Gold Rush Trail Guide 2016

Travel guide

goldrushtrail.ca

Visit Cottonwood House Historic Site

Welcoming visitors travelling to the goldfields for over 150 years.

Meet the people of the Cariboo at the

• GUIDED TOURS • RESTAURANT • CABINS • RV & TENT SITES • GIFT & CANDY SHOP • HORSE-DRAWN WAGON RIDES

LOCATED 26 KM EAST OF QUESNEL ON BARKERVILLE HWY. 26 WWW.COTTONWOODHOUSE.CA • 250-992-2071 OPEN MID-MAY TO SEPTEMBER

Quesnel & District Museum & Archives.

With the Vistor Center on HWY 97 at 705 Carson Ave.

Interactive Exhibits

www.quesnelmuseum.ca

Gift Shop

250-992-9580

Wells Museum & Historical Society Explore the colourful history of Wells and the second Cariboo Gold Rush.

Archives access by appointment.

Engaging. Enlightening.

Historical.

thewellsmuseum@gmail.com • 250-994-3302 ext 37 • facebook.com/WellsMuseum

WELLS, BC

A New Kind of Gold

wells.ca • lovewellsbc.com

BECAUSE YOU CAN’T COPY THIS EXPERIENCE ON THE INTERNET.

Come visit us May 19 – September 25, 2016 1-888-994-3332 • www.barkerville.ca

A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE of CANADA 2

BARKERVILLE G LD AND NEW SINCE 1862

Thomas Drasdauskis

GOLD RUSH TRAIL

E

ver had gold fever? You’re about to embark upon a journey along the Gold Rush Trail that was travelled by gold seekers who had that gold fever. Men and women journeyed into the great wilderness of British Columbia following stories they had heard about “easy gold”. Though only a handful struck it rich finding the precious metal, many of these early pioneers helped to build roads, railways, bridges and establish the great cattle ranches and timber enterprises in British Columbia’s early history.

In the spring of 1858, James Douglas sent 800 ounces of gold to the San Francisco Mint knowing what word of the gold’s arrival would trigger. There are no secrets in a gold town and the supervisor of the mint was also a prominent member of the San Francisco volunteer fire department.

Within hours of the next fire department meeting, rumours of a new gold find began to spread. By late spring of 1858, prospectors started to arrive in Victoria and New Westminster. Over the next few months thousands would travel up the Fraser River and into the Interior searching for gold. After previously losing territories to the American

government due to the influx of miners in the California gold rush, Douglas now petitioned Queen Victoria to establish a Colonial Government in New Caledonia. The petition was granted; New Caledonia was renamed British Columbia and was proclaimed a crown colony at Fort Langley later in 1858 with James Douglas being named the first Governor.

The Gold Rush Trail starts in New Westminster and winds its way north to Barkerville. Travelling the Trail, you’ll experience many fascinating “nuggets” of history as you voyage through some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world, meeting some of the friendliest people along the way.

There are countless unique activities to take in too!

Experience a rafting expedition through the mighty Fraser Canyon, a hiking trip into ancient valleys, fishing in one of hundreds of pristine lakes, visiting the many museums and historical sites, and trying your luck panning for gold.

We invite you to take in the magic and mystery that we call the Gold Rush Trail.

Cover Photo - Fraser River Photo Credit - Chris Harris The Gold Rush Trail initiative is led by the Gold Rush Trail Management Committee, a collaborative of businesses, communities and First Nations from New Westminster to Barkerville. ©2016 Gold Rush Trail. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. This Guide does not constitute, and should not be construed as, an endorsement or recommendation of any carrier, hotel, restaurant or any other facility, attraction or activity in British Columbia, for which neither Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association nor the Gold Rush Trail assumes any responsibility. Gold Rush Trail and all associated logos/trade-marks are Official Marks of Destination BC Corp., Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association© and of the Gold Rush Trail. Admission fees and other terms and conditions may apply to attractions and facilities referenced in the Guide. Errors and omissions excepted. Photography©: All images in this guide are intended to provide informative historical context and fair representation of activities which are available along the trail. Gold Rush Trail reminds visitors that lifejackets, bicycle, motorcycle and ATV helmets are mandatory and required by law in British Columbia.

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FORT VICTORIA As word of gold spread, adventurers from California and Australia, and indeed from all parts of the world, flocked to Victoria as the only ocean port for the gold fields of the Interior. The first ship entered Victoria harbour on the morning of April 25, 1858, just as the townspeople were returning homeward from church. With astonishment, they watched as 450 men disembarked, complete with blankets, miner’s pans, spades and firearms. It is estimated that within a few weeks, over 20,000 had landed.

Image A-06166 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

The gold rush was on in earnest and overnight a city of tents sprang up around the fort, quickly spreading over both sides of James Bay as miners awaited licensing and outfitted for their journey.

With the discovery of gold on the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, and in consequence of the ensuing rush, the Crown Colony of British Columbia was inaugurated at the provisional capital of Fort Langley on November 19, 1858.

However, for reasons of military security, a defensible location on the north bank of the Fraser River was chosen with the subsequent decision to “lay out and settle the site of a city to be the capital of British Columbia on February 14, 1859, at New Westminster”.

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THE MIGHTY FRASER

Image C-07305 courtesy of Royal BC Museum and Archives

The Fraser’s banks offer rich farmland, its water is used by pulp mills, and a few dams on some tributaries provide hydroelectric power. Yet, the delta and estuaries remain a key habitat for migrating shorebirds and the waters are home to the largest salmon spawning runs in the world.

