Peace River Wildland Provincial Park, Provincial park in Birch Hills County, Canada.
Peace River Wildland Provincial Park protects the forest and grassland habitats of the Peace River valley from Dunvegan Provincial Park to the Smoky River confluence, plus the Spirit River valley at its mouth. Most of it lies in Birch Hills County, with a portion in Northern Sunrise County south of the Town of Peace River. The Peace and Smoky meet among small islands, and the eroded Fort Fork site sits on the east bank.
Fort Fork was founded in 1792 by the North West Company and served as a trading post in the region. The site later gained recognition as a national historic location, preserving evidence of early colonial trade activities.
The Mackenzie Cairn was erected in 1929 on River Lot 19 along Shaftesbury Trail in the Municipal District of Peace No. 135. It commemorates Fort Fork, the North West Company post on the east bank of the Peace River where Alexander Mackenzie wintered in 1792. The fort itself was abandoned in 1805 and has been almost entirely eroded by the river; a flag at the former site is all that remains.
The park has trails for hiking, fishing, and horseback riding that are accessible throughout the year depending on conditions. Winter months bring opportunities for snowmobiling on designated routes, while warmer seasons suit water activities and walking explorations.
The Shaftesbury Ferry on Highway 740 was built in 1962 and measures 22.56 metres long by 12.12 metres wide, with a 1.22-metre hull depth. It carries 2 crew, 46 passengers and 8 mid-size cars across a 325-metre stretch of the Peace River, and in winter an ice road is built at the same crossing.
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