History
Dreams of glorious riches brought thousands into Lillooet during the Cariboo Gold Rush
of the 1850s and 1860s, transforming the area into a boomtown with 13 saloons and 25
licenced premises. The first trail to the Cariboo gold fields, known as the Cariboo
Wagon Road, came through here; the jobs created by the construction of this trail likely
saved the lives of many gold rushers who had lost their money trying to strike
it rich. To this day, Lillooet residents still consider their town "Mile 0" on the
Cariboo Wagon Road, and many towns along the Cariboo Highway are referred to by their
distance north from this trail.
Location
Situated within the Fraser Canyon, Lillooet can be reached via the wonderfully
scenic Highway 99 from Vancouver or Kamloops, or from Lytton via Highway 12.
Places to See
- Lillooet Museum and Visitor Centre.
Formerly the site of a well-known Anglican Church, the Lillooet Museum and Visitor
Centre houses native artifacts, relics from the Gold Rush era, and a recreation of
Ma Murray's old news office. Tourists can pick up an up-to-date visitor's
guide here.
- Miyazaki Heritage House.
During the 1940s, this was the home of Dr. Masajiro Miyazaki, a distinguished leader of the
Japanese-Canadian community for 50 years, and one of two Lillooet residents named to the
Order of Canada (Margaret 'Ma' Murray was the other). He donated his house in 1983, and it
is now used for community events and local artwork display. Free tours are also
available.
Things to Do
- Fishing!
Within the many lakes, rivers, and streams around Lillooet, you can find trout,
sturgeon, Chinook salmon, and steelheads.
- Hiking or mountain biking!
There are over 14 trail systems with more than 200 kilometres of trails to explore.
Knowledgeable staff are available for guided tours.
- Site-seeing on the Fraser River!
Spectacular tours of the Fraser River are offered by Fraser River Jet Boat Adventures.
Go on a relaxing and informative tour detailing the history of the river, or throw
caution to the wind and take an exhilarating trip guaranteed to drench passengers with
river water.
- Guided Horseback Rides!
Rent a horse and tour the scenic benches of the Fraser River, or climb the rugged
mountains nearby. Visitors can rent horses suited for riders of any experience level.
- Gold Panning.
Find out what it was like for the thousands who came to Lillooet hoping to strike it rich
during the Cariboo Gold Rush!
Events
- Gold Rush Days
Held every July at various locations in Lillooet, this is a celebration of Lillooet's
gold rush history. It features dances, horse races, logger sports competitions, a
salmon fest, 'camel' races, and games for kids.
Notable Comments
- "It seems the perfect setting for boundless adventure. One afternoon finds us into
thrills of another genre as we zoom the Fraser River in a high-speed jet boat. Another
day, we hover over a stream, doing a strange hip-swaying motion, hoping for gold nuggets
in a pan. Still more action awaited us on both a horseback trek and a hike above crystal
clear lakes. When it comes to soft adventure, the small town of Lillooet, perched on the
benchlands of the Fraser River, delivers."
- Judi Lees, courtesy of Tourism BC
- "I like Lil-loo-let!"
- Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic four-year old from Kamloops
Contact Information:
Lillooet Visitor Centre
Lillooet Museum
790 Main Street
PO Box 441 , Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0
Telephone: 250-256-4308
Fax: 250-256-0043
Email: lillmuseum@cablelan.net
District of Lillooet
Lillooet Municipal Hall
615 Main Street
PO Box 610
Lillooet, BC V0K 1V0
Telephone: 250-256-4289
Fax: 250-256-4288
Email: cityhall@lillooetbc.com
Web Site: http://lillooetbc.com
