 The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast is a land of big adventure and
wide-open spaces.  Visit real working ranches and ride over
rolling rangeland. Fish the provinces best freshwater lakes
and secluded saltwater inlets. British Columbia's wild history
comes to life with rodeos, heritage villages and historic First
Nations communities.
In the 1800s miners from all over the world rushed to the
Cariboo Chilcotin. The small towns boomed into cities almost
overnight
with men eager to strike it rich in the gold fields. Gold
fever had hit British  Columbia and with it came a legendary
era of
saloons, cowboys and Wild West frontier adventure. Eventually,
the gold rush died out. With it went the miners and the bustling
cities soon turned into empty buildings. Today, the legends
and ghost towns have been faithfully brought back to life
in towns like Barkerville, but the frontier adventure has
always
been alive and well.
The Cariboo Chilcotin Coast is a big region. It stretches
from near the Alberta border all the way west to the Pacific
Ocean.
Over 600 km (375 miles) wide, people who come in search of
wide-open spaces are never disappointed. Diverse in scenery,
rich in history and full of adventure, the Cariboo, the Chilcotin
and the Coast regions are British Columbia's real west.
 Cariboo
The Cariboo is the east portion of the region and is
accessible via Highway 97 the old Gold Rush Trail. The Trail
is
clearly marked by signposts. Starting in the south at Clinton
the
Cariboo region stretches north to Quesnel and beyond
to Prince George.
A stop at the mining frontier town of Barkerville is
always a favourite. The gold-rich town of Barkerville sprang
up
in the 1860s after a British prospector named Billy
Barker struck
it rich on Williams Creek. Completely restored, the
town brings the rough gold-rush days to life. More »
 Chilcotin
The Chilcotin is a land of dramatic landscapes dominated
by ranchlands, cut by rivers, dotted with lakes, pine
and spruce
forests and grasslands where grizzlies, caribou, mountain
goat, moose, bighorn sheep and deer roam free. Thousands
of cattle
roam the rolling hills and this is a land where cowboys
still reign. The famous Gang Ranch still exists. The
Chilcotin starts in the south at Lillooet, Mile “0” on
the Cariboo Waggon Road, and this environment is dominated
by the desert
flats of the Fraser River canyon which slowly transition
as you head north into a semi-arid region of sagebrush
and prickly-pear
cactus. As you near Alexis Creek in the central Chilcotin
you encounter rolling forests and ranchland crisscrossed
by river
valleys. West Chilcotin is accessible along Highway 20
and as you approach the community of Anahim Lake the
landscape of foothills change to snow-capped peaks as
the plateau
rises
into the Coast Mountains. More »
 Central Coast
The Central Coast provides the most awe-inspiring sport
fishing and scenery in the Region. Hundreds of kilometers
of
rivers flow
down from the Coast Mountains, but the saltwater inlets
and channels cause the most excitement. Home to salmon,
halibut
and cod, the beauty of the mountainous fjords drew settlers
from as far as Norway. Explore over 400 km of protected
waterway by boat, stopping to see abandoned towns and
beautiful secluded
harbours. The town of Bella Coola is home to several
West Coast native artists and a museum that recounts
First Nation's
history
before contact with European explorers. More »
Full of adventure, living history and beauty, the Cariboo
Chilcotin Coast is far more than British Columbia's answer
to the Old
West - it is the living Wild West.
Circle Tours
A number of route-marked self-guided circle tours have been
developed to aid the traveler explore the wonders of British
Columbia and three include excursions through the Cariboo Chicotin
Coast.
The Gold Rush Trail is approximately 1,900 km long and can
take from 7 and 10 days to drive. Many of British Columbia's
highways follow the trails used by the early gold seekers.
All along these routes are artifacts and remnants of the
early pioneers. Drive this tour and relive their journeys
through steep canyons, raging rivers and high mountain passes.
The
roads are greatly improved, but the scenery is as rugged
as
ever. More »
The Totem Circle Tour covers over 2,500 km and can take
anywhere from one to two weeks to drive and is suited
for those interested
in exploring the culture of British Columbia's First
Nations people. Passing through historic sites and villages
that
will bring you face to face with the people, their art,
stories and history. Witness the province's most beautiful
and awe-inspiring
scenery as you travel overland through the heart of the
province and sail the Inside Passage down through the
coast's magnificent
fjords and rainforests. More »
The Discovery Coast Circle Tour allows travelers to experience
all the diversity that BC has to offer, including the
cowboy towns of the Cariboo, the rainforest and the
grasslands of the Chilcotin plateau. This really is a tour
of discovery.
For those with the urge to really get out there - in
a
car,
an RV, or a pair of hiking boots - BC Ferries presents
a remarkable summer route between Port Hardy and Bella
Coola.
It follows
a coastline so remote BC Ferries calls it the Discovery
Coast Passage.
More »
Links
Need a place to stay or camp while exploring the Cariboo
Chilcotin Coast?
Discover Cariboo
Chilcotin Coast Sub Regions
Explore the Communities of the Cariboo
Chilcotin Coast
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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