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Anahim Lake is the largest community in the West Chilcotin, sitting high in the shadow of the Coast Mountain Range. Together, Anahim Lake and Nimpo Lake provide a breathtaking launching point for backcountry wilderness adventures.
The area abounds with pristine mountain streams, lakes and rivers. Nimpo Lake is known as the “floatplane capital of British Columbia,” for the many backcountry fishing trips that leave from the lake. Nimpo and Anahim Lakes are also popular for boating, hiking and fishing.
Memorable hiking and horseback riding trips venture to the Itcha Mountains, the Ilgachuz Mountains, and the dramatic Rainbow Mountains of Tweedmuir Provincial Park. The park is home to alpine meadows, dramatic waterfalls, glacial-capped peaks and superb wildlife. Well-equipped, experienced backcountry hikers can journey the high alpine Rainbow Range Trail or see where Hunlen Falls plunges 253 metres (830 ft) into the Atnarko River.
You can also soar above glaciers and Hunlen Falls on a soul-stirring flightseeing tour.
Wildlife and nature lovers are enchanted by Tweedmuir Provincial Park, famed for its volcanic mountains, flowering meadows, glacial-capped peaks and dramatic waterfalls. Day hiking trips are possible here. That park also has two main networks of trails leading up into the high alpine, suitable for well-equipped and experienced backcountry hikers only.
On the southwest side of Anahim Lake you'll find the Eagle's Nest Marsh Trail, a great trail for bird watching.
Accomplished hikers can test their endurance along the 350 km (217 mi) outback portion of the historic Alexander Mackenzie/Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail.
Get a birds-eye view of the Monarch or Waddington Icefields, Hunlen Falls, the Rainbow Mountains and the Itcha/Ilgachuz Mountain Range on a flightseeing tour.
Take a day-long or multi-day guided horseback ride or hike into the mountains and backcountry. Wilderness retreats and guest ranches also abound in the area.
When provincial authorities decided not to build a road over the Coast Mountains, the frustrated residents of the Chilcotin and the Bella Coola Valley took on the daunting task themselves.
In the fall of 1952, they began building the Freedom Road, running from Anahim Lake to the coastal town of Bella Coola. "The Hill" section included a steep, switch-backed road leading through Heckman pass in Tweedmuir Provincial Park, reaching an elevation of 1524 m (5000 ft). The residents completed the historic highway in 1953.
In 1793, Alexander Mackenzie was the first European to complete an overland journey across North America north of Mexico. The Nuxalk and Carrier peoples, long-time inhabitants of the present-day Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, helped to guide him through the region. Today, you can explore the Alexander Mackenzie/Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail by land and water. Enjoy a day trip, or experienced hikers may arrange to travel the 350-km (217-mi) outback portion of the trail over three weeks.
You can travel by boat to reach Sir Alexander Mackenzie Provincial Park.
Lt. Henry Spencer Palmer of the Royal Engineers lends his name to a trail that runs near the communities of Anahim Lake and Nimpo Lake.
First Nations history is also richly imbued in the region. See the remains of large wooden "Culla Culla" houses at Ulkatcho (on Gatcho Lake) and at Natsadalia Point (on Anahim Lake). Also see the remains of traditional First Nations pit houses.
The annual Anahim Lake Stampede is an amateur rodeo where spectators get a close-up view of the rough and tumble performers and their skilled four-legged friends. Watch as they buck broncos one week after the July long weekend.
Don't miss the annual Dean River Canoe Race from Nimpo to Anahim Lake in May.
Take home a unique Chilcotin region treasure from one of the area's unique boutiques.
Expansive Tweedmuir Provincial Park is a remarkable landscape of waterfalls, pristine lakes, glacier-capped peaks, volcanic mountains, alpine meadows and abundant wildlife.
Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park is home to the largest herd of woodland Caribou in southern BC.
Ts'il?os Provincial Park is part of the traditional territory of the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation. This remote, stunning park is home to First Nations' archaeological and burial sites as well as Chilko Lake, the largest high-elevation freshwater lake in Canada.
Travel by plane, horse, or hike in to view the Charlotte Alplands, a high-elevation mountainous plateau home to diverse wildlife. View the Monarch and Waddington Icefields on an unforgettable flightseeing trip.
From Grizzlies and Black Bears to Bighorn Sheep and Caribou, an abundance of wildlife populates this region. The Atnarko trench area is one of the world's most impressive Grizzly habitats with some 70 Grizzly Bears. See the graceful American White Pelican flocks soar and circle on Anahim Lake as well as Sandhill Cranes, Trumpeter Swans, Great Horned Owls, songbirds and more.
The west Chilcotin is famous for wilderness fishing lakes.
Anglers can cast out on Anahim Lake for native wild Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout.
Nimpo Lake is known as the freshwater floatplane capital of BC; the starting point for many fly-in fishing trips.
Fly-fish for wild native Rainbow Trout, Kokanee and Dolly Varden at the Upper Blackwater. The Chilko River is one of North America's finest destinations for wild Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden and Chinook Salmon. Try the Lower Dean River for Steelhead or the Upper Dean River for native Rainbow Trout.
Paddle the crystal clear waters of the Turner Lake Canoe Chain on a three to five day trip spanning six lakes and walk the short trail to spectacular Hunlen Falls.
Paddle the turquoise Chilko River to experience the famous Lava Canyon, a 22-km (14-mi) stretch of continuous Class IV whitewater flowing through narrow lava gorges. The Chilcotin River runs some 193 km (120 mi) through the semi-arid canyons of the Chilcotin plateau. Big Creek rapids, Farwell and Big John Canyons are exhilarating river highlights.
The remote Klinaklini River is your starting point for some of the most exciting high-end river rafting in the world. Experienced paddlers can fly in to challenge the Class IV and V rapids along this splendid wilderness wildlife corridor leading to Knight Inlet.
Tatlayoko Lake is a popular windsurfing destination.
Visit Tweedmuir Provincial Parkfor superb snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Local mountains also offer great snowmobiling.
Tatla Lake has 30 km (18.6 mi) of cross-country ski trails.
One hour west of Anahim Lake, a local heli-skiing operator will guide you to runs reaching 2100 vertical m (6890 vertical ft).
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