| Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park | |
|---|---|
  Location ofLiard River Hot Springs Provincial Park inBritish Columbia | |
 Interactive map of Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park | |
| Location | British Columbia,Canada |
| Nearest city | Fort Nelson |
| Coordinates | 59°25′22″N126°05′48″W / 59.42278°N 126.09667°W /59.42278; -126.09667 |
| Area | 10.82 km2 (4.18 sq mi) |
| Established | April 1957 |
| Governing body | BC Ministry of Environment, BC Parks |
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is aprovincial park inBritish Columbia,Canada.[1] It is home to the second largest naturalhot springs in Canada, after Deer River Hot Springs 15 km to the north east.[2] It is a natural river of hot water rather than a spring fed man made pool.[3] The park is part of the larger Muskwa-Kechika Management Area.[4] The community ofLiard River, British Columbia is located nearby.
The Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park was created in April 1957. The first boardwalk and pool facilities were built by theUnited States Army in 1942. TheLiard River Hot Springs proper are located at59°25′40″N126°06′15″W / 59.42778°N 126.10417°W /59.42778; -126.10417.[5] They were originally named theTheresa Hot Springs.[6]
The park contains a warm water swamp andboreal forest which supports rich and diverse plant communities as well as mammal and bird species. Watch formoose feeding in the warm water swamps.Bears, as well, are a common hazard in summer months, and may be feeding only 10 ft (3.0 m) away from bathers. Due to the lush plant life (including 14 species of orchids) influenced by the warmth of the springs, the area used to be known as the "Tropical Valley". A rare predatory black bear attack occurred on August 14, 1997, claiming two lives.
Alpha pool with water temperatures ranging from 42 to 52 °C (108 to 126 °F); There are raised walkways from the parking area to the springs so that the delicatemuskeg that forms the swamp is not disturbed. The walkway was the scene of a much-publicized black bear attack that killed two tourists on August 14, 1997.[7]
The campground is open year-round
The park is located at mile 475 (or km 765) on theAlaska Highway, betweenFort Nelson (307 km (191 mi) south-east) andWatson Lake (218 km (135 mi) north-west).[8] The community ofLiard River is just west of the park, at the 499 Milepost.
1082 hectares in size.
