Ts'yl-os
Provincial Park (pronounced sigh-loss and which can also be spelled Ts'il-os),
means the man who became a mountain. This majestic British Columbia provincial
park protects a very special landscape and a number of vulnerable wildlife
species, like Grizzlies
and Bighorn Sheep.
Ts'yl-os was designated as a provincial park in January 1994. The sixth
largest provincial park in British Columbia (nearly half the size of Prince
Edward Island), the 233,240 hectare area encompasses Chilko
Lake, which hosts the third largest sockeye salmon run in the province.
LOCATION
Ts'yl-os
Provincial Park is located 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Williams
Lake off the Bella CoolaHighway
20. Please note that travel time varies considerably depending on
weather conditions. Routes follow rough, washboard gravel roads; high
clearance four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended.
WILDERNESS
RECREATION AND TOURISM
On
June 26, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) granted the Tsilhqot'in
Nation a declaration of aboriginal title. Aboriginal title includes
the right to exclusive use and occupation of the land, as well as the
ability to determine the uses to which the land will be put. The map
below shows the land that is subject to the declaration of aboriginal
title. The Province is currently analyzing the SCC's decision, and is
in dialogue with the Tsilhqot'in Nation about access to Tsilhqot'in
title land. Until further notice, persons interested in access to the
Title area for camping and associated recreational activities are encouraged
to contact the Tsilhqot'in National Government (http://www.tsilhqotin.ca/index.htm).
The spectacular
scenery and wilderness setting of Ts'yl-os Provincial Park makes this
area particularly appealing to recreationalists and to the wilderness
tourism industry. Chilko Lake is
a challenge for experienced boaters. However, canoeing,
ocean-type kayaking, power boating,
fishing, sightseeing
and windsurfing are enjoyed by many visitors. The surrounding mountains
provide a high quality wilderness experience and offer opportunities
for wilderness hiking,
mountaineering
and horseback riding.
Twenty lodges or camps operating around the periphery of the area offer
outdoor adventure trips around Chilko
Lake with minimal disturbance to the environment.
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LANDFORMS
Ts'il-os
is the scenic focal point from the Nemiah Valley and the highest point
in the Chilcotin Range. It features extensive alpine meadows, snow fields,
tarns and sub-alpine regions. Chilko
Lake is an outstanding picturesque feature, with its distinctive
blue waters, large size and mountainous setting. On the lake itself,
there are uncommon freshwater lagoons and volcanic dyke formations.
There are five glaciers at the headwaters of the Tchaikazan River, which
also features extensive meadows, outwash plains, spruce forests, a waterfall
and a braided river.
VEGETATION
The
area includes portions of the Interior Douglas-fir,
Coastal Western Hemlock,
Montana Spruce, Engelmann
Spruce-Sub-alpine Fir, Alpine Tundra and Sub-Boreal Pine Spruce
biogeoclimatic zones. Subzones of these biogeoclimatic zones within
the Chilko Lake area are not widely
represented in other parts of B.C. Plant life ranges from dry grasses
and old-growth Douglas-Fir
to Western hemlock
and Western red cedar
to Spruce, Pine and heather'sto lichens, kinnikinnick and feather
mosses, with a number of rare and uncommon plants.
WILDLIFE
Chilko
Lake has the third largest Sockeye
Salmon escapement in the province. A number of ecologically sensitive
species occur in the area, including Grizzly
Bear, Fisher, Wolverine,
Bald Eagle and
Dolly Varden Char.
Although the wildlife inventory is incomplete, other vulnerable species
likely occurring in the area include Peregrine
Falcon, Vaux's Swift and Townsend's big-eared bat.
