Sugarbowl - Grizzly Den Provincial Park & 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
The park is located on Highway 16 approximately 95 km east of Prince George and includes the Grand Canyon of the Fraser. This park protects a component of old growth interior cedar-hemlock, and provides excellent habitat for grizzly bear, martin and caribou. It is also an important caribou movement corridor. The area includes a developed trail system that offers popular alpine backcountry recreation opportunities close to Prince George.
Park Size: 24,765 hectares
Stay Safe:
This is bear country. Bears may be encountered throughout the park during the summer months, so never approach or feed bears. If you have an encounter with a bear, please leave the area immediately and report to park staff as soon as possible. Obey all park regulations, stay on designated trails and comply with posted warnings.
Avalanche Safety - Avalanches are a potential hazard to backcountry snowboarding, cross country skiing, telemark skiing, and snow-shoeing enthusiasts.
Bring your own water and there is no potable water available.
The park is located about 95 km southeast of Prince George on Highway 16. To access both the Grizzly Den Trail and Raven Lake Trail drive east following Highway 16 to Hungary Creek, a distance of approximately 88 km from the east end of the Yellowhead Bridge in Prince George. As you travel along Highway 16 east you will pass by the Sugarbowl Trailhead (80 km) and the Viking Ridge Trailhead (85 km), both within the boundaries of Sugarbowl - Grizzly Den Provincial Park. About .3 kms past Hungary Creek, turn right on to the Hungary Creek Forest Road and drive south keeping on the main road. After about 13 kms you will reach the Grizzly Den Trailhead parking lot, and about 2.6 km beyond this parking lot you will reach the Raven Lake Trailhead parking lot.
Nature & Culture
History - This attractive area, developed over a number of years, is popular with both cross-country skiers and hikers. In 1973 and 1974, Northwood Pulp and Timber Ltd. built the original trails and cabins (Raven Lake and Grizzly Den). Ministry of Forests maintained the trails and cabins up until 2000, when the area was declared a Provincial Park and BC Parks is now managing the area. When harvesting was completed in the area the Hungary Creek Road was no longer plowed in the winter so the Sons of Norway built an additional cabin on the lower part of the Grizzly Den Trail in 1977. The Grand Canyon of the Fraser is also in the Park, a very dangerous spot for the river men that ran barges up and down the river. Many people lost their lives in the canyon over the years.
Cultural Heritage - The Grand Canyon of the Fraser represents a unique feature which has historic significance related to the "Overlanders" journey to the Cariboo gold field in the 1860s and the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The Fraser river is designated as a BC Heritage River.
Wildlife - The park is a refuge for caribou and grizzly bear.
Trails are very rugged and not conducive to cycling. Bicycles may be ridden on park roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Fishing
Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. Moderation, courtesy and consideration for others are hallmarks of the sporting angler, so please limit your catch, don't catch your limit. See BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis for site specific information.
Hiking
This park has hiking and/or walking trails. Sugarbowl - Grizzly Den Provincial Park is the closest alpine recreation area to Prince George. It is very popular for residents as it provides many outstanding trails for hiking and cross-country skiing opportunities. The three cabins are available for overnight use. 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. Brochure and map outlines various routes within the park.
Winter recreational activities include wilderness ski touring, snowshoeing and photography, however there are no tracks or special trails maintained. Snowmobiling is not permitted in the park. Visitors can access the park travelling east on Highway 16 for about 88 km from Prince George, following Hungary Creek Forest Road, which is not plowed in winter time. Anyone venturing into the park in winter should be familiar with recognition and avoidance of avalanche terrain and conditions. It is strongly recommended to carry emergency and first aid equipment and be prepared for sudden weather changes.
Facilities Available At This Park
Cabins / Huts / Yurts
There are three cabins available in both summer and winter for the public's overnight use: 8 Mile log cabin; Raven Lake cabin and Grizzly Den cabin. Cabins are rustic. It is highly recommended to bring a camp stove and fuel.
Cabins are available on a first-come, first-served basis and the public are asked to keep the cabins clean and restock the wood bin for the next group. Those wishing to use the cabins should be prepared to camp outside in the event the cabins are full. For more information, check the park brochure.
These cabins are maintained by the volunteers from the Prince George Backcountry Recreation Society. Donations towards the use of these cabins are gratefully requested and will be used for cabin maintenance, firewood supply and trail work. Donation envelopes are available at the sites.
Campfires
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Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. There are two designated tenting areas, one at Raven Lake, where tent pads are provided and one at Grizzly Den. Random tenting is permitted throughout the park.
