| Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park | |
|---|---|
  Map of British Columbia | |
 Interactive map of Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park | |
| Location | Lillooet Land District,British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | 100 Mile House, BC |
| Coordinates | 51°47′59″N122°25′19″W / 51.79972°N 122.42194°W /51.79972; -122.42194 |
| Area | 4,774 ha. (47.74 km2) |
| Established | July 13,1995 |
| Governing body | BC Parks |
Junction Sheep Range Provincial Park is aprovincial park inBritish Columbia,Canada, located near the confluence of theChilcotin andFraser Rivers on the west bank of the latter river.
TheChilcotin Region began its history ofagricultural settlements just as the Cariboo Gold Rush was waning in the 1860s. Two of the earliest ranches in this area were the Cotton and Deer Park Ranches, now amalgamated as Riske Creek Ranching. Settlement followed the accessiblebunchgrass ranges along the terraces of theChilcotin River between 1873 and 1893, and ranges have been used for livestock grazing since 1873. There is also historical evidence of mining in the area; remnants of old Chinese placer mining activities have been found at the confluence of theFraser and Chilcotin Rivers. In 1973, a 4,573 hectareWildlife Reserve, managed by the Fish and Wildlife Branch, was established to protect thebighorn sheep and their natural grassland habitat. This reserve was designated as the Junction Wildlife Management Area in 1987, and was designated aprovincial park in 1995.
The area protects critical breeding, lambing, and winter range of the largest population of non-migratory Californiabighorn sheep in the world, a blue-listed species. Approximately 500 bighorn sheep live in the area, feeding onbunchgrass and other low growing plants, and finding refuge from predators in the steep breaks at the edges of grassland benches. In the past, the Junction California bighorn sheep have also provided a source of sheep for transplants to other areas of North America where the sheep had been extirpated.
The followingrecreational activities are available: horseback riding and hunting. There is no camping allowed within the park. The park is only open to the public during hunting season.
Located 60 kilometres south ofWilliams Lake, British Columbia. Access to the park is difficult, via rough 4 x 4 dirt roads through privateranchlands.
4,774hectares in size.
51°48′00″N122°25′20″W / 51.8000°N 122.4222°W /51.8000; -122.4222
