Anahim Lake

Located in the Chilcotin area of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of British Columbia, Anahim Lake is a small community at the eastern edge of Tweedsmuir Park home to the dramatic Rainbow Range of Mountains, where peaks of eroded lava and fragmented rock display a spectrum of vivid red, orange, lavender and yellow. A local curiosity is Anahim Peak, a spectacular pillared cone of volcanic rock, rich in obsidian. This obsidian was an important resource for the Chiloctin First Nation that lived in the area as they used it for trade as well as for making weapons.

Fishing and outdoor adventure in this ‘big’ outdoors are what draws visitors here. Perhaps best known for its premier fishing with lakes that are cold, clean and pristine. Rainbow trout, kokanee, lake trout and burbot are abundant throughout the area and Dean River is famed for its steelhead. The region also offers Wildlife tours, guided horseback trips, and hiking to see spectacular waterfalls and ice fields.

Location

Anahim Lake is located 135 km (84 mi) east of Bella Coola and 320 km (199 mi) west of Williams Lake on Hwy 20, known as the “Freedom Highway”.

A Step Back in Time

Anahim Lake is the site of a long-established Chilcotin settlement that expanded in the 1940s and 1950s when the Carrier moved here from their remote villages. The community is the eastern gateway to the southern portion of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and its phenomenal wilderness recreation opportunities.

The History of the First Nations permeates the region, and among the historical sights to see are the “culla culla” houses at Ulkatcho on Gatcho Lake and at Natsadalia Point on Anahim Lake – these houses have stood the test of time, and offer a glimpse into the lives of the aboriginal people of the region.