Babine Lake Marine Park is on

Babine Lake Babine Lake borders the Skeena and Omineca regions of central British Columbia, Canada. Vehicle access to the lake, via BC Highway 16 and Nilkitkwa forestry service road, is by road about northeast of Smithers; via BC Highway 16 and Central B ...

, which borders the Skeena and Omineca regions of central

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. This

provincial park Ischigualasto Provincial Park A provincial park (or territorial park) is a park administered by one of the provinces of a country, as opposed to a national park. They are similar to state parks in other countries. They are typically open to the ...

comprises six separate sites around the lake. Vehicle access to the lake, via BC Highway 16 and Nilkitkwa forestry service road, is by road about northeast of

Smithers Smithers is a surname of English origin. It derives from the Middle English term "smyther", referring to a metalsmith, and is thus related to the common occupational surname Smith. The name Smither is related. People * Alan Smithers (born 1938) ...

; via BC Highway 16 and Central Babine Lake Highway, is about east of Smithers; or via Babine Lake Road, is about northeast of

Burns Lake Burns Lake is a rural village in the British Columbia Interior, north-western-central interior of British Columbia, Canada, incorporated in 1923. The village had a population of 1,659 as of the 2021 Census. The village is known for its rich F ...

Earlier Pendleton Bay

Pendleton Bay was named after a family who pre-empted around 1914. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, logging activity expanded. Many

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

people seeking employment relocated from along the lake. In the late 1940s, the federal government built a large wharf to handle freight traffic. In 1950–51, the school opened. That decade, a two-room

teacherage A teacherage is a house for one or more schoolteachers, like a parsonage is a house for a parson or minister of a Protestant church. Teacherages are used to provide accommodation for teachers in remote native communities in Canada since teachers a ...

was erected. A general store and café operated. In 1963, indigenous children were integrated into the provincial three-room school. In 1971, the school closed. That decade, the final sawmill closed. Nowadays, most residents are retired or seasonal occupants.

Park profile

The province established sites at Pendleton Bay () in May 1993 and Smithers Landing () in June 1993. Sites added () in April 2001 were Sandpoint, Pierre Creek, Hook (Deep) Bay, and Pinkut Creek. The combined total is .

Park facilities

The gravel logging road from Burns Lake to Pendleton Bay branches to Pinkut Creek. The former provides the only public boat launch on the lake. A

fish hatchery A fish hatchery is a place for artificial breeding, hatching, and rearing through the early life stages of animals—finfish and shellfish in particular.Crespi V., Coche A. (2008) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Gloss ...

borders the latter site. The remaining sites are accessible by water or hiking trail. Seasonal fishing for

rainbow A rainbow is an optical phenomenon caused by refraction, internal reflection and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a continuous spectrum of light appearing in the sky. The rainbow takes the form of a multicoloured circular ...

and

lake trout The lake trout (''Salvelinus namaycush'') is a freshwater Salvelinus, char living mainly in lakes in Northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, namaycush, lake char (or charr), touladi, togue, laker, and grey trout. In Lake Sup ...

is popular. The lake is suitable for canoes, kayaks, and motorboats. Sites have picnicking areas and generally accommodate camping.

Climate

Other protected areas on the lake

Red Bluff Provincial Park Red Bluff Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacifi ...

on the southwest shore is . *

Topley Landing Provincial Park Topley Landing Provincial Park is a provincial park near Topley Landing in British Columbia, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atl ...

on the southwest shore is .

Other protected areas in the vicinity

* Nilkitkwa Lake Provincial Park, which lies north of the lake, is . * Rainbow Alley Provincial Park, which lies north of the lake, is . * Ethel F. Wilson Memorial Provincial Park, which lies southwest of the lake, is . * Sutherland River Provincial Park and Protected Area, which lies east of the lake, is .

Maps

* * * Babine Lake Marine Park sites map. 2003.

Footnotes

References

* {{British Columbia parks Provincial parks of British Columbia Bulkley Valley 1993 establishments in British Columbia Protected areas established in 1993 Marine parks of Canada