The Chilcotin stretches
from the Fraser River valley to the apex of the Coast Mountains.
Local residents say the Chilcotin contains the creator's most  beautiful
natural works. The land was molded by volcanoes, which left beautiful
rivers, hoodoos and grasslands, jagged mountains, deep lakes, and
ice fields. Grizzlies, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose
and deer roam the land along with cattle that often roam unfenced.
 The Chilcotin is also home to the last leg of Alexander MacKenzie's
journey to the Pacific, the first recorded crossing of the
continent in 1793. To experience the same trip, consider
hiring an outfitter
to guide you through the trail.
Visitors return to the Chilcotin year after year for unforgettable
fishing, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, snowmobile,
and cross-country ski trips. A helicopter tour will take
you to one of
several wilderness
destinations, including Mount Waddington, the highest peak
in British Columbia, towering 4,016 metres over the landscape
below.  In the south of the Chilcotin is the town of Lillooet, accessible
from Vancouver via the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway. 99),
which passes through Whistler and the Cayoosh Valley, eventually
descending
into
the town. Lillooet, was Mile 0 of the Old Cariboo Highway
during the gold-rush days of the 1860s.
Prospectors and
settlers made their
way
north up this highway that is now called the Cariboo Gold
Rush Trail (Highways 99 and 97). Lillooet it situated
on the banks of
the mighty
Fraser River, affording visitors a wonderful display of
nature's beauty. Those who arrive from the south either by
rail or road will see some
of British Columbia’s most awe-inspiring sights everything
from roaring river canyons to majestic mountains.
 From
Lillooet you can head west on a paved road along Carpenter
Lake to the settlement of Gold Bridge. This community
was the centre of what once was the richest gold producing
pocket in
British Columbia.
Today the draw is the outdoors, viewing wildlife, fishing
or snow mobiling or backcountry skiing.
The backbone of the Chilcotin is Highway 20, which
runs for 456 km (285 miles) 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 also known as the Chilcotin Freedom
Highway is well worth taking two or three days to
drive. Approximately 400 kms are
paved and the remaining 57 km’ consist of well-maintained
gravel. It is recommended that travellers use a Forest
Service Map or other
detailed backcountry map for off-Highway 20 travel.
Driving from Williams Lake west to Bella Coola on the
coast, there are a number of stopping points and small
communities to explore. Sheep Creek Bridge, just west
of Williams Lake
offers spectacular views
of the Fraser River. Riske Creek, 46 km west of Williams
Lake, is the site of the earliest established ranches
in the area.
Farwell Canyon
is located 15 km south of Riske Creek along Farwell
Canyon Road. The Chilcotin River cuts deeply into sandstone
cliffs and Native pictographs
can be seen on the overhang, south of the bridge. Next
along Highway 20 is Hanceville or Lee’s Corner, home
of Norman Lee’s
original ranch.
 Alexis
Creek, 13 km west of Williams Lake, is named after Chief
Alexis of the Chilcotins, who was Chief during the time
of the Chilcotin
War. Near Alexis Creek are Bull Canyon and Battle Rock, sites
of numerous fierce battles fought against the Chilcotin,
who were defending
their territory against invasions by the Shuswap and Bella
Coola tribes. The town is the service centre for the
East Chilcotin region,
and is the location of the Forest Service office, which is
a good source of information on access to recreation
in the area.
Puntzi Lake at Chilanko Forks has numerous White Pelicans,
which call the lake home in the spring and summer and Trumpeter Swans
which live from the fall to freeze-up there.
Tatla Lake, 44 km west of Chilanko Forks, is near the western
edge of the Chilcotin Plateau and is a great place to take
in a helicopter tour of wilderness destinations including
a trip to Mount Waddington
the highest peak in British Columbia at 4,016 meters. South
of Tatla Lake is Chilko Lake (80 km along gravel road)
which is located in
the Ts’yl-os Provincial Park. The lake is the largest,
natural, high-elevation fresh-water lake in North America.
 The tiny settlement of Kleena Kleene, 35 km west of Tatla
Lake is in a beautiful valley. North of Kleena Kleene is Nimpo
Lake, departure
point for flights into remote fishing lakes and rivers
is known as the Floatplane Capital of British Columbia. Nimpo
Lake is the busiest
fly-out centre in the interior of BC, for aerial sightseeing
tours and fly-in fishing trips into the pristine and remote wilderness
lakes and rivers of the Chilcotin. From here, adventurers
can access
isolated cabins set in magnificent scenery not matched
elsewhere in British Columbia.
Anahim Lake is located 15 minutes from Nimpo Lake and
is named after a Chilcotin chief. Home of the "Old Fashioned
Wild West Rodeo" each July, Anahim Lake and area offer
interesting sights and activities for the visitor. It is
also the last community before
entering Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, an outdoor person's "heaven".
Outside of Williams Lake and Bella Coola Anahim is
the only operational commercial airport with two flights
a day
seven days
a week all summer
and one flight a day all winter on Pacific Coastal
Air from Vancouver International Airport south terminal.
Nearby Anahim Peak offers some history plus a spectacular
view of a pillared cone of volcanic rock. This mountain
yielded obsidian,
the important trading commodity for the Chilcotins
and was used extensively for weapon making. Just
north of Anahim
Lake is the Dean River Road
where you can follow the Dean River and view the
Rainbow Range. After Anahim Lake is Tweedsmuir Park which
is the start of the Central
Coast sub region.
Communities to explore: Anahim Lake, Gold Bridge,
Lillooet, Nimpo Lake.
Links
Need a place to stay or camp while exploring the Chilcotin?
Explore the Communities of the Chilcotin
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
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