Bowron Lakes is an protected wilderness park with a collection of 10 connected lakes surrounded by natural beauty consisting of rugged forests, wetland marshes, grassland bogs, wildlife and snow capped mountain peaks. First established in 1925 as a Game Reserve. It was in 1961 when the park officially became a provincial park.

The Bowron Lakes Park encompasses over 149,207 hectares and is best viewed from one of BC's best known canoe and kayak paddle routes. The 116.4 kilometre paddle route is connected by 10 lakes, a few rivers and 6-7 portage routes creating a scenic circle route known as the Bowron Lakes Paddle Route. In the middle of the circle route is McCabe Ridge, McLeod & Tediko Peaks, Mowdish Range and Needle Point Ridge dominating the skyline.

The canoe route begins at the Registration Office on Bowron Lake. From Bowron Lake adventurers paddle and portage to Kibbee, Indianpoint, Isaac, McLeary, Lanezi, Sandy, Unna, Babcock, Skoi, Spectacle and Swan Lakes, thus completing the loop route. A shorter paddle route is available from Bowron Lake to Unna Lake. It is a 3-4 day return trip.

Along the Bowron Lakes Paddle Route is a series of wilderness tenting sites, shelters, Ranger Cabins, cooking shelters and emergency phone booths. The shelters are not for camping but for cooking and drying equipment. Camping is restricted to the cleared tenting sites on the route. The cabins are used just for emergency use.

The entire canoe route takes, anywhere, from 7 to 10 days to complete. This depends heavily on the weather, the size and fitness level of the group. Many individuals arrive in the park ready to paddle the route as part of a guided tour. Each tour includes lessons, equipment and an interpretive guide.

More experienced canoeists and kayakers, simply, pre register at the park office before launching from Bowron Lake. An experienced paddler is in good shape and familiar with the "J" stroke, open water rescue and wilderness survival camping techniques. Self guided canoeists and kayakers should always paddle in groups.

The Bowron Lake Canoe Route is also a great adventure for wildlife sightseeing opportunities. The park is home to such wildlife as caribou herds, mountain goats, black bears, grizzlies, beavers, moose, salmon and a wide selection of birds. No trip is complete without a camera and binoculars.

A little further along the Heritage Highway (Highway 26), before the turn off to Bowron Lakes, is a historic heritage village known as Barkerville. A few kilometres before the heritage site is the small village of Wells.

How to Get to Bowron Lake: From the community of Quesnel travel north (or travel south from the community of Prince George) on Highway 97. Located just outside of Quesnel is Highway 26 (The Heritage Highway) leading east to Wells, Bowron Lakes and Barkerville. Continue down Highway 26 to the Bowron Lake Road turn off. Take the turn and continue to the lake.