The Fraser Canyon: A road trip through time

Drive the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) east towards Hope. This route travels through the homelands of the Stó:lō Nation, Nlaka’pamux Nation, Sts’ailes, and St’át’imc Peoples, whose living cultures are ever-present through First Nations experiences, art, language, and food. 

Hope is a historic community in the Cascade Mountains along the banks of the Fraser River and Kawkawa Lake. Thrill-seekers can go jet boating, whitewater rafting, or fishing on the Fraser River. Land-based adventures include a hike up to Hope Lookout Trail or a visit to First Nations-managed Sywx̱ Chó:lqw Adventure Park to check out the bike skills park and hiking trails. Hope also offers its share of whimsy, including a collection of intricate chainsaw carvings and a self-guided tour of filming locations from the movie Rambo First Blood (complete with a Rambo carving). 

The town’s kaleidoscope of stories are everywhere, from the Fraser River Gold Rush in the 1800s to the Canadian Pacific Railway expansion, on full display at the Othello Tunnels, and engineering marvel in Coquihalla Park. Be sure to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden in Hope Memorial Park, a tribute to the Japanese Canadians interned here during WWII. 

Wind down the day at Mountainview Brewing for local vibes, craft beer, and a hearty bite.

As Highway 1 winds north you’ll come to the Yale Historic Site, once the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. Its role as a Hudson’s Bay Company outpost and a main access point to the Gold Rush’s Cariboo Wagon Road made this community a bustling hub. Visit the buildings constructed in the 1800s, pan for gold, and learn about the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples and settlers in the area.

Drive 20 minutes north of Yale to explore Alexandra Bridge Park, home to an ornate bridge that served as a Fraser River crossing for the Cariboo Wagon Road, transporting prospectors to the gold fields. There is plenty of fun to be had at this stop, including salmon fishing, hiking, and biking.

With its dramatic gorges, towering canyon walls, and raging rapids, the Fraser Canyon along Highway 1 is a visually striking drive. The First Nations cultures and settler history make this area as intriguing as it is scenic.

Long before the area became a fur trading and gold mining frontier, this was the home of the Nlaka’pamux Nation. You can experience their culture and history by visiting Tuckkwiowhum Heritage Village, located just 30 minutes north of Yale in Boston Bar. Learn about harvesting, sample traditional fare, and take cultural workshops as you wander the ancient village site. 

Ride the Hell’s Gate Airtram, one of the steepest, fully-suspended airtrams on the continent, as it travels over the most powerful and treacherous rapids on the Fraser River. Extend your trip in Boston Bar by spending a night at REO Rafting Resort for riverfront glamping, whitewater rafting, and yoga.

Up the adventure ante with a visit to Mehatl Creek Park, where alpine meadows, cascading falls, and pristine old-growth forests await. This is a remote, undeveloped park, so you will need to be self-sufficient. To get there, drive northwest from Boston Bar along the Nahatlatch Forest Service Road.

Continue north on Highway 1 to the Village of Lytton, located at the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser rivers, which creates a colourful canvas of swirling waters. While this small interior community is still in the midst of rebuilding after a major wildfire in 2021, there are several accommodations, amenities, and experiences open and ready to receive visitors. In town, you can support local businesses, try geocaching at coveted locations, and attend community events like the Lytton River Festival in late summer. The newly rebuilt Chinese History Museum shares the story of Chinese Canadians’ important contributions to mining, farming, and the railway in this area. 

Lytton was dubbed the Whitewater Rafting Capital of Canada and you can see why first-hand at Kumsheen Resort, which offers whitewater rafting on the Fraser and Thompson rivers. They have glamping tents and teepees, a restaurant, and a coffee shop for all travellers. 

The Lytton area is also a steppingstone to amazing hiking trails and parks. Visit Skihist Park for camping and river activities. Take the Fraser River Reaction Ferry to experience Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park, home to more than 150 kilometres (93 miles) of hiking trails and to Indigenous pictographs and petroglyphs.

Drive northwest via Highway 12 to Lillooet, a laidback, rural town for active travellers, history buffs, and wine lovers alike. 

At the edge of the Coast Mountains and with the Fraser River running through town, Lillooet offers nature lovers a bounty of nearby outdoor recreation. There are several easy and moderate hiking trails that wind through historic sites and along riverbanks. Catch-and-release fishing for giant sturgeon with River Monster Adventures is a dream-list activity for anglers, while nearby Seton Lake offers camping and paddling. Lillooet is also home to whitewater rafting, jet boating, and helicopter tours.

For a taste of culture, visit historical sites like the Jade Walk along Main Street, the 1890s Miyazaki House, and the Mile “0” Cairn. Xwísten Experience Tours, led by the St’át’imc Nation, brings you to fishing grounds where you’ll learn traditional fish preserving techniques and enjoy a feast. For a fun day trip, take a quaint two-car train through the dramatic mountain passes between Lillooet and Seton Portage on the Kaoham Shuttle.

Après overlooking the dramatic landscapes at Fort Berens Estate Winery or Lillooet Brewing Company.  

Learn more about travelling through Nature’s Heartland.