Coal River Springs Territorial Park

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About the Park
Throughout centuries of hunting, fishing and trapping in the Coal River watershed, the Kaska Dene people admired the fragile beauty of Coal River Springs and their delicate mineral formations.

Still relatively untouched, the springs' dramatic formations are a staircase of dripping colour. A descending series of limestone terraces, framed by lush green vegetation, embraces overflowing pools of rich, icy blue water (these are cool springs, not hot springs). These unusual and extensive formations, and the rich diversity of life forms associated with year-round flowing water, make Coal River Springs a unique and special feature of territorial and national significance.

On September 17, 1990, a 16 square kilometre area encompassing the springs was officially dedicated as the Yukon's second Territorial Park and first Ecological Reserve. Coal River Springs Territorial Park was created through the combined efforts of the Yukon Government, the Liard First Nation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

What to do there
Coal River Springs Park was established as an ecological reserve to protect its fragile tufa formations. These features cannot survive heavy use. Viewing of the unique physical and biological features of the springs is the primary focus of visitor use.

How to get there
With protection of the reserve as the primary purpose of the park, access continues to be restricted by the difficulties of wilderness travel in an isolated region. Whitewater canoeists or rafters can line upstream on the Coal River from tributary streams and lakes accessed by floatplane from Watson Lake. Once on the river, boaters are committed to a week-long trip with grade III-IV rapids further downstream. Take-out is at the Alaska Highway where it crosses the Coal River in British Columbia.

It is possible to bushwhack from a rough mining exploration/logging road to the banks of the Coal River. To do this, you must negotiate a hilly, two kilometre maze of large diameter, wind-thrown, fire-killed trees. At this point you may be blocked by the river, fordable only in the low water of late summer and, even then, potentially dangerous.

Other access is by helicopter from Watson Lake. This is usually a one hour return flight.

Nature

Unique Formations
The mountains above Coal River Springs are outcrops of limestone composed mainly of calcium carbonate. As groundwater percolates through the porous limestone, it gradually dissolves the calcium. When the calcium-enriched water emerges from the earth at the foot of the mountains, a change begins to occur. Mosses and other vegetation change the acidity of the water as they absorb carbon dioxide. As the acidity increases and the icy water warms, its ability to retain the rich supply of dissolved calcium is reduced. The calcium combines with carbon, separates from the water and begins to precipitate.

This precipitate, known as tufa, is deposited on the surface of any object in contact with the water. Twigs, leaves, whole trees and even animal carcasses eventually become covered in the rock-like tufa. Living mosses that rim the pools are literally turned to stone. The continual build-up of tufa, at a rate of two to three centimetres a year, has created the terraced travertine formations surrounding the springs.

The edges of the springs' pools slowly grow inward and upward, so they are suspended over the layer below. If left undisturbed, the pool walls would eventually close at the top like a dome. New pools would begin to form over the old pool chambers. Several of these chambers are likely hidden below the pools we see today.

Constant Change
Natural forces are constantly changing the direction of water flow and resultant buildup of the tufa. As mosses grow and calcify, old drainage channels are blocked and new ones created. Moose foraging in the wetlands along the base of the formations often walk on the mounds, occasionally breaking off pieces of tufa and changing the watercourses.

In 1984, beaver diverted the flow away from the main formations. As a result, they dried up and lost their colour. Cracks also developed and, when the flow of water returned, it took a few years before they self-sealed and refilled with water. A few parts of the main terraces remain dry today.

When walking through the surrounding forest, you may observe evidence of past change. Ancient tufa can be found tangled in the roots of fallen trees. Walls of tufa from old dry pools stand like fortresses guarding secret courtyard gardens. Large, healthy trees thrive within these bastions, their roots solidly anchored.

Rich Plant Life
Favourable conditions at the springs help to support an abundance and rich diversity of plant life. The main source pool averages 13 degrees C throughout the year while the mean annual temperature for the area is only -3 degrees C. With moderated temperatures and constant water flow, a number of species uncommon in the Yukon occur at Coal River Springs.

Blue grass grows here. The only other place it is found is at the mouth of the Mackenzie River over a thousand kilometres away. Wild sarsasparilla, red and white baneberry, knotweed and water-milfoil are also present around the springs.

Summer brings a cavalcade of colour to this site. Bright yellow monkey-flowers nod their heads along the edge of the pools as if admiring themselves on the mirror-like surfaces. Tall purple larkspur grace the lower wetlands that drain into the Coal River. Paintbrush add splashes of salmon pink to the lower meadow.

Wildlife
Wildlife populations in the Coal River region are relatively unaffected by human activity. Black and grizzly bears have been observed within the present park boundaries. A wolf pack maintains at least one denning site nearby. The constant flow of water attracts beaver that have, from time to time, dammed the system and created extensive wetlands along the foot of the terraces. Fed by the temperate waters, the wetlands produce early-season aquatic plants which attract moose in the spring. As many as six moose have been observed sharing these small wetlands for a brief period in May.

The boreal toad and the northern wood frog are also found in these wetlands. Dolly varden inhabit the Coal River beside the springs and tiny sculpins swim in some of the terraced pools high on the bluff.

Facilities 
The park is small and the formations easily damaged. An area 200 metres east of the main formations is provided for visitor use.

Leave no trace: Guidelines for Visitors
The spring formations are extremely vulnerable to the activities of park visitors. Please follow these simple rules:

The springs are cold, not hot, as one might have mistakenly anticipated by the term thermal springs. Any type of bathing or swimming will damage the delicate chemistry of the water and its biological components. Please avoid any contact with the water.

Stay on designated trails and avoid walking on the formations.

Keep a clean camp by using the facilities located 200 metres east of the main formations.

Take all your garbage out with you when you leave.

Use a camera or sketch pad to capture memories of your visit and leave the flowers and tufa for others to enjoy.

Contact us
Yukon Parks
Department of the Environment
Government of the Yukon
P.O. Box 2703
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2C6
Phone: (867)-667-5648