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
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.
Information & Services
Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures: We offer exhilarating jetboat tours on the Fraser, Chilcotin & Chilko Rivers – & outdoor wilderness adventure with wilderness / wildlife, native culture, gold rush history, & hiking. Our professionally trained Chilcotin native guides offer exceptional customer... more
The Lodge at Chilko Lake: Visit this Chilko Lake jewel set amongst the breath-taking Coast Mountain Range and Tsylos Provincial Park. We offer many outdoor / indoor / multi-sport adventures, and a luxurious stay in this truly healing blend of wilderness and comfort. more
Ts'yl-os Park Lodge: Enjoy fully guided river fly fishing and horseback riding vacations, through the valleys, while staying at our mountain lodge. Call us or visit our website to ask for a free colour brochure and be sure to ask about week-long mountain horse packtrips! more
If you would like to have your business listed, please Click Here.
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.
