"This hike, or mountain bike ride, is a great trip in fair weather. Bike riders should stay on the trail at all times. Large groups that want to explore the alpine should spread out to avoid creating a new trail and damaging the vegetation. Remember: be bear aware.
The Chuck Creek Trail follows an old mining road through a wide sub-alpine valley with mountainous vistas in all directions. Mineral Lakes Valley will come into view to the left shortly into your trek. About three kilometres in there is a washout and bikers will have to dismount for a short distance. Be careful at the first shallow creek crossing as the rocks on the bottom can be sharp and quite slippery.
There is another shallow water crossing at Clear Creek, approximately seven kilometres along the trail. The trail leads over a small hill just before the gravel outwash and then becomes indistinct. From this hill you will see the spectacular icy outcrops of Samuel Glacier. Continue across the outwash and over another rolling hill for a breathtaking view and a chance to explore along the valley. Only the adventurous descend to the headwater of the O'Conner and the toe of the main outcrop.
First Nations people trapped, hunted and fished in what has become the Tatshenshini–Alsek Park and they continue to exercise their aboriginal rights on the land. The Tatshenshini-Alsek Park is jointly managed by the province of British Columbia and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN). The park lies entirely within CAFN traditional territory and is managed under the terms of a park management agreement signed by both parties in 1996."
"Have fun but remember BC Parks is committed to protecting the natural environment and preserving wildlife species and their habitat. Recent studies indicate that snowmobile activity does affect a wide variety of animals, often resulting in behaviour alterations, habitat avoidance, and energy expenditures at critical times when animals are under extreme stress due to winter hardships. By respecting wildlife you encounter while riding in the park, you will help preserve the long-standing value this area provides for wildlife and their habitat.
Snowmobile use is only allowable in a specified area within the park. The roughly 60,000 hectare, snowmobile area is in the park's Natural Environment Zone, one of two management zones within the park. The other zone in the park is called the Wilderness Recreation Zone. The objective of the Natural Environment Zone is to provide a limited number of entry points along the Haines Highway where snowmobile use is permitted. Access is restricted largely to valley bottoms and valley ridges in this portion of the park."
