Close To The Edge Provincial Park and Protected Area
A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
Park Info
This 702 hectare park and protected area is located approximately 160 km northeast of Prince George. There is logging road access within 5 km of the park/protected area.
The park/protected area is situated in the Dezaiko Range of the Rocky Mountains. This park protects the internationally significant Close To The Edge cave, which has the deepest shaft and is the third deepest overall cave (472m) in Canada. The cave was bottomed in 2001.
The primary shaft drops 255 m straight down, and its diameter varies considerably (up to 30m).There are also additional, smaller caves in the park.
Park Size: 702 hectares
General Visitor Information
Close To The Edge cave is particularly dangerous because of its depth and vertical shaft. It is suitable only for very experienced cavers. Access requires crossing Hedrick Creek via a hand-operated cable car.
Please bring your own drinking water, as potable water is not available
in the park. Drinking out of any streams or lakes is not recommended,
unless the water has been filtered or treated. There are limited
water resources in the eastern half of the park near the cavel.
This park/protected area is located approximately 160 km northeast of Prince George, and is accessible via the Pass Lake forest service road to Gleason creek. The closest community, town or city is Prince George.
Nature & Culture
History - The cave was discovered in 1983, but the bottom was not reached until 2001.
Conservation - Important habitat for caribou, moose, black and grizzly bears. Internationally significant cave features: the deepest shaft and the third deepest cave (472m) overall in Canada; the cave has multiple pitches.
There are spelunking opportunities in the various caves in the park. Only experienced spelunkers should attempt these caves.
Hiking
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. There is a very rough trail following Hedrick Creek and then a route to Close-To-The-Edge cave location. Hedrick Creek must be crossed via a hand operated cable car.
