Interpretive / Historical

While it was gold that opened up the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region to the world, First Nations people thrived on this diverse landscape for thousands of years before Europeans arrived late in the 18th century. European fur-traders trickled into the country, trading furs for oil rich eulachon (small fish) with coastal First Nations, and taking beaver and other furs from what was then ‘New Caledonia’. 50 years later gold was discovered on the Fraser River, and in 1858 the Cariboo Gold Rush was on! Billy Barker struck one of the area’s greatest gold claims, and tens of thousands of people made their way to the goldlfields, converging mainly on the bustling boomtown of Barkerville. By 1864, Barkerville was the largest town north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. In 1858 the first commercial herd of cattle was trailed from Oregon for sale to hungry miners with thousands of head to follow. By the 1880s, the Cariboo Gold Rush was in decline. Many prospectors left the region, but many also saw the opportunity in the bunchgrass hills and stayed to raise cattle. Ranching remains a vibrant industry in the region, in fact many of BC’s oldest ranches can be found here. What does this all add up to? The gold rush and pioneering spirit is alive and well in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of BC.

Operators

Chilcotin

Chilcotin Holidays
Gold Bridge, BC
Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures
Riske Creek, BC

Coast

Tweedsmuir Park Lodge
Bella Coola, BC
Brockton House Inn
Hagensborg, BC
BC Ferries
Victoria, BC