Craig Headwaters Protected Area is a remote BC Parks protected area that safeguards the Craig River Valley from the Alaska border to its junction with the Iskut River. BC Parks places it about 120 kilometres south of Telegraph Creek.
Access is by helicopter only.
Craig Headwaters is a remote river-valley landscape for experienced visitors planning around paddling, fishing, hunting, and coastal forest conservation. BC Parks describes a gentle valley of rich coastal forest with towering Sitka spruce, spawning salmon, and grizzly bears.
The protected area lies in the Boundary Ranges Ecosection and preserves a representative example of low-elevation Coastal Western Hemlock forest and associated ecosystems. Rich micro-sites support Sitka spruce reaching 60 metres in height, and uncommon plant communities occur near cool springs.
Fish and wildlife values are central. The Craig River offers high-value habitat for sockeye and bull trout and is one of the main coho spawning areas in the Stikine. The coastal forest valley also provides high-value grizzly bear habitat.
The area lies within the asserted traditional territory of the Tahltan First Nation and was protected in 2001 after Cassiar Iskut-Stikine planning recommendations.
Plan around helicopter-supported wilderness access, canoeing or kayaking where appropriate, fishing with current licences and regulations, wildlife awareness, coastal forest observation, river-valley photography, and seasonal hunting.
This is a remote protected area with helicopter-only access and limited official visitor detail. Confirm aviation logistics, weather, emergency communication, fishing and hunting regulations, and bear-safety practices before planning travel.
