Crater Lake

Crater Lake is a striking alpine tarn nestled in a glacial-carved cirque on the slopes of Hudson Bay Mountain. The lake sits beneath steep rock walls and often still holds patches of snow late into summer. The water reflects the surrounding cliffs and alpine terrain, creating a dramatic scene. The lake is a popular destination for hikers and offers a tranquil, high-alpine setting with minimal human infrastructure, a true mountain gem near Smithers. The surrounding terrain mixes rock, scree slopes, and open alpine, which gives Crater Lake its special remote feel.

The prairie above Crater Lake on Hudson Bay Mountain is one of the most beautiful alpine meadows in the Smithers area. It spreads out just before you reach the final climb to the lake a wide, gently sloping subalpine plateau filled with grasses, dwarf willow, and colourful wildflowers in mid-summer. Small creeks wind through patches of heather and moss, and the open terrain provides sweeping views of the Bulkley Valley, Hudson Bay Mountain’s ridges, and the Babine Range in the distance. Early in the season, snowmelt creates shimmering pools and soft ground; by August, the meadow is alive with lupine, paintbrush, and arnica. In autumn, the whole prairie turns gold and orange as the alpine plants shift into their fall colours. It’s a peaceful, wind-swept landscape where you can often see marmots basking on rocks and hear nothing but the mountain breeze. The prairie marks the transition from forest to alpine the last gentle stretch before the rugged climb to Crater Lake itself.

High above Smithers, BC the sun sets over the alpine prairie of Hudson Bay Mountain, where colours melt from gold to deep orange and the shadows stretch across the meadows. My FPV drone glides through the still air, tracing the last light as it brushes the ridges, the wildflowers, and the distant Bulkley Valley. Filmed on the Crater Lake Trail, this spot, known locally as “the prairie” captures the quiet magic that happens when the mountain exhales at the end of the day. No music, no rush, just the wind, the light, and the feeling of standing where earth meets sky. #SmithersBC #FPV #HudsonBayMountain #CraterLakeTrail #SunsetFlight #ExploreBC #DroneCinematography #XploreSmithers