Boulder Creek Dam at Atlin

The Boulder Creek Dam is located approximately 21.5 kms east of Atlin along the Surprise Lake Road. Turn left just before Boulder Creek and head up the road for another 4 kms. The road is an excellent route for walking or biking - it can be driven, but a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

The weather in these mountains can change rapidly and dramatically, so be prepared for anything from hot sun to very cold rain.

As you climb the moderately steep mining road, you are soon overlooking extensive placer gold workings. Placer mining involves separating free gold (dust, flakes, and nuggets) from the surrounding gravel, using water to do the separation - unlike hardrock mining, no chemicals are needed.

Approximately 4 kilometers up the road, you will reach the Boulder Dam Recreation Site. It starts at the road, with a sign marking the site and an interpretive sign explaining the history of mining on the creek. From there a trail that gets very muddy when wet leads to the dam itself. Boulder Creek was the third richest placer gold creek in the Atlin area, and is still being worked on a very small scale.

Although mining began on Boulder Creek in 1898, the wooden dam wasn't built until 1921, when a shortage of water for mining became problematic. Located at an elevation of 4100 feet above sea level, the dam is 150 feet long and about 35 feet high. It is no longer stable enough to walk or climb on.

The main road continues for many miles past the dam, and becomes an extensive network of roads that lead high into mountains. The road(s) past the dam are not suitable for vehicles other than ATVs, but offer suoerb hiking.