Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Be a part of the Gold Rush Days and explore a land without limits. With more than 100,000 square kilometers of land stretching from the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, this is a land of lakes, rivers and forests.
Central Coast Once you reach the central coast you are met with 15,000 kilometers of awe-inspiring coastline scattered with coves and inlets, pristine beaches and rocky shores. Here is some of the world‟s best saltwater fishing and wildlife viewing of sea birds, whales and porpoises, grizzly bears and the sacred white Kermode, also known as the „Spirit Bear‟. Getting there is an adventure, access is by road on the Freedom Highway (Highway 20) or by sea on the “Discovery Coast” route (BC Ferries and Tourism BC Circle Driving Tours) to Bella Coola. By road your travels take you through the Cariboo and Chilcotin areas to the central coast.
Cariboo The Cariboo was a land born of dreams… dreams of discovery, yellow dust and instant riches. In 1862, Billy Barker found gold on Williams Creek, a discovery that started a rush of adventurers from around the world traversing the incredibly difficult terrain of the famous “Cariboo Gold Rush Trail: from either Lytton, or Lillooet in the south, to its terminus in Barkerville in the north, now home to 150 restored 1870s buildings. The rush for gold soon waned, but not the trek of discovery into the Cariboo. People from all over the world still follow the footsteps of the expeditions that went before. Interesting museums and roadhouses still stand where stagecoaches once came to rest. “The Cariboo‟s land of rolling hills and hundreds of lakes invite you to experience family gatherings, watersports and adventurous summer fun”.
Chilcotin Accessed by road on the Freedom Highway (Highway 20) or by sea from Bella Coola, the Chilcotin is a land of dramatic scenery, rugged landscapes and thick forests. Here Mount Waddington rises 4,016 meters. The jagged mountain peaks of the Chilcotin are covered in vast ice fields and wide alpine meadows, gradually softening into large valleys, rolling foothills, pine covered forests, lakes and rivers and the grasslands of the Chilcotin Plateau. Along the way discover some of the best fishing lakes and rivers to be found in North America. Nimpo Lake offers fabulous aerial sightseeing and fly-in fishing trips. The traveller will experience rolling semi-desert terrain, exquisite canyons, to flat grasslands, cross over rivers and past lakes through rocky mountains and old growth forest to the ocean inlets of the central coast.
The Fishing Highway Route The route starting from Little Fort junction Highway 5 branches and exits two ways onto Highway 97 via the 70 Mile House junction or via the 93 Mile House. Known as The Fishing Highway, the Interlakes Highway 24 in the Cariboo region of British Columbia accesses a tranquil and beautiful area of rolling hills and pine forests boasting approximately 125 lakes teeming with rainbow trout, lake trout and kokanee. Even if fishing is not your sport, the drive itself is well worth taking for the scenery alone. In addition to fishing, other activities in the area include horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, and in winter, snowmobiling.
Chilcotin Freedom Highway Route The backbone of the Chilcotin region is Highway 20 also known as the “Coast Cariboo” route (see Circle Driving Routes, on Tourism BC‟s
Hellobc.com) on the ground follow the signs. The Highway traverses 456 km (274 mi) from Williams Lake to Bella Coola, linking the Central Coast with the Central Interior as it crosses the Coast Mountains and the Chilcotin Plateau including Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and Farwell Canyon. Highway 20 is well worth taking two or three days to drive and stops of interest include Anahim Lake and Nimpo Lake. Approximately 400 km (240 mi) are paved and the remaining 57 km (34.2 mi) consist of well-maintained gravel. It is recommended that travellers use a detailed backcountry map for off Highway 20 travel.
Fishing on the Atnarko River, Central Coast Region—Michael Wigle/Picture BC More Information:
www.travel-british-columbia.com www.landwithoutlimits.com www.lodging.bc.ca
www.SelectLodging.com 34 British Columbia Travel Companion | Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
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