Atlin, the little Switzerland of the North!
Tucked into the northwestern corner of British Columbia, it graces the
eastern shore of mighty Atlin Lake, headwater of the Yukon River, and named
after the Tlingit words "A Tlen" meaning "Big Water". Indeed, it is the
largest natural lake in the province.
This once bustling centre was born
during the great Rush of 1898, when gold was discovered in nearby Pine Creek,
and is now home of approximately 400 year-round residents, most of whom have
stayed for one main reason: quite simply, to live in one of the quaintest and
most colourful little town, nestled in the heart of a valley that is simply
stunning in its beauty and its grandeur.
And we're eager to share it with
you because, well, there's more than enough to go around.
Along the lake's
western edge, the majestic Coast Range stretches to the north and the south,
as fas as the eye can see. There, snow-laden peaks keep silent watch over the
entrance to Torres Channel, gateway to the incredible wilderness area, which
lies beyond.
To the south, where rock combines with ice and water to form
some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere, lies Atlin Wilderness
Park, fully one-third of which is occupied by glaciers. One of the most
prominent of these is Llewellyn, whose great tongues of ice melt into Atlin
Lake, releasing the sediments that giv
e it its incredible aquamarine
hue.
Besides incredible beauty and colourful, friendly folk, Atlin
offers visitors a wealth of recreational opportunities. Here you can re-live
the Gold Rush by visiting the Atlin Museum, housed in the 1902 schoolhouse;
pan for gold on Spruce Creek; stroll through the Pioneer Cemetery where,
nestled under dark spruce, weathered markers provide glimpses into Atlin's
pioneer past; wander through the forlorn remnants of nearby Discovery, once a
busy gold-mining town; or walk our streets. And don't miss the graceful MV
Tarahne which, in her glory days, carried passengers and freight the length
and breadth of the lake; now she rests on the waterfront.
Anglers, you can
cast your lines in our local lakes and streams, where rainbow trout, arctic
grayling, and northern pike abound: toll Atlin Lake, where large lake trout
are plentiful; of 'fly-in' to the Taku watershed for world-class salmon and
steelhead fishing. Or, catch fish right off the town dock, if you wish.
Perhaps you'd prefer to picnic beside Pine
Creek Falls, splash around with the kids in our natural warm springs, hike a
mountain trail, or canoe an isolated lake and camp on the water's
edge.
Artists from all over attended our summer school for the arts, and
collectors choose from amongst the many pieces offered for sale by local
artists.
Winter enthusiasts love Atlin for the cross-country skiing,
snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing and curling experiences it offers, and
because of its warm hospitality and cozy lodgings.
Whether it's fishing or
photography, painting or rock hounding, canoeing or house-boating, hiking,
panning for gold, beachcombing, or 'just plain relaxing', Atlin has it
all.
Atlin! Beyond comparison. Beyond belief. But not beyond your
reach.