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The Cariboo

Visit the Cariboo, Canada

Visit the Cariboo, Canada

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The rolling ranching country and immense forests of British Columbia’s interior plateau extends north from Lillooet between the Coast Mountains to the west and the Cariboo Mountains in the east: it is known as the Cariboo.

Gold rush history

The region became prominent with the discovery of gold and, between 1862 and 1870, over 100,000 people travelled from Lillooet along the Cariboo wagon road to the gold fields. A number of roadhouses were built to supply this human tide, 100 Mile House was originally one of these stopping points, so named because it was located 100 miles from Lillooet.

Other settlements established at this time include Clinton, Williams Lake, Quesnel and Barkerville which, as a restored gold rush town, is the most atmospheric.

As the gold rush subsided some prospectors stayed to farm the land: today this is prime ranching country, criss–crossed by the canyons and ravines of the Fraser and Thompson rivers.

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who's been there

Audley Travel Specialist Kerry

Start planning your tailor-made trip to the Cariboo by contacting one of our Canada specialists

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Suggested itineraries featuring the Cariboo

This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in the Cariboo, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Map of the Cariboo

Places & hotels on the map

    Places near the Cariboo

    Accommodation choices for the Cariboo

    We’ve selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit the Cariboo. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.

    • Alpine Meadows Resort, Clearwater - Wells Gray Provincial Park

      Alpine Meadows Resort

      Medium

      Alpine Meadows Resort is located in one of the world’s richest outdoor destinations, just an hour’s drive from Wells Gray Provincial Park, offering a truly authentic Canadian wilderness feel.

    • Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, Clinton

      Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

      First Class

      Located in the heart of the Cariboo Mountains, Echo Valley is a little slice of heaven in British Columbia's rugged interior. It offers guests one of western Canada's best ranch experiences with horse riding, a Thai spa, mountain biking and fly fishing.

    • The ranch house, Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort, 70 Mile House

      Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort

      First Class

      Surrounded by 80,000 acres of pristine wilderness, remote Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort is a private and exclusive hideaway.

    Ideas for experiencing the Cariboo

    Our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know the places that could feature in your trip. These activities reflect some of the experiences they've most enjoyed while visiting the Cariboo, and which use the best local guides.

    • Dawson Falls, Wells Gray Provincial Park

      White Water Rafting

      The Cariboo

      The Clearwater River is one of the best rivers to raft in British Columbia as it is one of the only rivers that runs through Wells Gray Provincial Park and not along a highway.