Rainbow Lake
MU 5-12, Cariboo
52.8518° N, 125.4812° W
- Surface area
- 82.4ha
- Maximum depth
- 17m
- 56 ft. Province survey, 1979
- Elevation
- 1,129m
Open Rainbow Lake in the appThe 7-day forecast, max depth and wildfire smoke check, on the lake's own coordinate.
Rainbow Lake at a glance
- Region
- Cariboo
- Management unit
- MU 5-12
- Species
- Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1994), Longnose Sucker (last recorded 1979)The newest of these fish records is from 1994.Species from the province's fish observation records.
- Lake size
- Medium Lake (50 - 500 ha)
- Coordinates
- 52.851849, -125.481166
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Fish on record at Rainbow Lake
| Species | First recorded | Last recorded | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 1979 | 1994 | 2 |
| Longnose Sucker | 1979 | 1979 | 1 |
A year is when the Province last recorded the fish here, not a statement that it is caught today.
Rainbow Lake fishing regulations
We have no lake specific regulations on file for Rainbow Lake yet.
Getting to Rainbow Lake
Coordinates: 52.851849, -125.481166
Camping and rec sites at Rainbow Lake
- Rainbow Lake
No campsite count on file (BC Recreation Sites and Trails)
Depth chart for Rainbow Lake
17 mdeepest7.3 mmean
Rainbow Lake runs to 17 m (56 ft) at its deepest, by the Province survey, 1979.
The mean of 7.3 m (24 ft) is read off the same chart, surveyed in May 1979.
The Province sounded Rainbow Lake and published the depth chart surveyed in 1979.
The ice year at Rainbow Lake, modelled
Modelled from air temperature, not an ice report. It says nothing about whether ice will hold you.
In the model Rainbow Lake froze in 65 of the 65 winters since 1960. Freeze-up falls most years between 27 October and 7 November, and ice-off between 11 May and 30 May. The median winter freezes on 2 November and opens on 23 May.
the middle half of modelled winters the median ice cover in the median winter
Winter 2024-25 in the model: frozen from 17 November 2024 to 1 May 2025, 165 days.
We have no ice fishing regulation on file for Rainbow Lake either way. Check the current BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis before you plan a trip.
Whether a lake is open to ice fishing says nothing about whether its ice will hold you. Ice conditions vary year to year and across a single lake. Check locally before going out, every time.
Rainbow Lake climate, 1960 to 2025
Averaged over a year, the air above Rainbow Lake is 1.2 C warmer than it was in the 1960s. That is 66 years of daily readings, not a forecast.
- +1.2 Csince the 1960s
- 2.8 Caverage year now
- 1.6 Caverage year then
- -11 daysbelow freezing, change
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
each yearthe trend across 1960 to 2025
This week at Rainbow Lake
The forecast on this lake's own coordinate, refreshed through the day. The app reads these seven days for fishing and scores each one.
| Day | Sky | High / low | Wind | Rain | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 Oct | Slight snow | 8° / 0° | 14 km/h, gusts 20 | dry | Steady |
| Thu 22 Oct | Slight snow showers | 4° / -3° | 12 km/h, gusts 23 | dry | Rising (+7.9 hPa) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Overcast | 5° / -4° | 9 km/h, gusts 28 | dry | Rising (+7.4 hPa) |
| Sat 24 Oct | Overcast | 4° / -3° | 21 km/h, gusts 49 | dry | Falling (-2.6 hPa) |
| Sun 25 Oct | Clear sky | 6° / -6° | 9 km/h, gusts 36 | dry | Rising (+2.8 hPa) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Partly cloudy | 6° / -3° | 6 km/h | dry | Falling (-4.9 hPa) |
| Tue 27 Oct | Partly cloudy | 6° / -3° | 3 km/h, gusts 23 | dry | Rising (+3.1 hPa) |
Rainbow Lake, in brief
What fish are in Rainbow Lake?
Rainbow Trout (last recorded 1994). Species from the province's fish observation records.
How big is Rainbow Lake?
Rainbow Lake covers about 82.4 ha, by the province's Freshwater Atlas.
Which management unit is Rainbow Lake in?
Rainbow Lake is in MU 5-12, in the Cariboo. The BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis is organised by management unit; check it before you go.
Trout lakes near Rainbow Lake
- Tilgatgo Lake 7 km away
- Eliguk Lake 11 km away
- Basalt Lake 13 km away
- Pettry Lake 16 km away
- Gatcho Lake 20 km away
All 328 lakes in the Cariboo, with today's conditions on each.