Mount Pope

Mount Pope Provincial Park covers about 2,030 hectares (20.3 square kilometres) of steep limestone terrain in British Columbia's Omineca region. ^[1] It lies about 7 km northwest of Fort St. James, on the northeast side of Stuart Lake. ^[2] It is a day-use park built around Mount Pope, a limestone mountain rising above the lake. ^[2] A 6.5 km hiking trail leads to the peak and a panoramic view of Stuart Lake and the mountains to the north, and 39 rock climbing routes are documented in the park. ^[2] BC Parks identifies rare plants and animals associated with the limestone formations and caves, and valuable winter range for mule deer, as the park's main natural values. ^[2]

Mount Pope is particularly significant as winter range for mule deer, which are plentiful on the steep south-facing hillsides. ^[1] Other species in the area include white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, lynx and cougar. ^[1] Birds include jays, blue grouse and Clark's nutcracker. ^[1] The caves formed in the limestone provide habitat for unusual animal species such as the brown bat. ^[1]

BC Parks characterizes Mount Pope as steep limestone-based rocky terrain covered with Douglas fir and smaller pockets of mixed forest. ^[1] The limestone formations and caves are associated with rare plant species. ^[1] Hikers are asked to keep to designated trails because shortcutting destroys plant life and soil structure. ^[1]

Mount Pope is composed of limestone. ^[1] BC Parks describes the park as steep, limestone-based rocky terrain in which the porous rock has eroded over time into rock formations and caves. ^[2] The lower flanks of the mountain hold developed climbing routes of up to seven pitches. ^[1]

The park sits about 7 km from Fort St. James, where the average July high is 21.8 degrees Celsius and the average January low is -13.7 degrees Celsius. ^[1] Fort St. James receives about 487 mm of precipitation a year, including roughly 173 cm of snowfall. ^[1] The summit trail can be followed year-round. ^[2] Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing use the same trails as in summer, with no set tracks. ^[3]

The Carrier name for the mountain is Nak'al. ^[1] A Carrier legend tells of small people who once lived inside the mountain and were killed in a war with the Nak'azdli, from the village next to what is now Fort St. James; the name Nak'azdli means "when arrows were flying." ^[1] Carrier people established the first trails up the mountain and used the summit as a lookout with advance warning of parties coming down Stuart Lake. ^[1] Pictographs have been documented on the sheer rock faces along Stuart Lake, and the abundant wildlife around Nak'al made it an important hunting area for First Nations people. ^[1] Nearby Fort St. James was founded as a fur trading post in 1806 by North West Company explorer Simon Fraser, in territory inhabited by the Dakelh (Carrier) First Nation. ^[2]

Mount Pope Park was established in January 2001 and is managed by BC Parks. ^[1] The mountain takes its name from Major Franklin L. Pope, who was surveying a route for the Overland Telegraph Line in 1865 when he was separated from his party and spent a night alone on the peak. ^[1] A Forest Service fire lookout stood on the summit from the 1920s until it was removed in 1972, and the trail to the peak was designated a recreational trail in 1983. ^[1] In 2023 the Province acquired 0.15 hectares to connect the existing climbing area to a planned parking and turnaround space on the existing road. ^[2]

The main route is the 6.5 km hiking trail to the summit, which gains about 790 metres and takes four to six hours for the return trip. ^[1] A gazebo at the peak offers a 360 degree view. ^[1] There are 39 documented climbing routes, described in Lyle Knight's 1996 guide "Central BC Rock - Rockclimbers Guide to Central British Columbia". ^[1] Mountain biking is permitted only on the trail, and hunting is permitted only during the lawful game hunting season. ^[1]

There are no facilities in the park and overnight camping is prohibited. ^[1] From Fort St. James, drive Stuart Drive West and turn left (west) onto Stones Bay Road; the trailhead parking lot is 4 km along on the right. ^[1] No potable water is available on the trail, so hikers need to carry their own. ^[1] Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are possible in winter. ^[1]

The park protects steep limestone terrain with caves and rock formations that shelter rare plants and animals, along with winter range for mule deer. ^[1] All natural and cultural resources in the park are protected, and damage to, collection or removal of any natural resource or cultural artifact is prohibited. ^[1] Shortcutting trails is discouraged because it destroys plant life and soil structure. ^[1] Rock climbers are advised to learn the hazards of their intended routes before setting out. ^[1]