Cottonwood Park is known amongst locals as the town’s flagship park and is located between downtown Fort St James and the lake shore overlooking Stuart Lake. Catch the glimpsing sunrise in the morning, sunset in the afternoon, or the beautiful Northern lights in the evening. Out in the water, you can see multiple small islets and other scenic lands far off.

It’s a place that offers quick access to a beach. Picnic tables are throughout if you want to have a meal or hang out with family and friends. It is great to walk on the sandy beaches with ancient Indigenous Rock Art around.

The beach hosts special events at different times, including Canada Day and the Caledonia Classic Dog Sled Race. During summer time you will see food vendors around.

Photo: Province of British Columbia, flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Nation Lakes Provincial Park is a canoeist’s paradise. At 19,398 hectares, visitors can drift away from the world and venture through Nation lakes and many other smaller channels.

The park offers 120-kilometre routes for canoeists through four lakes; Tsayta, Indata, Tchentlo, and Chuchi. The lakes are interconnecting and has been a route for centuries for the Carrier tribe. Depending on your pace, it roughly takes five to ten days to go for the full route.

Four road locations provide canoe access to the lakes. Northwest end of Tsayta Lake, the Southeast end of Chuchi Lake, the North side of Chuchi Lake and the North end of Tchentlo Lake.

Photo: bcparks.ca