The Fraser River is known for world-class fishing as it hosts all six species of Pacific salmon (Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, steelhead and sockeye) and is one of only three rivers in B.C. where the prehistoric white sturgeon thrive and spawn. Finally, and perhaps most well-known, the Fraser River is home to several world-class rafting operators who deliver remarkable and memorable experiences.

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@TeamCMedia

Stretching over 1,375 km from Fraser Pass in the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, the Fraser is the longest river in British Columbia. Designated a Canadian Heritage River for its natural and human heritage values, much of our provincial history has been bound to the Fraser. The Fraser corridor is home to the first recorded settlements of Aboriginal people, including the Musqueam, Sto:lo, St’at’imc, Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux. It was an essential historic route between the Interior and southern Coast, was the primary route of prospectors during the Gold Rush, a main vehicle in early commerce and industry and remains the primary provincial corridor. The Fraser Basin makes up 25% of the province and is home to nearly 60% of the population.

New Westminster Located at the mouth of the Fraser River, New Westminster was the first stop for miners to buy provisions and tools for their journey ahead. In 1859, the Royal Engineers arrived from England to establish the first capital of the new colony of British Columbia.

That same year Queen Victoria chose the name of New Westminster and honoured residents by referring to their home as “The Royal City”.

New Westminster is easily accessed by SkyTrain rapid transit link from downtown Vancouver. There are numerous historical sites that can be toured in the city, including Irving House, the oldest intact home in the lower mainland, built in 1865, and Samson V, the last wooden steam powered sternwheeler to operate in Canada, built in 1937. New Westminster Museum and Archives cares for over 36,000 objects and 35,000 photographs, and has a new home in Anvil Centre, a centrally located civic centre built in 2014.

Parks Canada

Fort Langley Vancouver’s only fort, Fort Langley National Historic Site, brings the heyday of the Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading era to life on the banks of the Fraser River.

Travel back to the 19th century when French Canadian voyageurs bartered with coastal First Nations for salmon, cranberries and animal pelts; 30,000 prospectors raged with Fraser River gold fever; and a 2,000 acre farm supplied food up and down the coast.

TORY CONNECT WITH HIS VEC L’HISTOIRE A S U O -V Z E H C N A R B

This is where the smell of wood smoke mingles with the clang of the blacksmith’s anvil, where interpreters tell reverent tales of salmon and cedar, and visitors laugh as they pan for gold. Dress up as a trader and salute the statue of Sir James Douglas, who proclaimed British Columbia a Crown Colony at Fort Langley in 1858, making this the “Birthplace of B.C.”. Deepen your experience by staying overnight in one of five fur trade themed A-framed cabins, known as ‘oTENTiks’ or try the Gold Panner’s cabin.

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KILBY HISTORIC SITE

Kilby Park is situated on scenic Harrison Bay, with 35 waterfront campground sites complete with picnic tables, a day use area, sandy beaches, nature trails and a boat launch. The park is within walking distance of the museum at the end of Kilby Road. The campground operates on a first come, first served basis, is open year round, offering off season rates during winter months.

Kilby Historic Site

The Kilby General Store was officially opened in August of 1906, today the Kilby Historic Site stands as the only reminder of the once thriving community of Harrison Mills.

Step back in time and enjoy a leisurely tour of the site, including the General Store Museum with a fascinating gallery of artifacts and product packaging dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Or visit for the annual Father’s Day black powder event each June for fun with muskets, pistols, bows, arrows and even a cannon!

Harrison Mills

Kilby Historic Site

Located near the junction of the Harrison and Fraser rivers, sits the once thriving community of Harrison Mills.

During the gold rush, in just a few weeks, 30,000 men travelled up the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon. Many stopped along the way, with prospectors turning over sandbars along the Fraser near Harrison Mills and through the Fraser in search of gold. While gold was found around Harrison Mills and as far downstream as the present site of Mission, extraction was only profitable above Hope.

However, the valuable Douglas Fir timber of the Chehalis River area was prized early on and the Canadian Pacific Railway used cants, partially sawn logs, from the area for bridge timbers.

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Today, Harrison Mills is a land of pristine wilderness, cascading mountain peaks, tranquil rivers and undiscovered treasures. “It’s in our nature” sums up this place where we honour the salmon, marvel at the world’s largest winter gathering of eagles and where we gather in welcoming community and friendship.

Hope Hope’s place at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers, set between the Coast and Cascade mountains, has made it an integral spot along the Gold Rush Trail – a geographic and spiritual heart of British Columbia. For 10,000 years Hope has been a natural stopping point and meeting place for Stó:lō (STOH-lo), and later European traders and travellers.

European settlement started in earnest following Simon Fraser’s 1808 journey down the Fraser River and the

Hudson Bay Company’s 1848 establishment of Fort Hope.

When the Fraser River Gold Rush began in 1858, Hope enjoyed prominence as a gateway to the riches of the Fraser and, later, the Cariboo gold fields.

Today, Hope is a gateway to the beauty of B.C.’s interior and a great place from which to launch your trip along the Gold Rush Trail. Be sure to spend some time at the Hope Museum, celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Othello Tunnels, and see as many of the 60+ chainsaw carvings as you can.

