Maps

Get to Know The Lakes District
in The Great Wilderness

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Burns Lake is the gateway to North Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, best accessed by Lakes District Air | Taylor Michael Burk

 

Many of the landscapes in The Great Wilderness defy scale, from giant, cresting mountains to seemingly endless forest floors and vast and powerful river systems. The Lakes District, which links Granisle to Fraser Lake in the central part of the region with Burns Lake as its unofficial hub, takes the concept of scale to a whole new level. Here, over 300 lakes and 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) of inland shoreline form a stunning patchwork of blue and green unlike anywhere else in the province. 

This is a place where nature and culture flow together, offering you the chance to immerse yourself in a deeply symbiotic ecosystem—one that has long sustained, and been stewarded by the First Nations Peoples of the area, including Burns Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn First Nation, and Skin Tyee First Nation. From quiet paddles along lilypad-fringed shores to hikes that take you to the thunderous feet of waterfalls, here’s how to soak up every kilometre of this watery land.

Morice Lake in the heart of the Lakes District | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Appreciate the Life-Giving Properties of Water

To the First Nations of the area, water has always been a great connector, weaving together trade routes, harvesting sites, important cultural sites, and communities. The relationship between First Nations communities and water transcends recreation: it is essential to their well-being, identity, and sovereignty. For visitors, these waterscapes are an invitation to put down your paddle and move in tune with a slower rhythm. A leisurely road trip through the Lakes District is one way to reap the mood-boosting benefits of slow travel as you visit peaceful lakeside rest stops.

Where there is water, there is life. Here, the lakes, rivers and ponds teem with Dolly Varden and salmon, and wetlands provide vital habitats for waterfowl and shorebirds, and underwater forests of aquatic plants thrive—critical vegetation that works overtime to help filter out carbon dioxide, provide refuge and food for fish, and reduce shoreline erosion. From fish spawning channels to wetlands, you’ll find diverse flora and fauna around every riverbend and stretch of shoreline. 

Come fall, the area’s rivers swell with hundreds of bright red salmon as they fight their way upstream, while nearby North Tweedsmuir Provincial Park is one of the best places in BC to see grizzlies roam riverbanks in search of their next meal. A visit to Fraser Lake is shared with more than 1,000 trumpeter swans who flock here on their migratory routes while  Fulton River in Granisle is home to world’s largest manmade spawning channels.

Sunsets on the shores of small town like Fraser Lake | Northern BC Tourism/Marty Clemens

Explore the Lakes District's Cool Small Towns

Throughout the Lakes District, water slips seamlessly between forests, through mountains, and around cool small towns. These aquatically-inclined communities are ideal jumping off points for exploring the greater area—and promise more than just access to lakeshore.

In Burns Lake, the largest community in the Lakes District, the area’s waterways are bookends to adventures by foot, bike, or air. A visit here will provide access to dozens of hiking trails that intersect riverbeds and hug trout ponds, while local mountain bike trails are famed for their fast and flowy turns, along with trailheads that start and end at backcountry lakes. 

Visit the local bike shop Burnt Bikes to gear up for a day of riding before crushing lap after lap on Boer Mountain, the town’s beloved trail network which backs onto Kager Lake. Your Boer Mountain experience isn’t complete without an exhilarating dip in the lake’s cool waters post-ride. 

From Burns Lake, you can venture to Southside, a collection of rural hamlets that make up the area south of Francois Lake, via the Francois Forester, one the only free inland ferries in BC. This 20-minute crossing is a prime example of the region’s unique lake culture, a vital transportation link that brings together what would otherwise be a disconnected smattering of isolated communities. Once on the other side, you can visit an off-the-map cafe, stay at a guest ranch, complete the Ootsa-Francois Lake Circle Route, or take a historical tour on horseback with guides from the Cheslatta Carrier Nation to learn about the lake and its legacy on their culture. For Ursa Minor Brewing, located on the shores of Ootsa Lake, water is a means to craft beer. This farmhouse-style brewery is an ideal place to gather post-adventure in the company of bikers, hikers, paddlers, visitors, and locals alike.

North of Burns Lake is Granisle and to its east Fraser Lake, both lakeshore communities home to interesting museums that showcase the rich histories of the Lake Babine Nation and the Nadleh Whut’en (who are known as “the people who live where the salmon return”) and Stellat’en First Nations, respectively. Since time immemorial, these lands and waters have offered nourishment, trade opportunities, physical wellbeing, and spirituality.

From Granisle, you can rent a boat to see delicate petroglyphs carved into the cliffs of Babine Lake, the longest, natural lake in BC, while the north side of Fraser Lake is home to several pictographs. Remember, it’s a privilege to see these landmarks; take care and leave no trace.

