The true Cariboo runs South to North
and is best explored via Highway 97  known as the Gold Rush Trail
with side trips along the way that includes Highway 24, “The
Fishing Highway”, Highway 20, “Chilcotin Freedom Highway” and
Highway 26 to Wells/Barkerville.
 Highway 97 follows the gold-rush trail through the towns
of 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, 108 Mile House, and 150
Mile House. The
towns were named after the mile-marking roadhouses patronized
by prospectors and settlers headed north to the goldfields.
The Cariboo truly begins in the south with the town of Clinton,
which was originally Mile 47, and the junction of the Cariboo
Waggon Road and the original Gold Rush Trail. Clinton is
a delightful blend
of history and horses. Ranches are dotted around the area
including Jesmond, Big Bar and Hat Creek Ranch. The Hat
Creek Ranch was
a roadhouse and stopping place for the BX Stage and is now
a BC Heritage Site dating
back to 1861. The Ranch is at the junction of Highway 97
and 99.
Heading North along Highway 97 from Clinton 70 Mile House
is the next community of note. Construction of the Cariboo
Waggon Road in the 1860s resulted in a number of new towns
springing up
throughout
the southern Cariboo. One of many towns established along
this historic route, and one of the first stopping places
along
the Cariboo
Wagon
Road, the town of 70 Mile House began as a mere roadhouse.
Eventually, some of the travelers passing through this
junction decided to stay
and put down roots. 70 Mile House marks the turnoff to
Green Lake Provincial Park , once a by-way for the fur
trade.
 Before reaching 100 Mile House the traveler can detour
East along Highway 24 “The Fishing Highway”. The
actual turning is at 93 Mile House and the 97 km connector
route to Highway 5 is a very
scenic drive. Highway 24 follows the historic bridge
trail, originally used by the Shuswap people as a trade route
and was later developed
by the Hudson's Bay Company in the early 1800s' to bring
furs from northern BC out to Fort Kamloops and the Columbia
River.
 The
area locally known as the Interlakes community has well
over 100 fishing lakes before you reach Little Fort
and the
junction of
Highway 5. Whether you fly fish or troll, the fishing
for rainbow, brook, lake trout, burbot and kokanee is
excellent. Some lakes
of note are Fawn Lake, providing trout up to 12 lbs;
Sheridan
Lake known for
its trophy fishing, produces many rainbows 3 – 5lbs;
Bridge Lake produces lake trout up to 20lbs and kokanee
to 4lbs.
Highway 24 also provides access to many good secondary
roads, which extend north to Mahood Lake and Wells Gray Park
and
south to the Green-Bonaparte Lakes area.
100 Mile House was a stopping place 100 miles from Lillooet
on the Cariboo Waggon Road. In the 100 Mile area in the
winter, you'll enjoy snow shoeing, dog sledding, downhill skiing,
and some
of the
most outstanding cross country ski trails in the world.
Winter events to plan for are the Cariboo Classic/Jack Hawthorn
Memorial
Dog Sled
race, held the third weekend in January, and the Cariboo
Marathon, a cross-country skiing event held the first weekend
in
February.
 If you enjoy canoeing or kayaking try a 12-lake, two-day
circuit in the Moose Valley Provincial Park, just west
of 100 Mile House. This rustic, wilderness park is a wonderful
place
to bird
watch. You can
find owls, hawks, grouse, woodpeckers, loons, grebes, sandhill
cranes, and a wide variety of songbirds, among others.
As this park conserves
wildlife habitat, you'll enjoy nature at its best.
The small, friendly community of Lac la Hache 15 miles North of
100 Mile House describes itself as the Longest Town in the Cariboo.
Highway 97 skirts the entire 19-kilometre shoreline of this beautiful
lake in its rolling Fraser Plateau setting, which has many fishing
lodges, guest ranches and vacation homes sprinkled along its perimeter.
The town is said to be named after a luckless French Canadian fur
trader who lost his axe here while ice fishing. One of the prettiest
lakes in the Cariboo, Lac La Hache Lake is especially famous for
its kokanee and trophy sized lake trout fishing. Ice fishing is popular
in winter.