KILBY MUSEUM & CAMPGROUND 1906 General Store Museum & Farm Friendly Animals Costumed Interpreters Restaurant • Gift Shop Scenic 35 Site Campground Boat Launch & Beach 604.796.9575 | www.kilby.ca | 215 Kilby Road, Harrison Mills Just off Scenic Hwy 7, 15 min West of Harrison Hot Springs

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YALE HISTORIC SITE

Creighton House, a heritage building built in the 1870s, is home to the museum, gift shop, archives and Beth Clare garden. Exhibits include artifacts and photographs showcasing the diverse history of Yale, including an 1853 ‘Peace’ piano donated by Rose Charlie and her family.

Also on site is one of the oldest churches in B.C., built in 1863, St. John the Divine church is home to a collection of antique hand stitched linens – the ‘Enduring Threads’ donated by former students of All Hallows girls’ school.’

@TeamCMedia

Celebrating the Gold Rush era and preserving local historic treasures, a visit to the Yale Historic Site is a must on your journey. Step back in time to stroll the boardwalk, check out the general store, and swagger into the saloon for an ice cold root beer or a game of poker. Learn what life was like for the thousands of Chinese railway workers in the Chinese boarding house, take in a special event like June’s Strawberry Social or try your hand at gold panning!

Image A-00902 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Yale

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Originally established in 1848 as a Hudson’s Bay Trading Post, the small town of Yale grew to an estimated 30,000 people during the 1858 gold rush, then the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. In the 1860s, with the construction of the Cariboo Waggon Road, Yale became the terminus for one of the largest sternwheeler routes in North America and in the 1880s Yale saw the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

History buffs can take a walking tour of the old town sites, visit the Pioneer Cemetery or the Spirit Caves Trail, which is located directly across from the cemetery on Hwy. 1.

One of several day hikes in the Fraser Canyon; it offers a spectacular view of Yale. A truly historic way to traverse the canyon is to ride the river. Whether on a day trip or a multi-day adventure, come experience the mighty Fraser River; raft the challenging rapids and take in the majestic views that will leave lasting memories. Yale also has one of the few public panning areas on the Fraser River with gold pans and helpful guide books available locally.

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yale

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hell’s gate

Image B-04757 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Today, Hell’s Gate is one of the province’s most unique and popular draws, with visitors ‘flying’ over the gorge in a gondola for a bird’s eye view of churning rapids and the fishways installed to help migrating salmon on their upriver journey to spawn. Sightseers can also watch award-winning videos at the onsite Fisheries Exhibit, sample the chowder at Simon’s Café and linger at the Fudge Factory, which boasts more than 30 mouth-watering flavors. Hell’s Gate also hosts special events throughout the year such as Canyon Appreciation Days each May and the annual Pumpkin Drop in October.

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Miriam Schilling

North of Yale is the deepest, most dangerous and fastestmoving section of the Fraser River, where sheer rock faces rise to dizzying heights and, down below, the boiling river smashes its way through a constricted channel. At the river’s narrowest point water thunders through a 33m/108ft-wide passage - prompting the first European to explore the region, Simon Fraser, to describe the gorge as “the gates of hell,” after he and his men inched their way along its cliffs in 1808 using rope ladders made by their aboriginal guides.

Boston Bar/North Bend North of Hell’s Gate on Hwy. 1 is Boston Bar, a town that got its name due to a large number of gold seeking Americans from Boston which local aboriginals called the “Boston Men”. Directly across the Fraser River from Boston Bar is North Bend, which only became accessible by road in 1986, when a bridge was built to replace the aerial ferry - now housed at Francis Harrington Park, on Hwy. 1.

Boston Bar is the gateway to the Nahatlatch River Valley, Skuzzy Creek, Anderson Creek and North Bend, where travelers can take West Side Road to explore the pastoral Nahatlatch River Valley and the Nahatlatch River itself, which features one of B.C.’s most exciting stretches of whitewater rafting. Together the communities celebrate the annual May Day festival with events including a parade, a May Pole Dance by local students, May Queen ceremony, children’s games, contests, music and more.

Just south of Boston Bar, is Tuckkwiowhum (tuck-weohm) Heritage Village, with classes in drum and jewelry making, salmon preparation and leather working.

“a truly historic experience” VILLAGE TOURS

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Boston Bar ESSO

andersoncreekcamping.com Gorgeous Views Shady Campsites Showers & Indoor Toilets

604.867.9089 Just 4 km South of Boston Bar

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Sandy Volleyball/badm inton court

Official home of the Fraser River Gold Panning Championships!

Showers and Indoor Toilets

48100 Trans Canada Hwy | Boston Bar | 604-867-8868

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TUCKKWIOWHUM HERITAGE VILLAGE

Tuckkwiowhum Heritage Village was inspired by local First Nations desire to preserve and share the deep spiritual connection to the land and the teachings of the Nlaka’pamux people. The site offers guests an opportunity to experience the Nlaka’pamux (Ing-la-kap-ma) village lifestyle before the arrival of European culture, including a subterranean pit house, summer lodges, smoke house and replicas of actual pictographs found in Nlaka’pamux territory. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful weekend getaway, a quick stop on the way through the canyon, or to immerse yourself in our rich lifestyle and culture, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Tuckkwiowhum.

Amy Thacker

A First Nations heritage site and village, Tuckkwiowhum (Tuck-we-ohm) is located 5 km south of Boston Bar. The area was given its name by local First Nations people, known as a “great berry picking place”. The rolling hills still boast lush forests with wild huckleberries, blueberries and medicinal plants.