Atna Lake, accessed with Lakes District Air | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Embark on Aquatic Adventures

With a dizzying number of wilderness lakes, it’s no surprise the Lakes District is home to some of the finest—and least visited—portage routes in BC. Tracing a path through a wilderness basin situated 920 metres above sea level, the Nenikëkh / Nanika-Kidprice canoe route unfolds over four lakes and three portages, all surrounded by the stunning snowcapped peaks of the Sibola and Morice mountain ranges. On the Morice Lake-Atna Lake canoe route, the calm shores of Morice Lake offer a gentle distraction before revealing its main attraction: the stunning emerald green colour of Atna Lake. In Tweedsmuir, the largest provincial park in BC, you’ll find the Turner Lake chain, a remote, fly-in canoe circuit that punches through the east slope of the Coast Mountain Range over seven lakes and several creek crossings and portages. Located on the shores of Eutsuk Lake, guests of Nechako Lodge & Aviation can choose to swim or boat, but those who opt to canoe will find a 200-kilometre (124-mile) circuit that stretches from Surel Bay to Knewstubb Lake. 

In stark contrast to the sheer size of these wilderness areas is Deadman’s Island, which at only one-hectare lays claim as the smallest park in BC. It’s only accessible by canoe or kayak, both of which you can rent from the Lakeside Multiplex in Burns Lake. For a faster way to explore the shoreline, hop in a boat and cruise along every bay. Fraser Lake is home to three public boat launches and offers an impressive 60 square kilometres (22 square miles) of fluid surface area, while guests of Pondosy Bay Resort can spend an afternoon gliding along the shores of Eutsuk Lake.

 

Across the region, creeks and streams fan out like watery tendrils and lead to glassy pools, dead calm lakes, and—for anglers—undisturbed stocks of pike, salmon, and trophy-sized trout. As the only accommodation on its namesake shores, fly-in Tesla Lake Lodge, operated by Lakes District Air, delivers on a promise of solitude: this fishing lodge sits 944 metres (3,000 feet) above sea level deep within Tweedsmuir Park and hosts just one group at a time. 

Flightseeing with Lakes District Air | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Soar Above the Wilderness

While it’s easy to admire the region’s lakes and rivers at ground level, they offer a wholly different perspective when experienced from the air. Float planes are a go-to mode of transportation in lake-studded regions, providing access to remote trailheads and backcountry campsites. Whether you’re being dropped off deep in the wilderness, or you’ve opted for a short aerial tour with Lakes District Air or Nechako Lodge and Aviation, you’ll be treated to an endless tapestry of forests and lakes from your window.

Surel Falls on Eutsuk Lake | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Take to the Trails

In other parts of The Great Wilderness, hikes are characterized by their steep elevation, taking place along high mountain ridges and volcanic slopes. But here in the Lakes District, their difficulty lies in a different type of terrain. Skirting rivers and lakes, these trails often intersect with swamps and river crossings and cross boggy muskeg hedged in by thick lowland vegetation. Many lead to waterfalls, including Cheslatta Falls, a short ridgeline stroll that winds through pine-scented forest overlooking the Cheslatta River. Others follow historic routes like the Alexander Mackenzie Trail which trace the eulachon grease paths used by Nuxalk and Carrier First Nations to transport goods between the coast and interior. Today, this strenuous hike is a challenging one that crosses deadfall, rocks, and bog over some 200-kilometres (124-mile). The Wet’suwet’en name for Tse Zhul (rock neck)—also known as China Knows—is an apt description for the way this 400-metre (1,312-f00t) exposed granite cliff juts into thin air over Houston. A moderate climb, it starts as an easy stroll through second-growth forest before ending in a dramatic summit. 

The hoodoos along Nourse Creek trail | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Tread Lightly and Slowly

The Lakes District is a delicate ecosystem, one that holds in its balance wildlife, plants, and people. As you explore, take time to learn about the histories and living cultures of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Burns Lake Band, Wet’suwet’en, Nee-Tahi-Buhn Band and Skin Tyee Nation. By supporting local operators and practicing responsible tourism, you’re helping to ensure the continued respect and preservation of this unique region. 

As with all outdoor pursuits in The Great Wilderness (and beyond), it’s important to remember BC AdventureSmart’s Three Ts for safely navigating in the wilderness environment.

Getting Here

The scale of The Great Wilderness can sometimes be hard to grasp. There are several gateways into these awe-inspiring lands. Starting on the West Coast of British Columbia, Prince Rupert is a Pacific Ocean port city accessible by both highway and BC Ferries. From here, you can travel north towards the Yukon and Alaska borders, or east towards the town of Terrace and northwestern BC. Further inland, the outdoor-oriented city of Prince George is a prime base camp to the north, connecting to both Stewart-Cassiar Highway and Route 16. Those travelling into the Northern Rockies or to Tumbler Ridge can begin their trip at Dawson Creek (Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway), or further north in Fort St. John with frequent flights into the North Peace Regional Airport.

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