to the Kemano, Dala and Kildala river valleys in the Coast Range, and the low pass between Atna Lake and the Gosnell River is an important travel corridor for wildlife at the northern end of the park.

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.

Source from : https://bcparks.ca/atna-river-park/#park-map-details-container