Image C-09266 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Lytton

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The meeting place of two great rivers, the Fraser and Thompson, Lytton was originally a First Nations village.

The area has been inhabited by the Nlaka’pamux people for over 10,000 years, and due to the Gold Rush, is also one of the earliest communities settled by non-natives in the southern interior. The legendary Fraser Canyon War of 1858 was narrowly averted by Chief David Spintlum, who argued for a peaceful resolution and co-existence between local First Nations and immigrant gold seekers.

Lytton is the “Whitewater Rafting Capital of Canada” with several first-class rafting companies navigating the local rapids. Those seeking slower-paced activities opt for camping, fishing, geocaching, and hiking close to town.

Lytton also boasts one of the few reaction ferries left in B.C., a turn-of-the-century river transport that uses the power of a river’s current to propel the craft from one riverbank to another; this free ferry provides access to the Stein River Valley. The nearby campground in Skihist Provincial Park provides a base camp for strolls along remnants of the original Cariboo Waggon Road.

It is here that Cook and Kimball built a rope ferry across the Thompson River to transport the influx of prospectors; earning the community the name of Cook’s Ferry (the local First Nations carry this name today). In 1864 the ferry was replaced with a bridge built by Thomas Spence during the construction of the Cariboo Waggon Road from Yale to Barkerville.

The fishing in this area attracts anglers from around the world during peak season, with hard-fighting steelhead the major lure. While its’ agricultural history continues to flourish with locally grown vegetables and fruits sold at stalls along the highway and in town, a visit to the historic Widow Smith packing house will add some flavor to your Spences Bridge stop. The famous Widow Smith gravesite provides great photo opportunities and hidden geocache treasure. While wild herds of California bighorn sheep wander the area year-round; keep a watchful eye out for them on the highway and throughout the community.

Image C-01284 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Spences Bridge

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STEIN VALLEY HERITAGE PARK

Straddling the transition from the dry interior landscape to the wetter coastal mountains, the park protects the entire Stein River watershed with over 150 km of trails and wilderness campsites. Whether stopping in for an easy day hike in the lower valley or trekking into the backcountry on a multi-night trip you will feel the spirit and the energy of this special place.

Amy Thacker

This wilderness park contains spectacular scenery and significant historic, cultural and spiritual values. ‘Stein’ comes from the Nlaka’pamux word “Stagyn”, meaning ‘hidden place’, referring to the obscurity of this key watershed and the valley that has been important to First Nations for thousands of years, for both sustenance and spirituality, as evidenced by the large number of pictographs still visible today. Due to its size and relative lack of disturbance the park is home to over 50 species of mammals and many varieties of birds and fish in its diverse ecosystem.

Ashcroft

Amy Thacker

Ashcroft’s origins are rooted in Gold Rush history, as a teeming transfer point in the 1880s, where freight and mining supplies were unloaded off Canadian Pacific railcars and hauled north to the Cariboo goldfields. Visit the Ashcroft Museum, housed in the town’s 1917 post office, for exhibits on gold rush history, the railway, ranching, mining, farming, Chinese and First Nations history and notorious events, such as the BX Express Coach robbery of 1890 by Martin Van Buren Rowland or the great fire of 1916.

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A desert haven, Ashcroft recently adopted the slogan “Ashcroft – Wellness Awaits You” as a nod to its clean air, fresh water, locally produced foods and health studios.

Local operators offer horseback riding, guest ranch stays, hiking, ziplining, mountain biking or guided wildlife and birdwatching tours. Try a day of drag racing at the nearby Nl’Akapxm Eagle Motorplex or visit Ashcroft Manor, a popular stopover for travelers heading north to the goldfields in the 1800s and later the district’s first courthouse; now a teahouse, museum and art gallery.

Cache Creek The origin of Cache Creek’s name is still in dispute. Some claim it is derived from the fur trade of the 1800s, when supplies were stored or cached at the valley junction.

Others contend that it came from a gold-rush stagecoach robbery, when bandits buried their loot along the creek bed. Whatever the true story, today Cache Creek is a refreshing stop for the modern explorer.

“The first time, it’s a vacation.

After that, it’s coming home.”

Set ideally at the junction of Hwy. 1 and 97, you will find accommodations, camping, vehicle services, restaurants,

HISTORIC Spend the night in a covered wagon!

Relive the 1860s Gold Rush & Native History!

10km north of Cache Creek, junction of Hwy 97 and 99 Open Daily May to October Telephone 250-457-9722 or Toll Free 1-800-782-0922 Email: contact@hatcreekranch.ca www.hatcreekranch.ca

Fun for the whole family with: - Guided tours of 1860s Roadhouse & Native Interpretation Site - Stagecoach - Restaurant and Gift Shop - Goldpanning, Archery & More - RV Sites, Camping Cabins, & Public Shower House

Just 4 hours north of Vancouver 1-800-553-3533 www.sundanceguestranch.com saddleup@sundanceguestranch.com 17

XWISTEN HERITAGE SITE

Image D-00026 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

As well, the neighbouring Cayoose Creek Band offers interpretive walks of the beautifully restored Lower Seton spawning channel, while just five minutes from downtown Lillooet is the site of a traditional s7istken, or pit house, built by the T’it’q’et community (tlee-ti-cut).

