POWELL LAKE

Spending a day at a lake is a favorite past time for many people, even people who live on the ocean.  Lakes provide a literally contained water experience and often have great hiking trails and other fun things to do nearby.  Powell Lake is no exception.  Powell Lake features great hiking, fishing and wildlife.  It is also rich in history and contains some evidence of scientific phenomena that happened during the last ice age.  With its great history and no shortage of great things to do, it is no wonder that Powell Lake is a destination of choice for everybody who lives within a day’s drive of the area.

Powell Lake is right near the Town of Powell River and is located one hundred and thirty five kilometers north of Vancouver, Canada.  It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful lakes in British Columbia if not all of Western Canada.  It features four hundred and eighty kilometers (or three hundred miles) of shoreline to explore and play on.  The lake itself is fifty one kilometers and is the third deepest lake in Canada.  It’s a clean lake and unpolluted (a statement the residents plan on being able to continue making). 

The climate at the lake is mostly mild.  The waters of the lake are kept warm because it is fed by the Strait of Georgia which has warm water.  It is because of the dry summers and winters that are mostly snow free that the Powell Lake and Powell River areas that surround it have been given the nickname “The Sunshine Coast.” 

The lake is believed to have had its basin and inlet created by an ice sheet that covered the entire area about thirteen thousand years ago.  Dr. Williams Matthews is a geologist who did the research that this theory comes from. He theorizes this because of the discovery of salt water at the bottom of the lake. He also poses the theory that the ice sheet was what helped to close the inlet to the lake by retreating.  The retreating ice sheet and subsequent rising of the land is what is known as Isostatic Rebound.  The Isostatic Rebound caused the salt water that had been flowing in and out of the lake to be trapped and thusly Powell Lake is the oldest salt water discovered to date.  The salt water is kept trapped at the bottom of the lake and contains no oxygen or marine life.  The top of the lake is fresh water and contains oxygen, fish and other forms of marine life. 

If you like fishing, there are tons of fish to be caught all year long in Powell Lake.  Fishermen and Fisherwomen can catch Cutthroat Trout up to twelve pounds and Rainbow Trout up to eight pounds.  People can even arrange to have fishing tours of the lake.  Lakeside Floating Vacations conducts the tours and interested fishermen and women should contact them directly. 

The hiking is always fantastic at Powell Lake and the biggest highlight of any hiking excursion is getting to see some of the wildlife that makes Powell Lake a home.  Ospreys and Eagles (especially Bald Eagles) are prevalent here as are the other typical woodland creatures (deer, elk, raccoons, etc). 

Water sports are also hugely popular activities at Powell Lake.  Because of the warm temperature of the water, swimmers love the area.  People can also go sea-dooing, scuba diving, kayaking, waterskiing and canoeing.  The lake is never very crowded so it’s easy to spread out and enjoy the day and not have to worry about being hindered by other lake enthusiasts.

There are also two houseboats that can be rented on Powell Lake.  They are called The Funship and The Suncruiser.  These two boats feature water slides, a swim ladder, a full kitchen, dinette and an upper driving station.  They also have propane barbecues, sundecks and safety railings throughout the vessels. 

It doesn’t matter if you are just looking to lie on a beach, go hiking, do some fishing or even play in the water, Powell Lake is a perfect destination.  Located near the town of Powell River in British Columbia, Canada (about one hundred and thirty five miles from Vancouver Canada), Powell Lake is easily accessible and has a ton of options for families spending the day there.  With its many activities and its rich history, it’s a place for both fun and learning.  Both athletes and scientists alike can and do appreciate Powell Lake.