Chris Harris
the Chilcotin
in the fall until the lake freezes over. Several fishing resorts and serviced RV campsites are located around the lake. Activities here are typically spring, summer and fall focused, so the lake’s kokanee and rainbow trout get a reprieve during winter snowmobiling season. Tatla Lake Located on the western edge of the Chilcotin grasslands, 108km/67mi west of Alexis Creek, Tatla Lake is where Irish settler Robert Graham started the area’s ranching legacy. After purchasing the Tatla Lake place from Benny Franklin in 1902, the Grahams built a fine new house and, in 1930, a store. The house is now the Graham Inn, located next to the Tatla Lake Manor, and specializes in cooking up excellent meals. The community provides access to excellent mountain hikes, Nordic ski trails and several resort and guiding operations in the area. Tatla Lake is also the gateway to three major mountain valleys: West Branch, Chilko and Tatlayoko, which extend south via secondary roads. As well, nearby Bluff Lake is a fixed-wing flightseeing and helicopter tour access point
for several wilderness destinations including the massive Homathko Ice Field and Mount Waddington, the highest peak in the Coast Range. Another popular side trip is sprawling Ts’yl-os (sigh-loss) Park, located 60km/37mi south of Tatla Lake. Bounded by the rugged peaks of the Coast Mountains to the west and the Interior Plateau to the east, the park’s natural wonders include 80km/50milong glacier-fed Chilko Lake, the largest natural high-elevation lake in Canada, a popular windsurfing destination. Prominent fishing includes nice rainbow trout and Dolly Varden, with several lodges offering wildlife viewing. Kleena Kleene This tiny settlement is just 31km/19mi west of Tatla Lake on Highway 20. Nearby Clearwater Lake is a departure point for float plane flights into remote fishing lakes and rivers and for exploring the region’s alpine wilderness. Travellers can enjoy fabulous views from the lookout point of Perkins Peak (2,819m/9,249ft), hike to beautiful Klinaklini Falls, ride ‘hidden’ trails or heli-hike the breathtaking Pantheon Range. Remote Big Stick Lake, Clearwater Lake and One Eye Lake all
offer excellent canoeing and fishing. Hunters can embark on fly-in guided expeditions for moose, bear, mountain goats and wolves. Charlotte Lake Located 11km/6.8mi east of Nimpo Lake, Charlotte Lake provides terrific fishing for trophy rainbow trout in the pristine waters of this 16km/10mi long lake. Besides great fishing, the Charlotte Lake Alplands also offer numerous trails for hiking and mountain biking into the alpine, and sledding in winter. You might also enjoy a day or multi-day trail ride on horseback into the Alplands; be sure to bring your camera to photograph rare wild flowers, and an incredible diversity of wildlife. There are several lodges, B&Bs and guides in this area which are recommended to enhance your wilderness experience. Nimpo Lake Known as “the float plane capital of British Columbia,” Nimpo Lake is a major launch point for aerial sightseeing tours and fishing fly-ins to the West Chilcotin’s pristine wilderness lakes and rivers. From here, adventurers can access isolated cabins nestled in scenery that is unmatched for its dramatic
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