Canim Lake (British Columbia)

Canim Lake
Location	British Columbia
Coordinates	51°51′47″N 120°45′56″W / 51.86314°N 120.76542°W / 51.86314; -120.76542Coordinates: 51°51′47″N 120°45′56″W / 51.86314°N 120.76542°W / 51.86314; -120.76542
Primary inflows	Bridge Creek, Eagle Creek, Neff Creek, Jim Creek, Roserim Creek, Boss Creek
Primary outflows	Canim River
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	45 km (28 mi)
Surface area	56.1 km2 (22 sq mi)
Average depth	84.1 m (276 ft)
Max. depth	208.5 m (684 ft)
Water volume	4.7 km3 (1 cu mi)
Surface elevation	772.4 m (2,534 ft)
Frozen	November to May

Canim Lake is a lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of 100 Mile House. "Canim" means a type of large canoe in the Chinook Jargon. Being 23 km long, Canim Lake is one of the largest lakes located in the Cariboo region,the interior of British Columbia. It is also the territory of the Shuswap First Nation where the ancestors are part of the Lake Division of the Shuswap Tribe of the Interior Nations of British Columbia. The Reilly Commission states that the 2,029 hectares region around Canim Lake are set aside for the Shuswap First Nation. The name Canim means canoe in the Chinook language. The lake is located on Canim Lake Road, 35 km northeast of 100 Mile House and southwest of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Canim Lake is surrounded several meadows, mountains, hills, forests of pine, spruce and Douglas-fir trees and private resorts. In the summer of 1995, there was an archaeological evidence of an ancient civilization and evidence of carbon dated as 4,300 old. ^[1]

Activities

Canim Lake is known for its summer and winter activities that can be done at the lake. During the summer activities like fishing, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking can be enjoyed. Many lodges located around the lake provide horse adventures for both novice and experienced riders. Some lodges provide overnight trips or one week trips through the Cariboo Mountains. Since there is a huge area of backcountry, activities like hiking and mountain biking can be done during the summer. Canim Lake is also a well known area to go freshwater fishing in British Columbia. Many types of fish can be caught like the Kokanee, rainbow trout, lake trout, and the lingcod. Lastly, during the summer, many wildlife can be seen during around the surrounding area of the lake such as, black bears, moose, mule, deer, wolves, coyotes, cougars, beavers, otters, waterfowl, hawks, bald eagles and song birds.^{[1] [2]} Many winter actives can be done on the lake or the surrounding area of the lake, such as, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dogsledding and ice fishing. The community around Canim Lake provides snowmobile tours of trails or into the mountains. Dogsledding is provided by private lodges and is provided throughout the whole year. During the winter months of mid-December to mid-March, ice fishing can be done and many can catch fishes like: rainbow trout, lake trout, Kokanee and Burbot. Cross-Country skiing is especially popular during late January. Every year in January, the Cariboo Marathon, a popular cross-country event, is held around 100 Mile House and Canim Lake.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Places to See

There are two main places to see around Canim Lake: Canim Falls and Wells Gray Provincial Park. Canim Falls can bee reached from the south side of the lake. It is 60 feet (18 meter) tall fall that cuts into a lava plateau that came from the Wells Gray Clearwater Volcanic Field, which is an active volcanic field. Wells Gray Park is one of British Columbia's largest provincial parks, at 5,250 square kilometres. It has five lakes, two rivers, streams, waterways and waterfalls. The park provides many activities during the winter and summer, such as: hiking, wildlife viewing, whitewater rafting, viewpoints, guided tours, cross country skiing, ice fishing and tennis.^{[4] [5]}

Provincial parks around Canim Lake

• Canim Beach Provincial Park
• Roserim Creek Provincial Park
• Wells Gray Provincial Park

Private Resorts and Campsites

• Canim Lake Resort
• KAYANARA Guest Ranch & Resort
• Minac Holiday Village
• Ponderosa Resort
• Rainbow Resort
• Reynolds Resort

Fishing

Canim Lake is host to numerous fish species including Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Kokanee and Burbot. Online records indicate the Government of British Columbia has stocked Canim Lake sporadically with hatchery reared Kokanee and Rainbow Trout between 1938 and 1998.

Settlement

The settlement Canim Lake of the Canim Lake Band is located west of the lake.

References

• "Canim Lake". BC Geographical Names. 
• Canim Lake at BC Adventure (Tourism)