The Cariboo This is a land born of dreams of discovery, yellow dust and instant riches, with the “Cariboo Gold Rush Trail” traversing through this region. In 1862, Billy Barker struck gold on Williams Creek, which started a rush of adventurers from around the globe traversing the difficult terrain of this now famous Gold Rush Trail, from Lytton and Lillooet in the south, to its terminus in Barkerville – now a National Historic Site and home to 150 restored 1860s buildings. The rush for gold soon waned, but not the trek of discovery into the Cariboo. Visitors from around the world still follow in the footsteps of prior expeditions. Interesting roadhouses and museums still stand where stagecoaches once stopped. Highway 97, the main north/south corridor through the region, is also a key north to Alaska route. Plan your family adventure this summer by including summer festivals, water sports, mountain biking, hiking and wildlife viewing activities along the way.


The Chilcotin Accessed by road on Highway 20 (The Freedom Hwy) or by sea from Bella Coola, the Chilcotin is a land of dramatic scenery, rugged landscapes and thick forests. Here, BC’s highest mountain, 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, river crossings and past lakes through mountains and old growth forests, to the ocean inlets and fjords of BC’s central coast.


The Coast Once you reach the central coast you are met with 15,000 kilometers of awe- inspiring coastline scattered with fjords 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 dolphins, grizzly bears and the sacred white Kermode, also known as the ‘Spirit Bear’. Getting there is an exciting adventure; with access by road along the Freedom Highway (Highway 20) from Williams Lake to Bella Coola, or by sea on the “Discovery Coast” and “Inside Passage” routes. (see www.bcferries.com and www.HelloBC.com for Circle Route info).


North/South Highway Corridor (Hwy 97) This main north/south corridor, travels through the Cariboo, much of it along the same route as the Cariboo Wagon Road and Gold Rush Trail of days gone by. At Cache Creek, the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy 1) veers east toward Kamloops, while a continued northward journey turns into Highway 97. Just a few kilometres north of Cache Creek, stop at Hat Creek Ranch Historic Site to learn some Gold Rush History. Continue north to the many lakes and rivers of the Cariboo. Visit Clinton, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel, and plan to veer east and west from these communities to discover lakes, rivers and hiking and biking adventures. This is also the route that takes you north to Alaska. There are many RV and camping options available along this route.


The Fishing Highway (Hwy 24) This route starting from Little Fort at the junction of Highways 5 and 24, branches and exits two ways onto Highway 97; via the 70 Mile House junction, or via 93 Mile House. Highway 24, known as “The Fishing Highway”, travels the Cariboo’s Interlakes region and accesses a tranquil and beautiful area of guest ranches, rolling hills and pine forests and boasts over 100 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, biking, hiking, wildlife viewing and snowmobiling in winter


The Freedom Highway (Hwy 20) The Chilcotin backbone is Highway 20, also known as the “The Freedom Highway” and is a key portion of the “Coast Cariboo” circle tour route. (See Circle Driving Routes on www.HelloBC. com). It traverses 456 km (274 mi) from Williams Lake to Bella Coola, and is the only link from the Central Interior to the Central Coast, passing Farwell Canyon on the Chilcotin Plateau toward the Coast Mountains, Tweedsmuir Provincial Park and the Bella Coola Valley. Highway 20 is well worth taking a few days to drive with several stops of interest including Nimpo Lake. The only unpaved section of the highway (57 km / 36 mi) consists of well-maintained gravel from the top to the bottom of “The Hill” (up to 18% grade) near Anahim Lake. It is recommended that you use a detailed backcountry map for off Highway 20 travel into the pristine wilderness of areas such as the Nemiah Valley.


More Information: www.travel-british-columbia.com www. landwithoutlimits.com www.HelloBC.com


See page 3 for Lodging Symbols Canim Lake


Kayanara Guest Ranch & Resort Tel: (250) 397-0221 Web: www.kayanara.com


3446 Hendrix Rd., Eagle Creek BC V0K 1L0 One of the nicest Guest Ranches in BC. Horse-


back riding, boat rental, (lots of lakes around), wildlife viewing, biking. 35 mins. from 100 Mile House at Canim Lake. Camp sites, B&B, cabins fully-equipped, breakfast buffet. Open All Year. ** Rates: Low Season $70-$160 High Season $90-$180 Add’l Adult $50 Child 14 years $30. Pet Rates $5, on leash. ** See camping listing page 38.


L 3 Cabins L L 2 Suites a uV f Z


facebook.com/ TravellinginBritishColumbia


THEN


The largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco.


NOW


The largest historic site in western North America.


BARKERVILLE G LD AND NEW SINCE 1862


For info about beautiful Lowhee, Forest Rose & Government Hill campgrounds, please call


1-866-994-3297. Open mid May to late September.


1-888-994-3332 •www.barkerville.ca A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA


37


Select Lodging - Cariboo Chilcotin Coast


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52