Skeena Motor Vehicle Restrictions

The public is invited to comment on the proposed motor vehicle restrictions described below.

Status:  Feedback only

Region: Region 6, Skeena

Management unit (MU): 6-17 to 6-29

Regulation type: Motor Vehicle Restrictions

Species: Not applicable

Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT

Current regulation:

From the Motor Vehicle Prohibitions:

Motor vehicles are prohibited above 1,400 m elevation on Tsatia Mountain, Klastline Plateau, Level Mountain Block and Gnat Pass.

Currently within the Tanzilla River, Dease Lake, Hot Lakes, Cassiar, Adsit Lake, Midway Min and One Ace Mountain portions of the North Skeena there are Seasonal Motor Vehicle Closed Areas from May 1 to November 15, that restrict or prohibit access.  

Proposed regulation:

Concept under consideration (no regulation change proposed for 2026-2028):

• Maintain existing year-round 1,400-metre motor vehicle closures for Tsatia Mountain, Klastline Plateau, Level Mountain Block and Gnat Pass.
• Make consistent and coordinated changes across the northern portion of the Skeena Region to protect alpine and subalpine areas while maintaining existing key access routes by prohibiting:
  • Motor vehicles from May 1 – Nov 15, above 1400 m, except within a few designated routes, and within 400 m of those designated routes. 
  • All motor vehicles between 1,200 – 1,400 m, except on existing roads and trails 

Rationale:

This concept is being shared to explore potential future changes to motor vehicle access in the northern portion of the Skeena region. There is no intent to change any motor vehicle prohibition regulations in the northern Skeena region for 2026-2028. At this stage, we are seeking input from hunters and other land users to better understand different perspectives, values and concerns. Your feedback will help inform whether and how this proposal should move forward in a formal capacity.

Motor vehicle prohibitions are put in place to protect habitat and reduce the disturbance and displacement of wildlife. The seasonal motor vehicle closed areas for some northern management units as currently written are difficult for hunters to understand and create challenges for conservation officers to enforce, which can lead to increased ATV use in closed areas. Some areas have multiple tracks and trails branching from a main route making it difficult to tell which route is legal. This can make it difficult for people to follow the regulations even when they are trying to comply.

Considering an elevation-based motor vehicle closure in the northern Skeena region in future years would address long-standing enforcement challenges and habitat impacts linked to current area- and road-based closures. Existing regulations can be undermined by unclear road definitions, loopholes and enforcement challenges because of limited staffing and how large the area is. Motor vehicles can easily travel above the tree line, where illegal spur trails may be created and extended through repeated use, leading to environmental damage. Elevation-based closures, by contrast, provide a clearly defined boundary for the public and enforcement officers, reduce unauthorized trail expansion and protect fragile alpine habitats.

This approach would also apply to new resource roads as they are built, rather than leaving them unregulated for several years, helping to reduce impacts on sensitive habitats and wildlife. By linking closures to elevation rather than specific roads, the regulation would automatically apply to new access routes, helping to limit environmental damage and wildlife disturbance from increased motorized access. Clear elevation thresholds, along with designated exemptions for critical access routes like the Jade/Boulder Road, would help balance access for recreational and subsistence use with ecological protections.

Finally, the proposed elevation-based closures recognize the diverse needs and perspectives of Indigenous communities, local subsistence hunters, outfitters and conservationists. While perceptions of "high-quality hunting" differ, there is a shared interest in maintaining areas that feel remote and undisturbed. Elevation-based restrictions help achieve this by limiting motor vehicle use in high-altitude areas, protecting wildlife habitat and the experiential value of wilderness. Overall, this approach supports a more balanced and sustainable way to manage motor vehicle access in the northern Skeena region.

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