Photography Provided By: Blackcomb Helicopters, Copper Cayuse Outfitters, Pemberton & District Museum, C. Cindric

Search for gold on the Historic Li-lik-hel Mine Expedition with Copper Cayuse Outfitters. Ride trails that were originally cut by the miners and have been pounded in by years of horses transporting gold ore to the rail-head in the early 1900’s. Spend three days and two nights in BC’s spectacular Coast Mountain Range. During this time, you’ll explore the beautiful mountain range between Birkenhead Lake and the Li-lik-hel mine.

The Pemberton Museum explores the history of the Pemberton Valley, from its beginnings as a home to Lil’wat Nation – who settled at the foot of towering Mount Currie and at the head of Lillooet Lake – to the arrival of European settlers in the late 1880s, to its role as a farming community.  You can also explore Pemberton’s historical sites on the self-guided Heritage Walking Tour. Visit the Pemberton Museum for more information.

Looking to get up, up, up and out of this world? Blackcomb Helicopter’s heli-adventures is your ticket to fly. Enjoy a gourmet picnic on top of the world or hit a golf ball off the towering Mount Currie or paddleboard on a pristine alpine lake or take your alpine hiking adventures to new heights or try your hand at alpine fishing.

Explore the beautiful views of Pemberton, BC from the sky on an exciting helicopter tour for the ultimate BC experience.

A self-guided farm tour experience for folks of all ages created to help share the stories of our local farmers and producers and offer up a farm country experience…Pemberton style! Purchase organically grown vegetables and flowers direct from the farm, indulge in freshly baked goodies, enjoy a locally grown craft beer or try Pemberton’s famous potato distilled liquors. Do as much or as little of the tour as you like…it’s a local farming choose your own adventure.

To find out more about the participating farms and venues and to download the brochure map, visit the Pemberton Farm Tour.

Go even further off the beaten path and reconnect with the natural world with one of these hikes into the backcountry.

Tenquille Lake Branch 12 Trail
Trail Distance: 12km return trip / Approximately 4.5 hours
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Distance from Pemberton: 1 hour 15 minutes by vehicle

Description: The easiest route accessed by 4wd vehicle. Start near the end of Tenquille Lake West Road, accessible from Branch 12 off the Hurley River Forest Service Road. The trail leads northwest ascending the upper Wolverine Creek drainage where it meets the trail from the Lillooet river bridge. Trail grade is generally gentle, and the route offers views of the Pemberton Valley. About 5km in, you’ll reach the meadows at Tenquille Pass before descending to Tenquille Lake. Outhouses available at Tenquille Lake.

Tenquille Lake Lillooet River Valley Access
Trail Distance: 19km return trip / Approximately 9 hours
Difficulty Rating: Moderate / Difficult
Distance from Pemberton: 30 minutes by vehicle

Description: Although the hike is extremely strenuous, you’re rewarded with vistas of the valley below as well beautiful meadows filled with wildflowers. Part of this trail goes through a burn area from a forest fire in 2009. After crossing Wolverine Creek, the trail meets up with the Branch 12 route, climbs through Tenquille Pass then descends to Tenquille Lake. It is not advised to use this trail on windy days due to the danger of trees falling over. Accessible by 2wd from Pemberton. Outhouses available at Tenquille Lake.

For more information on these hikes, please download the Pemberton Hiking Map or stop in at the Pemberton Visitor Centre to pick-up a hard copy of the map.

Be Prepared!

Ensure your vehicle is equipped for your journey and check driving conditions before departing. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing and be ready for changes in the weather when adventuring into the mountains, during all seasons. Come prepared with food, water, maps and first aid supplies. Know which areas do not have cell service and whenever possible, travel with a companion.

Visit adventuresmart.ca for helpful outdoor recreation information and to leave a trip plan.

Photography Provided By: Brad Kasselman, Eckhard Zeidler, Yvon Maurice, Fraser Canyon River Ranch

As you descend the switchbacks into Lillooet, your first stop should be the Seton Lake lookout. Turn your attention to the cliffs and see if you can spot the mountain goats that are often seen here.

Need a swim? Continue a short ways down the highway and turn into the Seton Lake beach parking lot. Enjoy the turquoise waters of Seton Lake or check out the Naxwit Picnic site by the Seton River for a great place to relax over your picnic lunch.

You may also want to explore the walking trails winding through the BC Hydro Campsite. Continue a short distance along the highway until you see the sign for the Seton Spawning channel and the Splitrock Environmental Centre. Splitrock, owned and operated by the Sekw’el’was community, is an award-winning aboriginal business specializing in environmental stewardship. It operates a native plant nursery onsite, which is well worth the visit. While you’re there,  be sure to walk the twenty minute loop trail that takes in the spawning channels, and provides the opportunity for wildlife viewing. The spawning channel is ideal habitat for bird viewing, as well as beaver, river otter, coyote or maybe even a bear (particularly in the fall when the fish are running!).

