We camped at the Seton Dam Campground and hiked into the Cayoosh Range, but we also explored the trails in the Seton Dam area.   From the campground we hiked up to the upper bench, crossed the highway and found a trail down to the beach on Seton Lake, then followed the river down to the dam and beyond to the Seton Canal.   On the way back we hiked along Cayoosh Creek back to the campground.   There were also a number of side trails to explore, so we were able to link several trails for a longer hike.

From the campground the trail to the Upper Bench starts at the west end of the campground.

The trail winds through dry forest to a viewpoint overlooking Walden North Dam on Cayoosh Creek.   We veered off the loop trail to go west, down to Seton Lake (much the same route as the underground diversion tunnel from the Cayoosh Creek Walden North Dam to the lake).

There is a fine recreation area on Seton Lake with a beach, day-use area, and boat launch.   Seton Lake is 22 km long.    The western end is at Seton Portage.   West of that is Anderson Lake which is 20 km long.   Seton Lake is a freshwater fjord fed by Seton Portage Creek and creeks from the Cayoosh Range and from the Bridge River diversion.   A train shuttle runs between Seton Portage and Lillooet daily, a 2 hour ride ($10 only – link).

We hiked a ways down the Seton Canal Trail which runs for 3 km down toward Lillooet.   The canal runs parallel to the Seton River, carrying the volume of water diverted from the Bridge River system which is then dropped down through tunnels to the Seton Powerhouse, a generating station on the shores of the Fraser River, all part of the Bridge River Power Project.

Our hike took us up by the clear water of Cayoosh Creek, then we looped back to the campground.

The whole Bridge River system is a bit mind-boggling.   Meltwaters from the Bridge Glacier and Coast Range peaks flow east into Bridge River which flows into 28 km long Downton Lake, dammed near the town of Bridge Lake.   The river then flows east into Carpenter Lake which is dammed at the eastern end.   Water is diverted (5 km) through tunnels under the mountains to Seton Lake,  then diverted again at the Seton Dam into the Seton Canal, and eventually into the Fraser River,  generating power along the way, using 3 dams, 4 powerhouses, and a canal.   People who hikes these trails may not understand the massive engineering project involved as they hike along the lakes, rivers, and canals.

I will be returning back to the area to paddle Seton Lake.