Endless daylight hours on Atlin Lake… restaurant hours, not so much

You’d best do some planning if you’re hoping to get something to eat or drink in Atlin, a charming mountain community in northern B.C.

We’ve just come off two weeks of sea kayaking on B.C.’s largest natural lake, Atlin Lake, and are stoked to get some fresh-roasted java from Atlin Mountain Coffee‘s little roadside cart in this funky little town with its own music festival. Pulling up around lunchtime, we are stunned to discover they’re only open 9 am to noon weekdays. What the …?

Okay, we find a small grocery store that sells their beans, and make a lovely pot of cowboy coffee on a picnic table overlooking the marina. Thus caffeinated, we do a fabulous, short hike up Monarch Mountain, already festooned in wildflowers, with superb views over both Atlin Lake and the town of Atlin.

Monarch Mountain hike boasts a fabulous view over Atlin Lake and the town of Atlin, B.C.

Coming down in late afternoon, we stop by the provincial liquor store to pick up some beer. Sorry, closed at 5 pm. Double WTF. Fortunately, the pub at lakeside Atlin Mountain Inn has just opened for the evening, and we savour some frosty Yukon Brewing beer on the deck. No kitchen, though, just a sleeve of Pringles chips to nosh on.

We squeeze in an evening wrap at Jenz.

We manage to sneak into Jenz Cafe just before its 7 pm closing and scarf down some tasty wraps, mine featuring bison smokies. At about 10 pm, we get back to home base in Whitehorse (Yukon Territory), still rather peckish after days of backcountry cuisine. The first two takeout pizza joints we phone are closed for the night. Well, at least Boston Pizza is sticking to southern hours, and the beer from the fridge tastes mighty fine.

Closer to Whitehorse, we do a hike the next day on the Sam McGee Trail near Carcross. It’s a tremendous, scenic route, capped by a cappo and fresh-baked goodies at Caribou Crossing Coffee, featuring Bean North beans.

Caribou Crossing Coffee is in one of several Carcross buildings with a Tagish First Nation theme

No problem figuring out the hours here. It’s open 9 am-6 pm everyday during the summer season. Hallelujah!

Heike Graf runs the first-rate Caribou Crossing Coffee