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Geoff Moore

In the southern Chilcotin, no fewer than 11 different communities make up the St’át’imc First Nation, whose traditional territories were located in and around an ancient gathering place now known as Lillooet. Here today, Xwisten (hoysh-ten) Experience Tours offers award-winning guided excursions that include walks along the banks of Fraser to view the Bridge River fishing rocks and the traditional wind-dried method of preserving salmon. Add on a guided exploration of the extensive Xwisten archaeological site’s 80 s7istkens (shesh-ken) or pit houses, dating back thousands of years. To complete your experience enjoy a traditional Salmon BBQ meal.

gift shops and supplies. The community is an ideal base for some of the best rock hounding in B.C., canoeing, horseback riding, fishing and hiking in a setting of dry grasslands, working ranches, market gardens and dramatic desert landscapes. The Gold Country GeoTourism program will guide you to themed caches and reward your perseverance. Cache Creek is also home to one of the toughest nine-hole golf courses in the province, at the desert gem, Semlin Valley.

Lillooet “Guaranteed Rugged” describes both the mountainous terrain around Lillooet and the year-round active lifestyle this setting inspires. The landscape is wild, rocky and steep, roads are carved out of mountainsides with everchanging views of the Fraser River, and rich First Nations and Gold Rush history abounds.

Historians can drop by the museum and visitor centre to view Gold Rush exhibits of Mile 0, take a tour of downtown’s ‘Jade Walk’ (a tribute to Lillooet’s jade-mining history) or turn-of-the-century architectural gems such

as Miyazaki House, featuring 1890s architecture and Dr. Miyazaki’s original office.

Easily accessible from north or south, Lillooet offers a compelling blend of cultural and recreational opportunities, with a range of restaurants and lodging.

Boating, mountain biking, sturgeon fishing and backpacking are just a few of the outdoor adventures possible spring through fall. Lillooet embraces the ways of the St’át’imc First Nation, who offer award-winning cultural tours through its Xwisten Experience Tours or visit during July’s Apricot Tsaqwen Festival. Finally, Fort Berens Estate Winery offers award-winning wines from locally grown grapes.

Surrounded by the towering peaks of the South Chilcotin Mountains, the communities of Gold Bridge and Bralorne sprang to life during the Great Depression with the 1932 opening of a large gold mine. The Bralorne Pioneer Mine would produce more than four million ounces of gold before its closure in 1971, making it the richest gold mine

Michael Bednar

Bridge River Valley

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HAT CREEK RANCH

Stroll along the same dirt road that the wagon trains and miners travelled and stop in at the historic roadhouse, where interpreters dressed in period clothing will take you on a guided tour of a bygone era. Enjoy a stagecoach ride along beautiful Hat Creek to the Secwepemc (Shuswap) First Nations Village, where local members will share a glimpse into their history and cultural traditions. Try gold panning, archery, trail rides and more. Historic Hat Creek Ranch also hosts a series of events throughout the year, including ranch rodeos and the Bonaparte Pow Wow.

Destination BC/Blake Jorgenson

Explore the original buildings used by Gold Rush travellers of the 1860s at this rare historic site set at the junction of highways 97 and 99. On 130 hectares of farm and range land, including 20 historic buildings dating from 1861 and prehistoric archeological sites, Historic Hat Creek Ranch provides valuable insight into the social and economic roles of this location.

Image A-03503 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

in Canadian history and prompting construction of the towns, with schools, churches, homes, offices, recreation halls and rustic hunting lodges. After lying abandoned for many years, the mine re-opened in 2011 in response to rising gold prices, and is again producing gold.

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History buffs can enjoy a stop at the Haylmore site for a taste of the early history and tips on what is happening in the valley, while outdoor lovers will appreciate the valley for its fishing, hunting, rock hounding, numerous alpine lakes and rugged mountain vistas. In addition, resorts are scenically situated on the shores of several local lakes, with air-assisted mountain biking a popular activity, along with phenomenal snowmobiling and heli-skiing.

Clinton The village of Clinton is routinely referred to for its Wild West ambience; Gold Rush and pioneer history is exemplified by its original western store fronts, historical walking tours, abundant antique stores and excellent museum archives and exhibits (located at the village’s 1892 schoolhouse). The first Clinton Annual Ball was New

Year’s Day of 1868 and has been held continually since.

Now celebrated on the Victoria Day long weekend, the Annual Ball kicks off Clinton’s Heritage week; wrapping up with the Clinton Rodeo the following weekend.

As B.C.’s “Guest Ranch Capital”, Clinton is a community hub for many ranches, including an award-winning Thaiinfluenced spa and more traditional family-focused outfits offering trail riding, horsemanship classes, gold panning and sleigh rides. Equally significant is the diversity of the surrounding landscape’s unique geological variations,

including Chasm Provincial Park’s Painted Chasm; the Limestone Quarry, a haven for fossil hunters and rock hounds; and the Marble Range, where cliffs, caves, disappearing streams and wildlife trails lure climbers, cavers, hikers and horseback riders.

70 Mile House No doubt when 70 Mile House was established in 1862 as a hostel for Cariboo Waggon Road work crews, residents

(250) 459-2261

www.village.clinton.bc.ca

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Roland Stanke Photography

BC

Guy Lundstrom Photography

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108 HERITAGE SITE

Image D-08070 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

This collection of preserved heritage buildings include the 105 Mile Roadhouse, moved here when the new highway threatened to destroy it, and the largest log barn in Canada, built to house working Clydesdale horses. The site is operated by the local Historical Society and is open annually from May long weekend to September Labour day long weekend. A great rest stop for travelers year round, the site includes a series of picnic tables, washrooms, a small picnic shelter, information boards and a very large parking lot friendly to RVs and bus tours. At the south end of the parking lot is a tunnel leading under the highway connecting to the 108 Community Trail Network and Easements; a system of trails used for hiking, biking and horseback riding in the sunshine months and cross country skiing in the winter months.

