Peace River Wildland Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Peace River Wildland Provincial Park is located in the valley of the Peace River
stretching from Dunvegan Provincial Park
to the Smoky River
confluence and 30 kilometers upstream of the Smoky River
valley. Also included in the park is the Spirit River
valley at the confluence with the Peace
. While most of the park lies in the Birch Hills County
, some if it is in the Northern Sunrise County
immediately south of the Town of Peace River
.
The Peace River Wildland Provincial Park proserves the forest and grassland habitats within the Peace River
valleys since these areas are important wildlife corridors for deer, elk, wolf, bears and is also home to a wide variety of birds.
National Historic Site, Fort Fork Site is also located in the park on the east bank of the Peace River
. The fort was built in 1792 by the North West Company
. Explorers Alexander Mackenzie and David Thompson
spent the winters at Fort Fork in 1792 and 1802 respectively. The fort was abandoned in 1805 and has since been almost completed eroded by the Peace River
. A flag planted at Fort Fork's former site is all that remains. Mackenzie Cairn was erected on River Lot 19 along Shaftesbury Trail in the M.D. of Peace
in 1929 to commemorate Fort Fork.
and Smoky
is dotted with small islands, some of which create slow moving waters and good fishing opportunities. Fish Species include: Arctic Grayling, Brook Stickleback, Bull Trout, Burbot, Emerald Shiner, Flathead Chub, Goldeye, Kokanee, Lake Chub, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Ninespine Stickleback, Northern Pike, Northern Pikeminnow, Pearl Dace, Prickly Sculpin, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, Slimy Sculpin, Spoonhead Sculpin, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch, Walleye, White Sucker, Yellow Perch.
Road access is limited although the Peace River Wildland Provincial Park features a number of trails for hiking, off-highway vehicle riding and snowmobiling. There are also viewing points located strategically in the park.
on Highway 740 (Shaftesbury Trail) within the Peace River Wildland Provincial Park. It is adcent to the Peace River
and offers full hook ups, kitchen shelter, group picnic area, group camping area, tenting area, horse watering stations, concession, showers, hiking trails, horseshoes, playground, fishing.
crossing from the M.D. of Peace
to the Birch Hills County
. With a 38 T capacity, the 22.56 meter long by 12.12 wide meter by 1.22 meter hull depth ferry was built in 1962 and has a rated capacity of 2 Crew, 46 Passengers and 8 mid-size cars. Access to Tangent Park from the Town of Peace River
involves a ride on this ferry. It is operated by Grimshaw
based LaPrairie Works.
In winter, an ice road is built across the Peace River
at this crossing location.
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
stretching from Dunvegan Provincial Park
Dunvegan Provincial Park
Dunvegan Provincial Park and Historic Dunvegan are a provincial park and a provincial historic site of Alberta located together on one site. They are located in Dunvegan, at the crossing of Peace River and Highway 2, between Rycroft and Fairview....
to the Smoky River
Smoky River
Smoky River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River. The descriptive name refers to the presence of "smouldering beds of coal in the riverbank" noted by the Cree Indians....
confluence and 30 kilometers upstream of the Smoky River
Smoky River
Smoky River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River. The descriptive name refers to the presence of "smouldering beds of coal in the riverbank" noted by the Cree Indians....
valley. Also included in the park is the Spirit River
Spirit River (Alberta)
Spirit River is a river in northern Alberta, Canada. The name is a translation of the Cree words Chepe Sepi, meaning ghost or spirit.The town of Spirit River is established close to the river banks and is named for the river, as is the Municipal District of Spirit River No...
valley at the confluence with the Peace
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. While most of the park lies in the Birch Hills County
Birch Hills County, Alberta
Birch Hills County is a municipal district in north-western Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 19, north-east of Grande Prairie.-Demographics:The population of Birch Hills County according to its 2008 municipal census is 1,610....
, some if it is in the Northern Sunrise County
Northern Sunrise County, Alberta
Northern Sunrise County is a municipal district in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17.On July 10, 2002, the name changed from Municipal District of East Peace No. 131 to Northern Sunrise County...
immediately south of the Town of Peace River
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
.
The Peace River Wildland Provincial Park proserves the forest and grassland habitats within the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
valleys since these areas are important wildlife corridors for deer, elk, wolf, bears and is also home to a wide variety of birds.
National Historic Site, Fort Fork Site is also located in the park on the east bank of the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. The fort was built in 1792 by the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
. Explorers Alexander Mackenzie and David Thompson
David Thompson (explorer)
David Thompson was an English-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as "Koo-Koo-Sint" or "the Stargazer"...
spent the winters at Fort Fork in 1792 and 1802 respectively. The fort was abandoned in 1805 and has since been almost completed eroded by the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. A flag planted at Fort Fork's former site is all that remains. Mackenzie Cairn was erected on River Lot 19 along Shaftesbury Trail in the M.D. of Peace
Peace No. 135, Alberta
The Municipal District of Peace No. 135 is a municipal district in northwestern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 19. The municipal seat is set in the Village of Berwyn.- Demographics :...
in 1929 to commemorate Fort Fork.
Activities
The confluence of the PeacePeace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
and Smoky
Smoky River
Smoky River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River. The descriptive name refers to the presence of "smouldering beds of coal in the riverbank" noted by the Cree Indians....
is dotted with small islands, some of which create slow moving waters and good fishing opportunities. Fish Species include: Arctic Grayling, Brook Stickleback, Bull Trout, Burbot, Emerald Shiner, Flathead Chub, Goldeye, Kokanee, Lake Chub, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Ninespine Stickleback, Northern Pike, Northern Pikeminnow, Pearl Dace, Prickly Sculpin, Rainbow Trout, Redside Shiner, Slimy Sculpin, Spoonhead Sculpin, Spottail Shiner, Trout-Perch, Walleye, White Sucker, Yellow Perch.
Road access is limited although the Peace River Wildland Provincial Park features a number of trails for hiking, off-highway vehicle riding and snowmobiling. There are also viewing points located strategically in the park.
Tangent Park
Tangent Park is a municipally owned park located 24 kilometers south of the Town of Peace RiverPeace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
on Highway 740 (Shaftesbury Trail) within the Peace River Wildland Provincial Park. It is adcent to the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
and offers full hook ups, kitchen shelter, group picnic area, group camping area, tenting area, horse watering stations, concession, showers, hiking trails, horseshoes, playground, fishing.
Shaftesbury Ferry
The Shaftesbury Ferry operates on the Shaftesbury Trail (Highway 740) crossing over the 325 meter long Peace RiverPeace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
crossing from the M.D. of Peace
Peace No. 135, Alberta
The Municipal District of Peace No. 135 is a municipal district in northwestern Alberta, Canada.It is located in Census Division 19. The municipal seat is set in the Village of Berwyn.- Demographics :...
to the Birch Hills County
Birch Hills County, Alberta
Birch Hills County is a municipal district in north-western Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 19, north-east of Grande Prairie.-Demographics:The population of Birch Hills County according to its 2008 municipal census is 1,610....
. With a 38 T capacity, the 22.56 meter long by 12.12 wide meter by 1.22 meter hull depth ferry was built in 1962 and has a rated capacity of 2 Crew, 46 Passengers and 8 mid-size cars. Access to Tangent Park from the Town of Peace River
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
involves a ride on this ferry. It is operated by Grimshaw
Grimshaw, Alberta
Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located west of the Town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 35, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway...
based LaPrairie Works.
In winter, an ice road is built across the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
at this crossing location.
See also
- List of Alberta provincial parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada