Saturday, 31 August
Breakfast and Goodbyes
The Caravan hosted a continental breakfast outside the WagonMasters camper. Though this was the last day of the tour, you could tell many were hesitant to leave because of the bonds created during the trip. Many decided to travel together, at least for a while.
The Journey from Prince George, BC, to Clinton, BC
We set off mid-morning, heading south on BC-97 toward the small town of Clinton, about 250 miles away.
The first part of our journey took us through the Fraser River Valley, with farmland mixed with coniferous forests. The area showed signs of the logging industry, with trucks and evidence of timber harvesting along the way. The forests, mainly Douglas fir, pine, and spruce, lined the valley.
About 75 miles in, we reached Quesnel, located where the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers meet. The area became flatter, with large stretches of farmland surrounded by forested hills. Quesnel has a strong connection to the Cariboo Gold Rush, with historic buildings and a downtown that reflects its past. We passed the “World’s Largest Gold Pan” next to the tourist information center at the junction of Highways 26 and 97 North.
Continuing south, we entered the Cariboo Plateau, a region of rolling hills, forests, and many small lakes. The area is popular for fishing. Near Williams Lake, the terrain opened up slightly, blending forests with rangelands. Williams Lake itself is a key community in the region and hosts the annual Williams Lake Stampede, celebrating the local ranching heritage.
Further south, we passed Lac La Hache, a long lake with settlements along its shores. The area was dotted with grazing cattle and offered good spots for fishing and camping. Passing through 100 Mile House, we saw the World’s Largest Cross-Country Skis at the South Cariboo Visitor Centre. These skis commemorate the area’s skiing history.
The names of towns like 100 Mile House date back to the Cariboo Gold Rush in the 1860s. These names reflect their distance from Lillooet, a starting point for miners traveling to the goldfields. Many of these towns began as roadhouses for miners.
As we approached Clinton, the landscape became drier, with grasslands and sagebrush replacing the dense forests.
Clinton
Clinton was a small village of about 600 people. It was initially known as 47 Mile House but was later renamed. Today it provides basic amenities to the local ranching and logging community.
Clinton, BC, is a charming village nestled on the southern edge of the Cariboo country. With a population of around 568 people, Clinton offers a small-town atmosphere with a rich history dating back to the Cariboo Gold Rush. The village was originally known as “Cut-Off Valley” or “7 Mile House” before being renamed in honor of Henry Fiennes Pelham Clinton, the 5th Duke of Newcastle, in 1863.
Clinton Pines RV Park
This small RV park was built on a hill overlooking the village. The check-in was pleasant, and we followed a golf cart to our pull-thru campground. The site was an overly long pull-thru with full hookups next to a terraced campsite.
A food truck called “Big H’s” that served halibut and chips was on site. Even though Clinton was not near an ocean, and we had eaten plenty of Halibut in Alaska, the novelty of a local food truck was appealing. It was mid-afternoon and still too early for dinner, so I checked in with the food truck to ensure they would be open late and have food available when we returned from exploring the area.
The Chasm
We drove back north on BC-97 to visit The Chasm, a natural landmark only 13 miles away and easily accessible from the highway. The Chasm Ecological Reserve View Point offered a chance to explore this remarkable geological feature and its surrounding environment.
The Chasm is a massive gorge stretching approximately 5 miles long, 2,000 feet wide, and around 1,000 feet deep. Its dramatic landscape was shaped by volcanic activity and glacial erosion during the last ice age, roughly 10 million years ago. The canyon walls showcase layers of lava rock, a testament to the area’s volcanic origins.
One of the most striking aspects of The Chasm is the vibrant coloration of its rock layers. Red, brown, yellow, and purple bands, created by mineral deposits, are exposed by centuries of erosion. These colorful formations provide a visual timeline of the geological history preserved in the canyon.
Chasm Creek continues to flow at the bottom of The Chasm, a small but persistent reminder of the forces that helped carve this gorge over thousands of years. As the glaciers receded and water began to run through the region, the creek slowly eroded the volcanic rock, deepening and shaping the gorge we see today.
The surrounding area, part of the Chasm Ecological Reserve, includes forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir and open grasslands that support a variety of plant and animal species.
70 Mile
After leaving The Chasm, we continued our journey toward Green Lake, taking a detour off BC-97 at 70 Mile House. This small community was historically an important roadhouse on the Cariboo Wagon Road, a critical route during the Cariboo Gold Rush in the 1860s. Like many others along the road, its name reflects its distance from Lillooet, the starting point for the gold rush trail.
Before heading toward Green Lake, we briefly stopped at a fascinating roadside attraction in 70 Mile House. An old gas station sat on a lot filled with rusty, weathered vehicles from decades past. The scene looked frozen in time as if preserved from the mid-20th century. Classic cars and trucks, some with peeling paint and others overtaken by vegetation, told silent stories of a bygone era. The gas station itself, with its vintage pumps and faded signage, added to the nostalgic atmosphere, providing an intriguing glimpse into the region’s travel and industry history.
