30 miles north of Yellowhead Highway 16 West on Babine Lake via Hwy 118 (Babine Road). Population: 500. Visitor Information Centre and Museum Complex, Village of Granisle, PO Box 128, Granisle, B.C. V0J 1W0. Phone: (250) 697-2248; Email: general@villageofgranisle.ca
The Village of Granisle overlooks beautiful Babine Lake, British Columbia’s longest body of fresh water. The 110 mile-long lake provides a vacation paradise second to none, with fabulous fishing, wilderness and wildlife. The community originated in 1965 as the townsite for employees of the Granisle Mine, an open pit copper mine, and was incorporated as a village after a second copper mine was pressed into operation in 1971 by Noranda Mines. Both mines are now closed and the community is a popular retirement and outdoor recreation destination.
During the 1971 stripping operations at the Bell Mine site, bones and tusks from a 34,000 year old mammoth were uncovered. Replicas are available for viewing at the Granisle Visitor Information Centre and Museum.
Red Bluff Provincial Park, the main park and campground of the area, should not be missed (4 km south of Granisle). The park is well kept and offers 34 campsites, picnic area, public boat launch, change rooms and an excellent sandy beach. Lions Beach Park (1 km south of Granisle) offers 16 sites, a day use picnic area complete with washrooms, beach, boat launch, dock and playground. New Beach Park (within the Village of Granisle) offers 6 lakeside campsites, picnic tables, fire pits, washrooms, covered gazebo, change room, showers and laundry.
Granisle has a convenience store with gas station, two restaurants, lodges, a condominium resort (offers overnight accommodation), boat rentals, tackle shop, a Visitor Information and Museum Complex offering internet, showers, laundry, sani-dump and fresh water, a Crafter’s Hut, post office, RCMP detachment and a medical clinic. There are numerous recreational facilities, including hiking trails, new Granisle Memorial Park with accessible walking trails and beautiful viewscapes, marina, curling rink, tennis courts and ball diamond.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Father’s Day Fishing Derby (June)
Granisle Days (July)
Canada Day Celebration (July)
Lion’s Club Memorial Park Light Up (Dec)