HISTORY

Bowron Lake Park 1961 - 2011

Bowron Lake, named after Barkerville's Gold Commissioner John Bowron, was originally known as Bear Lake. A rough dirt road was the only route from Barkerville. The Bowron Lake area was used by trappers in the early part of the 20th century, names like George Isaac, Kenneth McLeod, Ole Nelson, the Thompson brothers, and "Swamp Angel" may sound familiar, as well as Frank Kibbee, the legend who started out as a trapper, big-game guide and outfitter and later became the first Game Warden at Bowron Lake. Jim Kew, a friend of Kibbee, was the Fisheries Inspector 1934 to 1964.

Many trappers built primitive log cabins along the shores of several of the lakes. These cabins were essential shelters during this time, and many of them are still there for today's paddlers to use, mainly for emergencies. Other trapper cabins were deemed unsafe or "spoiled the view" and were therefore destroyed.

Joe and Betty Wendle, initially residents of Barkerville, were directly responsible for having the Bowron Lake Chain declared as a game reserve in 1925 and together with the McCabes, they became instrumental in laying the base for the creation of the Bowron Lake Park. Bowron Lake became the Wendle’s whole life, building a home there in 1915, and in 1926 erecting a guest lodge on its shores.

Over the last 50 years many improvements have been made to the Bowron Lake Park. Early paddlers still recall coming here in the 1960s and 70s when the portage trails were rough or non-existent, no toilet facilities, primitive campgrounds and no cooking shelters.

Today portage trails have been vastly improved, there is proper signage, camp grounds blend in with natural attributes for minimal environmental impact, safety precautions are in place such as campfire rings and food caches, outhouses are available at each campsite or rest stop. The Bowron Lake Park has come a long way in 50 years, thanks to pioneers of the early days.

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