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Thomas Drasdauskis

A visit to the 108 Heritage site will take you back to the days of the famous Mile Houses on the Cariboo Waggon Road. Originally pre-empted by William J. Roper in 1863, the 108 Roadhouse or Hotel was completed in 1867 and Roper stayed on operating here until 1871. Then in 1875 the Roadhouse was operated for nearly a decade by the infamous McVee family.

had no idea the area would evolve into a thriving guestranch and outdoor-recreation hub; with a diverse network of hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, Nordic and snowmobile trails, plus canoeing, kayaking, birding, wildlife viewing, ice fishing and angling.

Picturesque 70 Mile House is a key center for accessing the Green Lake Recreation Area, one of the Cariboo’s most popular destinations for water sports, along with nearby Watch Lake, a habitat for thriving waterfowl and raptor populations. As well, nearby Big Bar Lake Provincial Park boasts spectacular lake views, great fishing, RV sites, plus excellent boating and swimming.

100 Mile House 100 miles from Lillooet on the original Cariboo Waggon Road, 100 Mile House dates back to the days of the Hudson’s Bay Company fur trade and became a rest stop for prospectors on the Gold Rush Trail. Murals throughout the community commemorate early pioneers.

100 Mile House claims lofty titles, including “Handcrafted Log Home Capital of North America” and

“International Nordic Ski Capital”. The latter reflects the fact that 100 Mile House has one of the most active Nordic ski clubs in B.C. with access to one of the longest groomed-trail networks in Canada. Other highlights include the community’s proximity to the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail, a maintained, signed route, and home base for local snowmobile clubs, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and dogsled tours. Spring through fall, these Nordic routes are ideal for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, photography and wildlife

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The award-winning Xatśūll (hat-sull) Heritage Village is located just north of Williams Lake on a grassy bench above the mighty Fraser River. The name Xatśūll means ‘on the cliff where the bubbling water comes out’. Here, members of the Secwepemc, or Shuswap, First Nation, share storytelling by village elders, cleansing sweat-lodge ceremonies, educational wilderness walks, salmon lunches and overnight accommodation under the stars in pit houses and teepees.

Alternatively, stop at Whispering Willows campground on Highway 97, also operated by Xatśūll First Nations.

This unspoiled region is home to a wide array of plants, fish, and wildlife – each perfectly adapted to this unique environment. As with many other First Nations, the Xat’súll Nation followed a hunting and gathering lifestyle centered in family groups and focused on the Fraser River and the salmon. Patterns of land use were at harmony with the natural processes, stop in to hear these stories.

Image I-33665 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

‘¯ XatSUll

viewing. Birding is also a major draw, with popular viewing sites such as the wheelchair-accessible 100 Mile Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary.

AmyThacker

Lac la Hache

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This village is often referred to as the “Longest Town in the Cariboo”, reflecting how its resorts, ranches, restaurants and vacation homes are scattered along the lake’s 19km/12mi-long shoreline. Decades before European fur traders came into the area, the Secwepemc established pit houses here and the Chilcotins, who travelled through the region, named the lake Kumatakwa, Queen of the Waters. With a strong history of ranching and agriculture, today Lac la Hache is one of the most popular lakes along Hwy. 97, particularly with water skiers, anglers and power boaters. Foodies love its South Cariboo Garlic Festival, held in late August, while winter brings crisp, sunny days ideal for ice fishing, snow shoeing, pond hockey and for skiing at nearby Mt. Timothy’s slopes.

150 Mile House 150 Mile House is a quiet ranchland community known for the Gold Rush, pioneer history and log homes. It is also home to its Little Red Schoolhouse, the oldest functional school building in the Cariboo. Constructed in 1896 beside the original Cariboo Waggon Road, the wood-frame, one-room building is now a historical site and classroom open to the public in summer. The Waggon Road was scheduled to run through Williams Lake; however, a funding dispute resulted in a detour that went from 150 Mile House to Soda Creek.

Another local lure is The Yellow Umbrella & Thyme for Tea, an old-fashioned English-style teahouse and gift shop off Hwy. 97, just north of town, serving meals and 100-plus blends of tea. From 150 Mile House, travelers generally decide whether to continue north to Williams Lake and Quesnel on Hwy. 97 or head northeast along the original Gold Rush Trail to the resort lake communities of Horsefly and Likely, and even continue on the “Backroad to Barkerville”.

Where nature and history meet Open Year Round Meals • Rooms Cabins on the Lake Full hook-up RV sites Historic route to Barkerville

Morehead Lake Resort

p:(250) 790-2323 e:moreheadlake@gmail.com 6101 Likely Road, Likely, BC Canada 25

Known simply as ‘The Forks’ or once grandly as ‘Quesnel City’, this unique ghost town is located at the junction of the Quesnel and Cariboo rivers 11 km out of Likely. Founded in 1860, Quesnelle Forks was a major supply centre for the Cariboo Gold Rush with the 100 residents catering to over 2,000 transient miners and adventurers annually. By the mid-1870s most of the population had moved on, leaving a small group of Chinese miners and merchants who remained to support the widely dispersed mining community.

