In 1846, Alexander Caulfield Anderson ventured along the lakes when seeking a new HBC fur brigade route from Fort Alexandria.

In 1858, Governor James Douglas commissioned Anderson to establish a route to the goldfields during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush.

[6] At the end of the Last Glacial Period (LGP), Seton and Anderson were a single continuous lake, with a level about 100 metres (330 ft) higher than present.

At the Seton Portage area, erosion and landslides of weak rocks susceptible to rapid weathering tumbled into the lake, and tributaries deposited sediment.

The area falls within the rain-shadow of the Coast Mountains, experiencing a semi-arid low mean annual precipitation of 300 to 400 millimetres (12 to 16 in) and forest primarily of Ponderosa Pine.

[7] Although a trail existed along the north shore, this section of the Douglas Road was mostly travelled via the lake, initially by canoe.

[15] However, competition for freight and passengers from small sail boats allegedly made the steamer operation unprofitable.

[23] Refloated after sinking in October 1915, the 50-passenger motorboat was moved to Seton Lake in summer 1916 to operate as a pleasure craft.

[25] The northward advance of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) rail head reached this point in early December 1914, and a mixed train service began mid-month.

[44] Although riding the Kaoham Shuttle beyond the regular Seton Lake route to include the Anderson west shore has been advertised as available by advance appointment in the past,[45] whether the arrangement of such an excursion is still possible is unclear.

Boating, fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, canoeing, mountain biking, off roading, and snowmobiling are popular.