Crater Lake is an alpine lake in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. It sits in an ancient volcanic crater, and its still water and surrounding high country give it a quiet, unhurried character that suits visitors who come to be outdoors rather than to see a town or a building.
What to expect
The lake is a natural landscape, and the park is best understood as wild mountain country. Visitors here are usually drawn by the setting itself: open alpine terrain, clear water and the mountains that rise around it.
- Setting: an ancient volcanic crater within Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
- Character: a pristine alpine lake, far from roads and crowds
- Location: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Getting there
Access is the main thing to plan around. Crater Lake can only be reached by helicopter or by a multi-day hiking expedition. Neither option is a casual day trip, so the journey is part of the experience and should be arranged well ahead of time, with attention to conditions and your own fitness and experience in the mountains.
Planning your visit
Because the lake is remote, it suits travellers who are comfortable with backcountry travel and who want a trip built around wilderness rather than sightseeing stops. Those who prefer a more developed base can use the wider Canadian Rockies region as a starting point, then decide how far into the park they wish to go.