Burns Lake

The hub of the Lakes District — a northern BC town surrounded by pristine wilderness and world-class fishing.

Burns Lake is the service centre for the Lakes District of north-central BC, sitting on the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16) roughly halfway between Prince George and Smithers. It is a working northern town with a strong Indigenous heritage — the Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation (Burns Lake Band) has deep roots in this territory — and a surrounding landscape of extraordinary natural beauty. The Lakes District lives up to its name. The region around Burns Lake is dotted with hundreds of lakes, many of them remote and accessible only by floatplane or rough forest road. Burns Lake itself, Francois Lake, Ootsa Lake, and the Nechako Reservoir are among the larger bodies of water, and the fishing throughout the district is exceptional. Rainbow trout, lake trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling are all present, and the region draws serious anglers from across BC and beyond. The community has a proud outdoor recreation culture. The Burns Lake Mountain Bike Park is one of the best in northern BC, with trails ranging from beginner-friendly cross-country routes to challenging technical descents. In winter, the area offers snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing on groomed trails. The Tweedsmuir Provincial Park South, one of BC's largest provincial parks, is accessible from the Burns Lake area and offers wilderness camping, hiking, and fishing in a truly remote setting. The park protects a vast area of the Interior Plateau and the Coast Mountains, and the Ootsa Lake arm of the Nechako Reservoir provides access to some of the most remote fishing in the province. Burns Lake has a warm, community-minded character typical of northern BC towns. The local arts scene is active, the farmers' market is a summer highlight, and the annual Burns Lake Music Festival draws performers and audiences from across the region.