matwaites
We went to see Granisle that is located along the gorgeous Babine Lake. Babine Lake is one of the largest natural manmade lakes in the province. It's pristine beauty allows for a lot of people to do many different recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and many other water sports.We decided that we were going to try the Granisle Circle Tour. We started on the Telkwa side by entering the circle tour by starting on the Babine Lake Road. There are many points of highlight through the trip. Some of them are, but not limited to: Babine Mountain Park, Chapman Lake, and there are many other opportunities for hiking and other recreational activities.We took a turn off of the Babine Lake Road, to the Granisle Connector. If you were wanting to visit the Pendleton Bay, or Smither's Landing then you would go straight ahead, and also if you're wanting to visit the Babine River Corridor Park, you would also continue straight ahead, and then you would have to access a native reserve area, to access the actual park.The Granisle Connector is a very narrow, and rough rough. There are sections that get quite a bit wider, and this hints to you that there are going to be significant potholes. There are also treefalls over some of the areas too from previous logging or from windstorms. One piece of advice. DO NOT attempt to take this road if you're inexperienced with back roads, and also DO NOT take this route either if you're in a hurry or your car is very low. This connector is not suitable for motorhomes, large trucks etc.. It is fine for cars with lower clearance, as long as you go very slow, or 4x4 vehicles with cartop campers. Also, remember that since this is a desolate area without any sort of help etc., you must be self sufficient, as also as always with the remoteness of this road, you can come across animals such as bear, moose, wolves, and other big mammals such as cougar etc. We didn't come across any, but there is always a chance. Be sure to give them a wide amount of room, and use caution when driving, and also keep your headlights on at all times, as this will allow you to see things clearly. Do NOT attempt this road after nightfall with the fact that this particular connector is very narrow and rough.Once you get into Granisle, there is a marina, that allows you to be able to launch your boat from. Also be sure to visit the Information Center, and visit the friendly staff person Paula. She is very knowledgeable, and very eager to help and assist anyone who comes to see her. Further, after this point, is Hwy 118, which is the Granisle/Topley Connector. A side trip along this route approximately 10-15 km outside is Red Bluff Provincial Park. This is a full service campsite as well as a day use area that has a boat launch, as well as a path that allows you to be able to walk along to see the Red Bluffs.About 10 km after that there is the Fulton River where there is an opportunity to see bears during the fall season when fish start to jump. This is when the bears will come down and start feasting for their winter hibernation.About another 5 km after this was the turn off for Babine Lake Lodge. This was a very good lodge, and I highly recommend it for the food there and for the value that they offer it for.Wherever you go around here, make sure that you have the use of a Backroad Map book either by the Mussio Brothers, or by another author that will show you the coordinates. A GPS unit is also advisable in my opinion for this type of route, whereas there is a lot of areas to get lost.When following the Granisle/Topley connector, it will allow you to go back to Topley, where you connect back with Highway 16, and then you can either go east towards Burns Lake, or west back towards Telkwa. Hope that you enjoy the route just as much as we did.
