B.C.’s longest natural lake is surrounded by mountains and has world-class fishing

Babine Lake is the longest natural lake that’s entirely in B.C., and a significant portion of it is protected by a provincial park that you’ll want to add to your travel itinerary this summer.

Babine Marine Park offers six independent sites, all with their own incredible wildlife and natural features to explore. This includes Smithers Landing, Pendleton Bay, Pinkut Creek, Hook Bay (a.k.a. Deep Bay), Pierre Creek, and Sandpoint.

First-come, first-served lakeside camping

Campers can take advantage of waterfront campsites at all of the above spots, all with direct lake access, boat landings, and incredible views of the shoreline. So if you’ve been searching for camping options that get you as close to “on the water” as possible, bookmark this for your next trip, as everything is first-come, first-served.

The lake also boasts world-class fishing, with plentiful rainbow trout and char, especially in the wilderness parts of the park.

Know before you visit

The provincial park is situated 45 km north of the closest town of Burns Lake and contains the southwest portion of Babine Lake. If you’re not looking for a long road trip from Vancouver, you can always fly to Smithers and drive two hours east to the park.

Once you reach Babine Lake Road, head north for 20 km, turning left onto the Augier FSR and following this for 10 km. At km 47, turn right and follow the road five more kilometres to the park.

Note that all park visitors must follow “leave no trace behind” practices, including bringing back any waste they accumulate during their visit.

Before booking an overnight trip, note that there are no facilities provided by BC Parks at Hook Bay, Pierre Creek, and Sandpoint, but there are marine-accessible wilderness camping opportunities for the avid adventurer.

Finally, beware of wood ticks between March and June, avoiding tall grass and low shrubs when possible.

With the right preparation and planning, this might just become your new favourite camping destination!

How to get there: Drive 11 hours and 39 minutes from Vancouver to Babine Marine Park via Cariboo Highway/BC-97 N, or fly to Smithers and drive two hours to the park via Yellowhead Highway E/BC-16 E.

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