50 miles north of 100 Mile House is 150 Mile House and the
turnoff east for communities of Likely and Horsefly. In 1859,
local Indians showed gold seekers the location of gold
deposits in now
historic Horsefly, sparking the great Cariboo Gold Rush.
Located 60 kilometres east of 150 Mile House, on the south
branch of the
Old Gold Rush Trail, Horsefly today is a forestry centre
and the gateway to fabulous camping, hiking and fishing
in the surrounding
area. Horsefly Lake is 50 kilometres long and 650 feet deep,
with crystal-clear, clean water. You can fish for the large
rainbow or
lake trout that Horsefly Lake is renowned for.
Located in a picturesque setting on the mouth of the Quesnel
River, at the west end of Quesnel Lake, the town of Likely
is one of the few remaining old gold rush settlements.
Originally known
as Quesnel Dam, the town was renamed in honour of John
A. Likely, who was connected with the bullion mine. Relive
the ghost
town of
Quesnelle Forks, 5 km northwest of Likely or marvel at
one of the Twin Giants, huge steam shovels purchased in
1906 to dig
a canal
from Spanish Lake to the Bullion Mines.
 The largest city in the Central Cariboo is British Columbia's
Stampede Capital - Williams Lake. This is a city that
blends history and frontier flair with new millennium events,
businesses, and culture.
It is also the gateway to the Cariboo Chilcotin coast
town
of Bella Coola. Williams Lake is best known for its Stampede
that captures
all the rodeo spirit of the Cariboo Chilcotin. For a
week in early July, the city displays its wild and colourful
western hospitality.
Bull riding, steer-wrestling and bareback events draw
cowboys and crowds from across North America. The fairgrounds
and
midway are
always a hootin' hollerin' good time.
From Williams, Lake Highway 97 follows the Fraser River
up to Quesnel, a bustling, flower-filled city on the
fork of the Quesnel and Fraser Rivers. Visitors shouldn't
miss the Quesnel and District
Museum and Archives, with Mandy, the famous haunted
doll. The Arts and Recreation Centre has a pool, art gallery,
and gym. A new attraction,
the Antique Machinery Park, houses interesting old
machinery.
There is a fun ski hill Troll Ski Resort between Quesnel
and Wells.
 The Barkerville Historic Site is a world-renowned historic
park and a place to relive the dreams of those who
moved here from all over the globe in the 1860s. Today, the
town is restored and
vibrant. During your stay in Barkerville, you can pan
for gold, enjoy a show in the Theatre Royal, take a
town tour,
or listen to a specialized
talk. You can also make your way to the Richfield Courthouse
to hear Judge Begbie's stories of goldfield justice.
Costumed
historic interpreters
will make your visit amusing, authentic and interesting.
Nearby Wells is an inviting out-of-the-way retreat
for artists, vacationers, and sportspeople. Your trip to
these jewels will take you away from it all, to countless
treasures. Majestic
mountains,
lakes and streams surround these communities, so you'll
enjoy the beauty however you make your way here. Expand
your
mind and
artistic
side at the Island Mountain Arts school; take a class
in music, writing, or visual arts. You can choose an
indoor program or combine the great
outdoors with photography or painting.
Join adventurers from around the world as you paddle
the unique Bowron Lakes, one of the world's top 10
outstanding canoe trips.
Bowron Lake Provincial Park offers a unique paddling
opportunity
that may be quiet and peaceful, but no less an adventure.
The Bowron Lake circuit takes 7-10 days, traverses
116 km of lakes and rivers,
returning back to the starting point. Surrounded
by wildlife, mountains and crystal clear water, this is
a wilderness experience the likes
of which are hard to find anywhere else in Canada.
BC
Parks rents canoes, but travellers are responsible
for their own food, whether
they pack it or fish along the way.
Links
Need a place to stay or camp while exploring the Cariboo?
Explore the Communities of the Cariboo
Discover Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Sub Regions
Tourism Region Contact
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association
118A North 1st Ave.
Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Y8
Toll Free: 1-800-663-5885 (North America)
Telephone: (250) 392-2226
Fax: (250) 392-2838
E-Mail: info@landwithoutlimits.com |
