Stewart's Lodge
Stewart’s Lodge is located 250 air miles (400 km) or approximately 500 road miles (804 km) north of Vancouver, BC.
Whether you load up the family and enjoy a beautifully scenic drive out to Stewart’s Lodge or soar over in one of the flights out of the south terminal of Vancouver International Airport, you’ll be glad you came to this beautiful getaway destination.
Our
Beginning's
Bob and Ginny Stewart first came to the Chilcotin in 1950. In their explorations for a great fishing lake, they ran into the local game warden who told them that the best fishing in the country was at Nimpo Lake. So, in 1953, with tents and rowboats, they established their first camp.
With only a local Indiginous family occupying the outlet of Nimpo Lake, they had the pick of all the land surrounding the lake. They carefully chose a fabulous 40 acre piece of land with southern exposure and a view to the Coastal Mountains. Ginny recalls, “There were so many trout jumping in the lake that sometimes the splashy rises would keep us awake at night.”
Log cabins, built by local Indigenous people, soon replaced the tent camp along the lake’s shore.
One of the cabins, situated on a high knoll with a spectacular view, became the main lodge. The first customers came by car, braving the rough two day’s drive from Williams Lake. Our earliest road guest – Larry Peabody, who still returns twice yearly since 1954 – said recently… “We can make it all the way from Seattle in two days now.” Later, private planes began to stop in. Two of Stewarts’ first guests by floatplane – Bill and Priscilla Cook – still fly up in their floatplane every year. In 1958, floatplanes became an integral part of the Stewarts’ operation, allowing access to remote areas not reachable by road. To accommodate their growing business, Bob and Ginny set up tent camps on several wilderness lakes. With the first remote "outpost" cabin being built in 1960 and now there are several other outposts to stay at and explore.
Stewart's Lodge Now
Stewart’s Lodge & Camps now has 10 guest cabins on Nimpo Lake and 6 outpost camps. In 1988, Tweedsmuir Air, consisting of a fleet of three floatplanes, was established to expand service to the outposts and to show the backcountry to a growing number of ‘flightseers’ who visit from around the world. Fifty-plus years have gone by since Bob and Ginny first set up this thriving family business that continues to satisfy both new and returning clientele. We have been serving the our guests at Stewart’s Lodge since 1953 and we are thrilled to be training the third generation of Stewarts, Duncan Stewart’s 4 sons and their spouses/children: Daniel, Jesse, Jordan and Ethan.
We enjoy all things WILD by nature in the West Chilcotin and flying guests into the backcountry, that’s who we are and what we are about.
The Stewart Family still enjoy their time at Nimpo, appreciating the lifestyle and happily sharing the experience with so many guests.
“We are fortunate to have made so many friends through our business and feel blessed to live in this beautiful country.”
Stewart’s Lodge is approved accommodation by Tourism British Columbia.
Our season commences mid-May and ends September 30th.
We have fish guiding rights to 66 lakes and 8 different streams and rivers… the fishing is consistent throughout the season as we fish many lakes and streams… it’s just a question of when and where. So come on up and let us get you into some of them!