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Granisle Circle Tour - West to East
 
 
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Granisle Circle
Drive East to West

 

To meet BCNorth members who provide
automotive parts and service,
click here


Print this page as a handy guide to the Granisle Loop.
 

We are travelling from West to East (Smithers to Topley)

To travel East to West(Topley to Smithers) click here

We're HereCome along as we drive the back road from Smithers to Granisle and then out to Topley. Of course, you can return to Smithers on Highway 16 from Topley to complete the loop.

We have 25 photos to show the route.

We'll see miles of lakeshore, logged areas, aspen, spruce and pine forest and hopefully some wildlife. You can stop to fish or hike. It will take 2 hours to drive the route and another hour to complete the loop on Highway 16 but allow extra time to stop and explore. The road and logging traffic make this route unsuitable for large RV vehicles.

Looking across Babine Lake from Red Bluff Park
KM 0
MILE 0
 It's best to fuel up in Smithers. There are few service stations on our route. Let's start at the intersection of Highway 16 and Main St in Smithers. Drive 6.3 km south (past the Old Babine Lake Road) and turn left (east) from Highway 16 on to Babine Lake Road.
Please set your odometer to zero. Keep your headlights on at all times and give right-of-way if you encounter logging trucks. It's best to travel this route on the weekend or on holidays to avoid logging truck traffic.
 
KM 4
MILE 2.48
 The first part of the Babine Lake Road is paved. At the top of the first hill, you can look southwest (right) toward Tyhee Lake Provincial Park and beyond that to the Telkwa Mountains.
 
KM 12
MILE 7.45
 The first mountain you see on the left is Onion Mountain in the Babine Mountains. There is a large snowmobile area set aside on the mountain. Beyond that there is a large Provincial Park with many trails and restrictions on motorized vehicles. We will be driving along the south flank of the Babine Mountains until we turn off onto the Granisle back road.
 
KM 27
MILE 16.7
 On your right is McKendrick Mountain. It's isolated from the Babine Mountain Range. Mountain goats winter at the summit. Mountain goats are also common in the Babine Mountains on the north side of the road.
 
KM 31.7
MILE 19.7
 The entrance to Little Joe Trail in on the left (north)
You'll notice many old logging clear cuts that have been replanted.
 
KM 40.7
MILE 25.3
 On the left is Chapman Lake. It's a long narrow lake that extends north. Many of the larger lakes in our area extend northwest / southeast which is the orientation of the glaciers that carved out our lakes and valleys 12, 000 years ago at the end of the last Glacial period.
 
KM 47.5
MILE 29.5
 Turn right at the sign onto the Granisle Back Road which is narrower and rougher than the Babine Lake Road. Babine Lake Road continues on and meets Babine Lake at Smithers Landing.
 
KM 50.2
MILE 31.7
 Keep right at the "Y"
 
KM 54.7
MILE 34
 If you look back, this is the last good view of the Babine Mountain Range. From here we will see lakes and rolling hills rather than the mountains.
 
KM 71.7
MILE 44.5
 This is our first view of Babine Lake, the longest natural lake in BC at a length of 90 km and reknown for excellent fishing for Lake Trout and Rainbow Trout.
 
KM 72
MILE 44.7
 The photo shows the Granisle Back Road coming down the hill to join the road along Babine Lake Keep right to proceed to Granisle.
 
KM 77
MILE 47.9
 The pavement begins at 76.5 km and the turnoff to the Marina at Granisle is at km 77. Here is a photo of the intersection looking from the Granisle side. Turn down the hill to see the Marina and the excellent boat launch. Turn up the hill and you have arrived in Granisle.
 
KM 80
MILE 49.7
 There is a 9-hole Lion's Club Golf Course on the right that may be the most challenging course in BC. The fairway starts out wide and inviting but narrows to less than 20 feet on the upper part of the course. The fees are low but watch for the bedrock near the flag. One club rule states that "Bears on the course are allowed to play through". There is a driving range as well.
 
KM 80.8
MILE 50.2
 The Lion's Club Beach Park is on the left.
 
KM 82.7
MILE 51.35
 Be certain to stop at the Red Bluff Provincial Park. There is an excellent boat launch to Babine Lake, an excellent trail system, lots of RV camping sites and a beach for the kids. Cross the small wooden bridge near the road, circle around the beach area and you will see the trail signs All the trails circle a peninsula and join again so you needn't worry about getting lost. There are great views of Babine Lake. Watch for birds near the wetlands.
 
KM 87.2
MILE 54.1

Be sure to stop to see the Fulton River Salmon Hatchery, especially in July and August. This is one of the largest artificial spawning channels for salmon in the world. We have an article on www.hiway16.com with photos about the Hatchery.
 
KM 116
MILE 72
 The paved highway to Granisle is straight and easy to drive. In the distance you can see China Nose, a low mountain you will also be able to see from Highway 16 between Topley and Houston.
 
KM 128
MILE 79.5
 You have arrived in Topley. Turn right on Highway 16 to go west to Houston and Smithers or turn left to go to Burns Lake. It is 88 km (54.6 miles) back to the start of the Babine Lake Road and another 6.3 km to Smithers to complete the entire Granisle Loop.
 

 

 
Local BCNorth Group members who provide automotive parts and service include:
BC North Member Hoskins Ford
Smithers
Ford dealership with full repair facilities for all makes of vehicles and RV's. We have an ICBC accredited body shop with fully qualified bodymen. We carry a wide range of accessories for all makes of vehicles and RV's.
 

 
       
Visit our Community web sites for North-Central BC at www.hiway16.com
       
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