Follow Trails to Discovery

B.C. Destinations

By Terri Mason

The towering peaks, hushed forests and tumbling waterfalls of British Columbia are the scenic backdrop to some of the oldest and largest ranches in Canada - and a mother lode of gold rush history. Pan for gold, retrace famous gold rush trails and ride with working cowboys.

Travel the Cariboo Waggon Road, once called "the eighth wonder of the world," and the path of choice for settlers, prospectors and miners. A visit to 108 Heritage Site takes you back to the famous Mile Houses on the Gold Rush Trail, so named because of their distance (e.g. 108 miles) from Lillooet, the official starting point of the first road to the Cariboo goldfields. Here you can visit several heritage buildings, including the BX stagecoach barn. Pan for gold along the Cottonwood River. The region even has its own genuine ghost town at Quesnel Forks, once a major centre of the Cariboo Gold Rush. This is the year to make that long dreamed of trip to Barkerville. The famous historic town has over 125 restored heritage buildings, live theatre, accommodations and dining.

The ranch offers a wealth of recreation and accommodation ranging from a full-service luxury lodge or a private ranch house to simple cottages and yurts. The Stump Lake Ranch has been a working ranch since 1883. Today it offers horseback riding, pony rides, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and the opportunity to spend a day driving cattle on the range with working cowboys. Guests stay in the original ranch building, which has been kitted up to luxury standards with a western flair.

At the O'Keefe Ranch near Vernon, tour the antiques, rare breed farm animals, O’Keefe mansion and enjoy a meal in the restaurant. The O’Keefe is also home to the annual Cowboy Festival and Ranch Rodeo featuring top working cowboys from historic ranches.

These are just a few of the thousands of B.C. destinations.

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