A CANOEIST'S PARADISE - Bowron Lake Park
This unmatched chain of lakes stretches over a distance of 116 km (73 miles). Find quiet solitude, cherish incredible scenery and face some challenging canoeing!
Trip Details
This itinerary is a sample only - the exact itinerary of your trip will be dictated by factors such as weather, tides, and group interest, with the guides working within the parameters of safety, time, and the highlights of the area.
Day 0
Arrival at the Wells Hotel in Wells, BC. Your guides will meet you in the sitting room of the Wells Hotel at 4:00 P.M. At this time, your guides will introduce you to the group, answer any of your questions and help you with any last minute gearproblems. We suggest you arrive in Wells, early in the day, to see the local art galleries and visit the neighboring gold rush town of Barkerville.
Day 1
Following breakfast we officially start the trip. We all drive to the start of the Bowron Lake circuit, register and begin the trip with a portage. A 2.4 km. portage, over varied terrain, takes us to Kibbee Lake, where we dip our paddles for the first time and canoe a short distance to camp. The afternoon is for canoe instruction, exploration and relaxation.(3.4 km day)
meals: lunch / dinner
Day 2
We start the day with a 2.2 km portage to Indianpoint Lake and then paddle across the lake (1 1/2 hours). We do a 2.0 km portage to Isaac Lake, where we have lunch. We then paddle to our campsite where we have a superb view of Wolverine Mountain. We often hear our first owls here.(18.2 km day & approx. 3 1/2 hours paddling)
meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 3 & 4
Majestic mountains, waterfalls and snow avalanche areas guide us down Isaac Lake to the ‘chute’. An exciting afternoon of introductory grade 1 moving water ends day 4.(15 & 16.2 km days & approx. 4 1/2 hours paddling each day)
meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 5 & 6
These two days take us down the grade 1 Cariboo River, through Lanezi Lake, the lake with the highest peaks in the park, and into Unna Lake. The scenery is magnificent and varied. Unna and Rum Lakes, in contrast to the larger lakes, areintimate and home to moose and loons. We take a short hike to the spectacular, 24 meter (80 ft.), Cariboo Falls. As we sit around the campfire, we hear the haunting call of the loon and search the shores for wildlife.
(13.2 & 16.8 km days- approx. 3 hours & 4 1/2 hours paddling
meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 7
Today is a long day but the prospect of sighting wildlife along the way makes it all worthwhile. We have a 1.6 km portage and 2-100 yard portages and then it is all downhill paddling to our last campsite at the scenic Bowron River. As we celebrate our last evening on the lakes, we keep a watchful eye on the Bowron River and the surrounding marshes where birdlife abounds and where we regularly spot moose with their young and the always busy beaver hard at work. (18.8 km. day- approx. 5 hours paddling)
meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Day 8
At sunrise, we paddle leisurely down the river, watching beaver building and repairing their lodges and witnessing the marsh awakening. We cross Bowron Lake and beach our canoes at Bear River Mercantile, where we enjoy a complimentary celebration breakfast. It is the perfect time to relive the highlights of the trip, exchange addresses and say good-bye to our new friends and tripping partners, before we head for home.
(6 km. day- approx. 2 1/2 hours paddling)
meals: breakfast
Meals
We start with fresh foods and innovative choices and incorporate those into our delicious dinners however possible. So you can expect appetizing Veggie Chili, Asian Stir Fry, Burritos and Garbanzo Curry as well as a Spaghetti dinner. For lunch we provide different breads and crackers, egg salad, tuna salad, cold cuts, pickles and olives as well as fruit in season. Snacks include cookies and trail mix as well as chocolate or cereal bars. For breakfast we'll power you up with eggs, toast, granola & yogurt, cream of wheat and oatmeal.
