Lava Forks Park is about 120 kilometres southwest of Telegraph Creek, between the Unuk River and the Craig River valley. BC Parks says the park is extremely remote and accessible only by helicopter.
The park protects the site of the most recent volcanic eruption in Canada, dated somewhere in the early 1900s.
Lava Forks Park is a remote volcanic landscape with major research and scenery value. Since the eruption, mosses and lichens have established on the upper lava-flow layer, making the area an excellent place to study primary succession after a volcanic event.
The landscape contrasts a lava-filled valley with ice-capped peaks. BC Parks identifies distinctive eruption landforms including two lava-dammed lakes, potholes with crystal-clear pools, and ash dunes. The park also protects outstanding physical features of the eruption and a large mineral spring.
The park lies in the Boundary Ranges ecosection and includes Coastal Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, and Alpine Tundra subzones.
The official recreation list is limited. Fishing and hunting are listed, both requiring the proper licences and regulations, but there are no visitor facilities described. The setting is more expedition and study destination than casual park stop.
Plan around helicopter-access trip planning, volcanic landform observation, primary-succession learning, lava-dammed lake context, ash-dune photography, fishing with a licence, and hunting where open and permitted.
Expect an extremely remote park with no road access. Check BC Parks advisories, arrange helicopter logistics carefully, and prepare communication, emergency, weather, and self-rescue plans before travel.
