"The Coast Mountains… are the last in a series of mountain ranges between the Rockies and Pacific Ocean and form the first major barrier to winter storms sweeping off the Pacific... Their toes sit right in the ocean, and like the barnacles in the surf below they are constantly lashed with moisture from the sea. This moisture gives the Coast Mountains an incredible richness, sustaining large icefields in close proximity to lush rainforests. For many people the Coast Mountains are a symbol of the great wilds of BC and a scenic splendor to be admired from a distance." (excerpt from "Mountains of the Coast" by John Baldwin)

The rugged nature of the Coast Mountains makes them inaccessible to most visitors except by plane. Although seeing the Coast Mountains from the air is an impressive sight, it fails to compare with actually standing at the base of a 150ft+ Douglas fir, looking out over a crystal clear lake surrounded by tree covered mountains or listening to the surge of water down a boulder strewn creek. Utilizing a series of logging roads it is possible to canoe on a number of lakes.   Several of the lakes are part of the 57km long Powell Forest Canoe Route but can be accessed for day trips.  Some lakes, such as Horseshoe, Nanton, Dodd and Khartoum, are only accessible on the weekends due to logging truck activity during the week.  Others such as Lois, Haslam, Inland, Sliammon and Powell lakes are accessible at any time.  Most of the lakes in our area are accessible only by canoes/kayaks and have pristine shorelines with no commercial or residential intrusions.   It is easy to spend the whole day never seeing another person on the water.