Upon completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway through Ashcroft in 1885 many discharged Chinese labourers settled here to make a living.

Today, visitors to Quesnelle Forks can explore the pioneer buildings and historic cemetery with no fees or crowds.

Historical research projects began here in the 1990s under the leadership of the Likely Cemetery Society and the site has been featured on the television series “Gold Trails and Ghost Towns”.

Destination BC/Blake Jorgenson

QUESNELLE FORKS

Image D-07983 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Horsefly

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Horsefly attracts a substantial contingent of history buffs to its Pioneer Museum and Visitor Centre, with exhibits highlighting how the first gold discovery of the Cariboo Gold Rush took place on the Horsefly River. Led by legendary First Nations guide John Baptiste, Peter Dunlevy and four friends panned the first gold in June of 1859 on the Horsefly River, near Quesnel Lake, collecting an astonishing 2,835g/100oz of nuggets in a single week.

A close-knit community of 1,000 in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, Horsefly is the Gold Rush Trail’s scenic gateway to Quesnel Lake, Horsefly Lake, Crooked Lake and the Cariboo Mountains. As such, it makes a unique home base for artists and outdoor adventurers exploring the area’s hundreds of small, picturesque lakes, creeks, rivers and waterfalls – whether camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing or ice fishing. Horsefly plays year-round host with lively community events, including spring’s The Horsefly Follies, July’s Arts on the Fly Music Festival, a Fall Fair and September’s Horsefly River Salmon Festival.

Likely

Williams Lake

Located at the west end of Quesnel Lake, the deepest fjord-lake in North America, Likely was originally called Quesnelle Dam, after the dam built nearby in 1898 to provide mining access to the Quesnel River. The name was changed in 1923 in honour of prospector John “Plato” Likely. Today, the local economy relies on tourism, forestry and mining. Intriguing examples of past mining ventures are showcased at the nearby Bullion Pit and in Cedar Point Provincial Park, home to the community’s Cedar City Mining Museum and Bullion Mines’ giant 1906 Vulcan steam shovel.

Prior to the arrival of the first settlers, Williams Lake was a meeting place for the Secwepemc First Nations; in fact, the city is named after a local Secwepemc chief of the 1860s. Williams Lake has a western-frontier personality showcased at its Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin – B.C.’s only ranch and rodeo museum and home to the B.C. Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Williams Lake Stampede, held on the Canada Day-long weekend, is one of Canada’s largest pro-rodeos, second only to the Calgary Stampede.

Likely is known as the gateway to the seasonal, scenic “Backroad to Barkerville”; a gravel forestry road that winds past stunning waterfalls and the Cariboo River in an alluring backcountry landscape of sub-alpine meadows.

Paddle on glacier fed lakes, back dropped by snowcovered mountain ridges, and capture the perfect vistas; hike or snowmobile up nearby Yanks Peak for panoramic views of the Cariboo Mountains. Road conditions vary; check with local visitor centres prior to travelling.

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COTTONWOOD HOUSE HISTORIC SITE

Image C-08744 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

Today, Cottonwood continues its traditions and offers heritage interpretation, accommodation and food to those wanting to explore and experience the Gold Rush Trail and its rich history. This wheelchair accessible provincial historic site will allow you to experience firsthand over 75 years of the Boyd family history and the many features this unique heritage site has to offer.

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Thomas Drasdauskis

On Highway 26, between Quesnel and Barkerville, Cottonwood House is one of the last remaining roadhouses. Like those before it on this historic route, it was built in the 1860s to offer accommodation, meals and provisions to miners and travellers on their journey along the Cariboo Waggon Road and became one of the most famous, known as a stopping place of high quality. Built in 1864 by John Ryder and Allen Smith, the early years of Cottonwood House saw changes in ownership several times. However, when John Boyd gained title to the house in March of 1874, stability was achieved, and the Boyd family remained to operated the house continuously until the fall of 1951.

Stroll among the quaint shops and art galleries, try one or all of the three golf courses and visit a 1919 Railway Station House. With heritage murals displayed on buildings throughout the downtown core, “The Mural Capital of the Cariboo” is an excellent home base for outdoor adventures. B.C.’s premier mountain-biking destination, Williams Lake boasts trail systems with a diverse mix of routes. For wildlife viewing, birders find an avian haven at Scout Island, a trail-laced sanctuary for birds and small wildlife located right on Williams Lake.

McLeese Lake This resort community, just 30 minutes north of Williams Lake, was originally known as Mud Lake. It was renamed in the 1880s in honor of nearby Soda Creek’s Robert McLeese, a member of the Legislature who owned a sternwheeler, hotel and store and who was postmaster of Soda Creek for 25-plus years. Today, travelers here enjoy water sports, trout fishing, and August’s B.C. Metis Music Festival & Jamboree, plus hiking, camping and offroading. In winter, hiking trails welcome snowmobilers

and Nordic skiers, while the lake is transformed into a skating and ice-fishing wonderland.

Quesnel When the Cariboo Waggon Road was built it ran from Lillooet to Soda Creek. From Soda Creek, goods and passengers travelled by sternwheeler to Quesnel. The first sternwheeler used was the “Enterprise”; she sailed the river from 1863 to 1871 when her owners, the Wright brothers, took her north for use in the Omineca Gold Rush. Quesnel is situated at the confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel rivers with surrounding outdoor adventures including mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing and hiking.

