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Overview:
Burns Lake is located in northern British Columbia along Highway 16 (also known as the Yellowhead Highway). It is located about 1008 km north of Vancouver and 967 km west of Edmonton, Alberta.
Burns Lake is the gateway to British Columbia’s Lakes District. With over 3000 miles of shoreline spread among over 1000 pristine lakes, the Lakes District is a recreational paradise for fishers, boaters, kayakers, canoers and other water sport enthusiasts. Rushing rivers are entwined with these many lakes, perfect for fly-fishing.
The climate here, compared to the rest of British Columbia, tends to be colder with perfect snowy winters for skiing and snowmobiling. The average temperature, depending on the season can be between –10. 5 and 14.3 degrees Celsius, fairly similar to the surrounding areas of the Stuart-Nechako and Prince George. This region receives 1755 hours of sunshine annually, comparable to the Sunshine Coast, which receives between 1400-1900 hours.
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Population:
2107 (2006 census) |
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Access:
Access to Burns Lake is by the paved Yellowhead Highway (Number 16) from Prince George.
The nearest commercial airport is at Smithers. Regular air service is provided by Air Canada’s Jazz Airlines, Central Mountain Air, and Northern Thunderbird to Vancouver and other points in British Columbia. In addition, the Prince George airport was upgraded with a new International Customs area which opened in December 2005. Burns Lake and Houston airports can handle smaller private aircraft and charters.
Via Rail offers service to Burns Lake
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Major Industries:
Forestry, Mining, Agriculture and Tourism |
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Town of Burns Lake |
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History:
Originally named Burnt Lake (referring to a huge forest fire in the area), Burns Lake became prominent with the arrival of crews to work on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Once the work was completed, many chose to settle here and were joined by other settlers drawn to the area by the promise of gold in the Babine Lake vicinity and others working in the abundant forests of the area. After weathering the decline in the timber industry during the Great Depression, Burns Lake prospered due to the high demand for timber after World War II.
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Community Festivals:
Winterfest (February) - This festival includes a parade, tournaments, the Winterfest family games, as wells as the Smoke Ice Races on Burns Lake.
Eagle Creek Stampede (Early June) – a high energy, quality entertainment event, featuring adrenalin pumping events, such as bull riding, calf-roping, and barrel racing.
Lake District Fall Fair (Second weekend in September) - An old-time country fair, this includes baked goods, crafts, local produce, animals, plus events for children. A music festival with local and out-of-town talent runs simultaneously.
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Recreation:
Carnoustie Golf Course is a challenging and scenic par 35 course located just west of Burns Lake.
Hikers and bikers will enjoy the Evenshen Nature Trail around Saul Creek and Loch Lomond.
The village’s colourful history remains alive with several old buildings preserved as historical sites.
The Lakes District Museum is one of the premier small-town museums in BC, with information on the pioneering history. Artifacts in the museum include a reconstruction of a 1920s operating room.
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Nearby Attractions:
The Lakes District boasts over 1000 lakes and 3000 miles of shoreline for fishing, with 20 popular lakes in the immediate vicinity of Burns Lake. This is a fisherman’s paradise, with opportunities for catching cutthroat and rainbow trout, char, kokanne and lingcod.
Burns Lake is the closest community to North Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. The 1.1 million acres of breathtaking scenery, pristine and pure lakes and wilderness of all sorts is only accessible by boat from Ootsa Lake or by float plane.
Water sports of all kinds are available in the Lakes District. From kayaking on one of the many rivers to canoeing on placid lakes, there are hundreds of recreational possibilities.
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Francois Lake |
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Witness one of the largest salmon runs in the world at the Fulton River Spawning Channel. The best viewing is in late August and early September.
Mountain bikers will be pleased to note that a newly constructed trail system is being developed on nearby Boer Mt. Road. The site recently opened, and currently features a Trials Riding Park and moderate to difficult biking trails.
The Lakes District is a year-round recreational retreat. Once the snow falls, people flock to this area for ice fishing, skating, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing on the groomed trails maintained by the Omineca Ski Club.
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For More Information:
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Village of Burns Lake
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Burns Lake Chamber of Commerce
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Burns Lake Information
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