Buntzen Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buntzen Lake |
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Buntzen Lake looking north from public beach at south end
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 Buntzen Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Just north of Anmore |
| Coordinates | 49°20′56″N 122°51′36″W / 49.349°N 122.860°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | tunnel from Coquitlam Lake |
| Primary outflows | penstocks to Indian Arm power stations |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 1.82 km² (0.7 mi²) |
| Average depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Max. depth | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 123 m (404 ft) |
| References | BC Hydro |
Buntzen Lake is a beautiful lake in Anmore, British Columbia, Canada. It's about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) long and is part of the Greater Vancouver area. The lake is named after Johannes Buntzen, who was the first general manager of the B.C. Electric Company. Just north of Buntzen Lake, you'll find a smaller lake called McCombe Lake.
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History of Buntzen Lake
Long ago, Buntzen Lake had other names like Trout Lake and Lake Beautiful. It was renamed Buntzen Lake in 1905. This happened when a special tunnel connecting it to Coquitlam Lake was opened.
In 1903, Buntzen Lake became super important! It helped power Vancouver's very first hydroelectric plant. This plant, called the Buntzen Powerhouse, used water to make electricity. Workers dug a tunnel through Eagle Mountain to connect Coquitlam Lake to Buntzen Lake.
Water from Coquitlam Lake flowed through this 3.6-kilometer (2.2-mile) tunnel. From Buntzen Lake, it then went to two power stations on Indian Arm. The first one was built in 1903, and the second one in 1914. Buntzen Lake was also used for another power plant, the Burrard Generating Station. This plant used the lake's water to create steam for its generators. It closed down in 2016.
Today, BC Hydro manages the area around Buntzen Lake. It's a popular spot for fun outdoor activities.
Fun at Buntzen Lake
Buntzen Lake is a fantastic place for outdoor adventures! You can swim, fish, hike, and even go boating on the lake. The area is managed by BC Hydro and is known for being a great place for many different activities at once. Hikers, mountain bikers, and even people riding horses can all use the trails together. Many trails here also connect to Indian Arm Provincial Park.
If you have a dog, they are welcome on all trails! Just make sure they are on a leash. There are also two special areas where dogs can be off-leash. One of these even has an off-leash beach for your furry friends.
Here are some of the popular trails you can explore:
The Halvor Lunden Trail
This long trail is named after Halvor Lunden. He was a local hero who built and took care of many trails around Buntzen Lake. This trail actually includes three smaller loops: the Lindsay Lake Loop, Swan Falls Loop, and Dilly Dally Loop.
Lindsay Lake Loop
This trail takes about 6 to 8 hours to hike. It's 15 kilometers (9 miles) long and climbs 1,020 meters (3,350 feet) up. It's the most popular of the Halvor Lunden trails. You'll walk through old mountain forests and see amazing views of Vancouver. The trail starts near the South Beach parking area. It has a steep climb and passes by the Polytrichum Lookout. You'll also reach the "Lake district" with several small lakes, including Lindsay Lake.
Swan Falls Loop
This trail is longer, taking 8 to 10 hours to hike. It's 20 kilometers (12 miles) long and climbs 1,150 meters (3,770 feet). The Swan Falls trail starts at the north end of Buntzen Lake. It's very steep in some parts, so it's best for experienced hikers. Along the way, you can see old growth trees or pass by small mountain lakes called tarns. From Eagle Peak, you can see Mount Baker, Vancouver Island, and Indian Arm.
Dilly Dally Loop
This is the longest and toughest trail, taking 10 to 12 hours to hike. It's 25 kilometers (16 miles) long and climbs 1,150 meters (3,770 feet). This trail goes through high mountain forests and is only for experienced hikers. It leads to the Croker Lookout, where you can see great views of the north end of Indian Arm. The trail then climbs steeply to the top of Eagle Ridge.
Buntzen Lake Trail
This loop trail goes all the way around Buntzen Lake. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to hike and is 8 kilometers (5 miles) long. It's a fairly easy trail with only a 100-meter (330-foot) climb. It starts at the Buntzen Creek Bridge on the east side of South Beach.
Energy Trail
This short loop trail goes around a wooded hill near the South Beach boat launch. You'll get nice views of Buntzen Lake. There are also signs along the trail that teach you about the area.
Diez Vistas Trail
The name of this trail means "ten views" in Spanish. It's a one-way trail that takes 6 to 8 hours to hike and is 7 kilometers (4 miles) long. It climbs 460 meters (1,510 feet). From this trail, you can see many amazing views of Vancouver's waterways and mountains.
Other Trails
- Bear Claw, Saddle Ridge, Horseshoe Trails: These trails form loops through the cedar and hemlock forests. They are on the steep slopes southwest of Buntzen Lake. They also connect to the Diez Vistas Trail and the trail to Sasamat Lake.
- Lakeview Trail: This trail is 6 kilometers (4 miles) long and takes 5 to 6 hours one way. It climbs 150 meters (490 feet). Some parts are very steep. It's a good alternative route along Buntzen Lake's western shore. This trail is open to people riding horses and mountain bikes.
- Academy Trail: This trail is 4 kilometers (2 miles) long and takes 2 to 2.5 hours one way. It climbs 100 meters (330 feet). It goes through forests filled with ferns. This trail is also open to people riding horses and mountain bikes.
- Old Buntzen Lake Trail: This trail is 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and takes about 45 minutes one way. It was used to go around Buntzen Lake before the new suspension bridge was built.
- Eagle Bluff Trail: This trail leads from the Academy Trail up to Vista Point. Vista Point is a great spot to see views overlooking the lake.
- White Rock Trail: This trail starts at El Paso Junction on the Halvor Lunden Trail. It leads to old logging roads on Eagle Ridge. There's a viewpoint along the trail that looks over Coquitlam.
Buntzen Lake in Movies
Buntzen Lake has been used in many movies and TV shows! You might have seen it in:
- Lake Placid (1999)
- The X-Files (episodes "Conduit" and "Quagmire")
- Highlander
- Hot Rod
- Freddy vs. Jason
- Devour
- The Blair Witch Project
Some movies have also used houses in the local community:
- Roxanne (1987)
- The People Across the Lake (1988)
- Pathfinder
- Smallville (episode "Aqua")
- Supernatural (episode "Dead in the Water")
- Dark Angel
- Three O'Clock (2005)
- It (1990) by Stephen King
- The 4400
- Eureka
Wildlife at Buntzen Lake
You might spot some amazing animals around Buntzen Lake, such as:
Plants at Buntzen Lake
The area around Buntzen Lake is home to many different plants, including:
