Cariboo, Chilcotin & Coast

Introducing Cariboo, Chilcotin & Coast

This vast and beautiful region covers much of BC after the last of the tourist hordes have thinned out north of Whistler. As the name implies, it comprises three very distinct areas. The Cariboo region comprises numerous ranches and terrain little changed from the 1850s when the ‘Gold Rush Trail’ passed through from Lillooet to Barkerville. There are two noteworthy provincial parks here: untamed Wells Gray and canoe-happy Bowron Lake.

Populated with more moose than people, the Chilcotin lies to the west of Hwy 97 which is the north–south spine of the region. Its mostly wild rolling landscape has a few ranches and some aboriginal villages. Hwy 20 travels west from Williams Lake to the spectacular Bella Coola Valley – a bear-and-wildlife-filled inlet from the coast where adventure abounds.

Much of the region can be reached via Hwy 97 and you can build a circle itinerary to other parts of BC via Prince George in the north. The Bella Coola Valley is served by a ferry from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, which makes for all sorts of neat circle route possibilities.

There is daily Greyhound Canada (800-661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) service along Hwy 97 to/from Prince George.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009