ABOUT GRANISLE

The small town of Granisle, population approximately including Granisle and area 400-450, is located on the shores of 180 km (110 miles) long Babine Lake, 49 km (30 miles) north of Highway #16 from Topley and within an hour and a half of a major airport and connection to Vancouver. This is where the real attractions of the countryside west of Prince George can be seen. Granisle is a retirement and recreational community offering many services and clubs including a library, post office, medical centre, elementary and secondary school, and RCMP Station. Clubs include Lions Club, Dart Club, Rod & Gun Club, Curling Club and Cross Country Ski Club.

Babine Lake offers prime fishing and boating plus providing a perfect setting for all manner of water sports. The surrounding forested area provides plenty of opportunity for hiking, hunting, camping and any number of outdoor adventures. The advent of winter does not bring the community to a standstill; a variety of winter activities from cross country skiing to ice fishing and snowmobiling keep residents and visitors busy.

One of the most spectacular natural wonders close to the village is the sockeye salmon returning to spawn in the nearby Fulton River Spawning Channels. Along with the salmon you may be fortunate enough to get a glimpse of a bald eagle or grizzly bear feeding at the river.

Whatever the season, the beauty and recreational opportunities of Granisle and the surrounding countryside keep visitors returning year after year.

History of Granisle

The early inhabitants of the area were Carrier Indians, called "Babine" by the early explorers, referring to the distended ornamented lower lips of the native women. Copper and silver drew prospectors into the area, but nothing substantial was ever produced until the excavation of the Noranda Bell Copper Mine. During the excavation in 1971 the bones of a fifteen to thirty thousand year old Columbian Mammoth were uncovered. The Granisle Copper Mine was staked on an island in Babine Lake called Copper Island 3 locations were destined to become operating mines and started production in 1966 and by 1969 it was producing twenty-four million pounds of copper, one hundred thirty-six thousands ounces of silver and fifteen thousand ounces of gold annually. The community of Granisle was built on the shores of Babine Lake for the employees of the mines.

Once the last mine closed in 1992, Granisle became a popular retirement and outdoor recreation destination, with moorage slips and picnic areas.