Settlers flocked here by the thousands and today the community is known as the ‘Gold Pan City’. Many reminders of the City’s gold rush heyday are scattered throughout downtown’s 30 heritage sites, including the 1862 Hudson’s Bay Company Trading Post. The Quesnel and District Museum and Archives is one of the top community museums in B.C., with a significant collection

of Chinese artifacts. Quesnel’s ‘living history’ is on display during its Billy Barker Days, which includes the Quesnel Rodeo, the largest amateur rodeo in B.C.

Wells The mountain town of Wells was built as a company town for Fred Wells’ Gold Quartz Mine, when the promise of more gold gave many an opportunity to escape the great depression in 1927. With fewer than 300 year-round residents in Wells today, many of its heritage buildings have been restored, including the Wells Hotel and Sunset Theatre. Other architectural landmarks sport rainbow colours in a nod to the town’s vibrant arts scene. The Island Mountain Arts Society’s celebrated arts school, for example, offers classes in the visual, literary and performing arts, while the popular ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art (held the first weekend in August) features an infusion of more than 100 musical performances, along with film screenings, dance and live theatre.

Outdoor adventures are steadily garnering acclaim, with excellent trail systems available for mountain biking, 29

Gold Rush Dog Sled Mail Run Highway 26 January

Arts Wells Festival Wells B.C. Day Weekend

Winterfest Bridge River Valley

Family Day Weekend

Brigade Days Fort Langley

B.C. Day Weekend

Horsefly Follies Horsefly

April

UnLikely Paddle Fest Likely August

BX & Drive Weekend 70 Mile

May

New West Cultural Crawl New Westminster August

Heritage Week Clinton

May

Annual Plein Air Paint Out Ashcroft May Grafitti Days Cache Creek

June

Williams Lake Stampede Williams Lake

Canada Day Weekend

World Championship Chainsaw Competition Hope August Desert Days Music Festival Spences Bridge August Mid Autumn Moon Festival Barkerville August South Cariboo Garlic Festival Lac La Hache August

Billy Barker Days Quesnel

July

Hot July Nights 100 Mile

Fraser River Gold Panning Championships Boston Bar August

July

Lytton River Festival Lytton Labour Day Weekend

Apricot T’saqwem Festival Lillooet July

Bald Eagle Festival Fraser Valley November

Chris Harris

For more events and details go to www.goldrushtrail.ca

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Image B-06314 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

hiking, snowmobiling and ATV-ing. The surrounding landscape has hundreds of kilometres of stunningly scenic trails – many accessible from the town centre and nearby Jack of Clubs Lake features tranquil canoeing.

Barkerville You have reached the El Dorado of the Gold Rush Trail, where on August 17, 1862 Billy Barker “struck the lead” bringing a boom town to life. Now a Canadian National Historic Site, Barkerville is B.C.’s best known heritage destination and the largest historic site in western North America. Full of colour and vitality with stagecoach rides, live theatre, saloons serving mugs of sarsaparilla, a photo studio, café and bakery, a well-preserved 19th-century Chinatown and intriguing cemetery tours, families love to visit. Interpreters roam the streets as historical characters, greeting newcomers as if they’d just arrived on a Barnard Express stagecoach. 135 restored buildings are on display as ‘locals’ set off to work at the mine or otherwise bring a bygone era to life. As well, the Barkerville Museum houses one of the largest and most important collections of ancient Chinese artifacts outside China. See and hear what it was like to be a blacksmith, a school teacher, a seamstress - or a precocious child - 150+ years ago.

Welcome To New Westminster — The Royal City

The start of your Gold Rush Trail experience is #MadeInNewWest!

Founded in 1859, when British Columbia was just a dream in the hearts of pioneers and gold miners, this was Queen Victoria’s crown jewel—its capital city. The Royal City weaves its rich historical past with its burgeoning entrepreneurial future from the shores of the Fraser River. Whether you are strolling along our picturesque working waterfront, exploring one of our historic neighbourhoods, discovering our cultural attractions, or savouring our cuisine, our city is centrally located and easily accessible from Metro Vancouver.

Explore

Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours Set sail on a voyage and discover the wonders and history of British Columbia’s Mighty Fraser River aboard an authentic paddlewheeler, the M.V. Native.

780 Quayside Drive Toll free: 1.877.825.1302 www.vancouverpaddlewheeler.com

tourism

Eat

Discover

Stay

River Market

Irving House

Inn at the Quay

Have a day of feasting and fun by the Fraser River: enjoy a meal from an award-winning restaurant, enjoy live music, or even try a circus class!

Built in 1865, Irving House is the oldest intact home in BC’s lower mainland. It was constructed by prominent river boat captain William Irving, whose business served miners travelling to the gold rushes in the Fraser Canyon and beyond.

Offering an unparalleled guest experience, with a contemporary vibe and scenic river views, New Westminster’s Intimate Luxe Riverfront Hotel is centrally located on the Fraser River Boardwalk in Western Canada’s oldest city.

810 Quayside Drive 604.520.3881 www.rivermarket.ca

302 Royal Avenue 604.527.4640 www.newwestpcr.ca

900 Quayside Drive Toll free: 1.800.663.2001 www.innatthequay.com

tourismnewwestminster.com /tourismnewwest

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History shaped by nature

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