GPS: 58.923764, -125.091728

Toad River Hot Springs Provincial Park, in the spectacular Toad River valley of the Muskwa Foothills, preserves a regionally important hot springs ecosystem. 
Toad River Hot Springs is located on the left-hand bank of the Toad River, on the edge of the Provincial Park, close to the Racing River outflow (1 km upstream). Transportation to this area is by hiking, riverboat, horseback, or helicopter. Unless access is made by boat or air, accessing this area is very difficult, and crossing private property may be involved. Made even more difficult as a slide has taken out part of the trail.

The park is situated in the Muskwa Foothills ecosection of the Toad River valley. The valley has a vast active floodplain that has been heavily burned, resulting in a rich plant mosaic and valuable wildlife habitat. A sequence of hot springs with complex, thermally driven plant communities springs from the Toad River’s alluvial terraces. The three main hot springs emerge from the midst of a large muddy field.

Shrubby plants such as glaucous-leaved honeysuckle, common snowberry, western chokecherry, and silverberry cover the lower river bars around the springs. The upper terrace is home to alluvial poplar forests with lush herb layers, which are mostly the product of nitrogen enrichment generated by animals visiting the mineral lick. This hot spring doubles as a vital mineral lick for moose and other ungulates. Visitors can almost certainly see predators.

Traditional use area for the Fort Nelson Indian Band and the Kaska Dena.

History: The Fort Nelson Indian Band and Kaska Dena First Nations have historically used the land. Trappers came into the region during the early 1800s in response to the European demand for fur. Since then, the area’s popularity has grown, with hunting, fishing, and recreational boating becoming common activities. The importance of the hot springs caused the location to be designated as a recreation reserve. The hot springs were then suggested as an ecological reserve in 1974.

 B.C. Hydro conducted site studies as part of the Liard River inquiries in the early 1980s. Because of the regionally important hot springs for habitat, observation, camping, and First Nations values, the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan recommended the area as a Protected Area in 1997. The place was later named as a provincial park in 1999.

Wildlife: The region is home to a wide range of wildlife species. The forest is home to moose, as well as wolves and other major animals such as black and grizzly bears.
Edit: some know this as “Frog River Hot Springs.”

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