Green Lake Loop
From 70 Mile House, we turn off BC-97 onto N Bonaparte Rod and the Green Lake Loop.
As we approached Green Lake, we passed through a mix of open grasslands and sparse forests of aspen and pine, a transition from the denser forests of the Cariboo Plateau. The landscape became more tranquil, with ranches and scattered cabins dotting the area. Signs along the road advertised horseback riding tours, a popular activity in this region known for its ranching heritage. We also passed cows grazing close to the road.
When we reached the lake, we first drove down the south side before reaching a dead end and then turned around and drove along the north side on North Green Lake Road. The lake’s striking greenish-blue waters are caused by the reflection of light on the lake’s mineral-rich bottom. The lake is relatively shallow, which helps to enhance its brilliant colors, especially on sunny days. The lake is about 9 miles long, and its shoreline has sandy beaches and secluded coves. A mix of private cabins and seasonal homes surrounded the lake. Still, much of the public access to the shoreline was protected as part of Green Lake Provincial Park.
Lone Butte
We turned north on Watch Lake Road toward Lone Butte, passing lake communities along Watch Lake. The road wound through forested areas with mixed pine, spruce, aspen trees, and gentle hills.
As we traveled north, the forest gave way to rolling hills and meadows with ranches, hayfields, and grazing cattle. Small ponds and lakes dotted the landscape.
The terrain became more undulating, with occasional rock outcroppings and expansive valley views. Approaching Lone Butte, the land flattened into open grasslands with a drier climate and less dense forest.
We stopped in a cute roadside park in Lone Butte centered around a historical water tower from the early 1900s that was used to supply steam trains. Lone Butte played an important role in the region’s history when the Pacific Great Eastern Railway was constructed through the area. The community grew due to the railway, becoming a hub for the logging and ranching industries. The park also had a rail car, a museum (not open), interpretive signs, and some picnic tables.
We turned west on the Interlakes Highway (BC-24) and headed back toward BC-97. Around Lone Butte, the area is known for its volcanic origins, which is evident in the butte itself, a prominent geological feature rising above the surrounding landscape. The terrain includes mixed pine, spruce, and aspen forests, with small lakes and wetlands scattered throughout. Small ranches and properties were visible along the roads.
As you travel west, the terrain opens up, with forests giving way to more grasslands and pasture areas. The road winds through gentle hills and valleys, offering open meadows and grazing cattle views. Small creeks and ponds were common.
As we reached BC-97, the landscape became more pastoral, with rolling grasslands and a transition to the flatter terrain of the Fraser Plateau.
Mount Begbie Lookout
We stopped at the Mount Begbie Lookout on our way back to Clinton. I followed a trail to the old fire lookout perched on the mountain from a parking lot at the bottom of a steep hill. The hike was challenging, but the reward at the top was well worth it. The lookout provided panoramic views of the surrounding forests, rivers, and distant mountain peaks, offering a stunning perspective of the Cariboo region.
Inside the lookout, several informational displays explained the history of the site and its role in fire monitoring. The displays also offered details about the area’s geology, wildlife, and natural beauty.
The lookout was named after Judge Matthew Baillie Begbie, known as the “Hanging Judge” for his strict approach to law and order during the tumultuous period of the Cariboo Gold Rush in the mid-19th century. Begbie played a key role in shaping the legal system in British Columbia, and his reputation for enforcing justice firmly earned him his infamous nickname.
Old Clinton Cemetery
We stopped at the old Clinton cemetery near the campground, where “Old Cemetery 1861” was spelled out with rocks on the hillside. This historic cemetery is one of the oldest in the region, with some grave markers dating back to the mid-19th century. It serves as the final resting place for many early pioneers who helped establish the infrastructure of Clinton and the surrounding areas.
The cemetery is a mix of marked and unmarked graves, which was common during that time, especially for those who lacked families or the means to afford proper headstones. The grave markers vary widely, from simple wooden crosses and rough stone markers to more elaborate monuments dedicated to prominent individuals in the community. Some headstones tell stories of the harsh realities faced by early settlers, such as epidemics, fatal accidents, and the everyday struggles of life in a remote and challenging environment. As we walked through the cemetery, the quiet and solemn atmosphere served as a reminder of the resilience and perseverance of those who lived and died in the early days of settlement in the area.
Clinton RV Park
When we returned to the camper, we walked to the food truck and ordered some Halibut and Chips. We found a picnic table under a shade tree and enjoyed the food while enjoying the beautiful weather. We had also ordered a “Magical Herbal Lemonade” and were challenged to guess the ingredients. If we were successful, then we got a free ice cream cookie. We guessed basil, mint, and turmeric and were correct. We picked a rice crispy square ice cream cookie and bought an oatmeal ice cream cookie.