Yup – all this, and you haven’t even hit Lillooet yet!!

Come visit the Bridge River Fishing Grounds, the past and current fishing area of the St’át’imc People. Learn about the traditional wind-dried method of preserving the salmon still used today. Join our guides on a tour of an extensive archaeological village site containing over 80 identified pit houses (s7ístken) – the traditional winter homes of the St’át’imc people. Finish your Xwisten Experience Tour with a Salmon BBQ, complete with salmon, rice, salad, bannock and the traditional dessert dish of whipped berries (sxúsum).

Lillooet’s gently sloping benches; deep, well-drained glaciofluvial and aeolian soils; and abundant sunshine are ideal foundations for the growth of Lillooet Grown fruits, vegetables, and ferments. Lately, the roots of vines at wineries like Fort Berens Estate Winery, and the further afield Cliff & Gorge Vineyards appear to have struck gold, and are generously sharing this discovery as a wealth of flavour for anyone trying the wines. Enjoy a locally-sourced culinary experience at Fort Berens’ Kitchen or bring a picnic down to Cliff & Gorge, and get to know the Lillooet appellation.

“Crystal clear” and “tranquil” are not useful words when describing the Fraser River, but spend enough time on or around it and we’re sure it will grow on you. Lillooet’s Fraser River operators – whether River Monster Adventures, Fraser Canyon River Ranch, or Fraser River Sturgeon Charters – are already beyond help as far as their love of the Fraser is concerned, and like nothing better than to share this love with others through tours hunting for gold, taking in the movement and sights of the river’s course, or questing for the legendary sturgeon:  Pig Nose.

The Historic Suspension Bridge, built in 1913, is a must-see Lillooet attraction. This picturesque old structure was the original bridge across the Fraser River and replaced the winch-powered ferry previously used. As you walk the bridge and view the rushing Fraser, consider how this mighty river and its fish have for centuries been the lifeblood of the indigenous people of the region.

Today, the Old Bridge is home to several bat habitat boxes (if you’re there at dusk, you might even get to see the bats!) and an osprey nest. When you’re back ‘in range’, you can check out the osprey up-close-and-personal at their very own web cam.

With so many making Lillooet their home for so many years, you’d be right to expect some good yarns. In 2010, The Lillooet & District Historical Society set out to collect, comprehend, and share a selection of these, and their self-guided Golden Miles of History tour takes you from a time practically immemorial – with salmon runs reportedly numerous enough you could cross the Fraser on their backs – to the more recent efforts of an eccentric uranium prospector to ride out the Cold War. While you’re at it, keep an eye out for Lillooet’s nephrite Jade monuments, the Mile “0” Cairn that marked the beginning of the Cariboo Wagon road, and for the venerable Miyazaki House , which houses the Lillooet Visitor and Information Centre.

Lillooet offers a diverse variety of walking and hiking trails. From a leisurely stroll close to town to a rugged ‘all-dayer’ from a remote trail head, you’ll likely find something from our ‘Guaranteed Rugged’ suite to suit your tastes. Like all the best secrets, though, ya kinda need to do a little digging to get the intel. Make it easy on yourself, and visit one of Lillooet’s many businesses that carry the Lillooet Naturalists’ Society’s hiking guide ‘Canyon to Alpine’ and purchase a copy. This little book (yes, book – how ‘out of range’ is that?!) provides detailed directions plus loads of additional information on flora, fauna and history. Bonus – buying the guide supports both the local business and the society – win-win-win.

Photography Provided By: Jonny Bierman, Bralorne Pub, Bralorne Pioneer Museum, Haylmore Heritage Site, Blake Jorgenson, Michelle Nortje

Paddleboard on the clearest lake in North America, Gun Lake, at dawn. Learn about the history of gold mining over at the Haylmore Heritage Site, dress up as a miner and try your hand at panning for gold.

For a taste of history, check out the Bralorne Museum, church and abandoned mine sites and ghost towns. Don’t forget to enjoy a cold beverage at the Bralorne Pub in town and share stories with the locals!  Stop at On the Fly Market for an eclectic mix of locally sourced crafts and products.

Walk on a remote glaciers edge – where few footsteps have been before – or experience ‘off the grid’ guided backcountry hiking and mountain biking with Tyax Adventures.  Take a guided multi-night horseback trip into South Chilcotin Park with Chilcotin Holidays. Experience the deep backcountry and the spend the night at Lil’Tem Mountain Hotel in Tsal’alh.  Enjoy an exquisite meal on the deck of Tyax Lodge and relax in your well appointed room before heading off to a spa treatment.