Lillooet Circle Route

There are two circle routes that take you through Lillooet a 576 shorter loop through Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton to Lillooet at Lillooet you meet up with the Fraser river and on this trip you follow the Fraser down do Lytton at which point it meets the Thompson River and the Transcanada Highway which continues on down the Fraser Canyon through Boston Bar. Just past Boston Bar is Hells Gate, the narrowest point in the canyon. Here there is a tram that takes you across the river. Then it is down to Hope and across the lower mainland back to Vancouver a seven and a half hour Journey



The longer version of the loops changes directions at Lillooet and takes you east to Cache Creek, you can take a diversion to Ashcroft one of the oldest towns in the area, then on to Kamloops. For there you go into the Merritt Valley through to Princeton. From Princeton you climb up into Manning Park Pass and then down into Hope and back across the lower mainland to Vancouver.

The Route as Far as Lillooet

SQUAMISH, B.C. – outdoor capital of Canada.

Getting to Squamish from Vancouver is a beautiful 45 minute trip along the sea to sky highway, you are winding your way along the side of a fjord, or sound as we call them, with a stunning view of the islands and mountains on the other side.
There are a number of places to stop along the way Porteau Cove provincial park and campground, with its boat launch and scuba area. It also has an emergency ferry terminal which is filled with elevated look outs and park benches sticking out into the sound. The next stop might be the golf course at Furry Creek or perhaps its water front community. However, Britannia Beach more interesting with its local coffee shop and the Britannia Beach Mine Museum.
After this you can take in the Shannon Falls which is a five minute meander from the parking lot.


Immediately after you will find the Sea to Sky Gondola which has a stunning views of Howe Sound and large 9000 foot summit lodge with a cable bridge and viewing platforms. The lodge also looks down on the top of the famous Stawamus Chief. After taking in the gondola the next parking lot is usually filled with hikers head up the Stawamus Chief trail. The Stawamus Chief is a granite dome that overlooks the town of Squamish towering over 700 meters. From the back side trials there are three hiking trails that lead to three different peaks. If you are a climber then the front side will be of more interest.
In Squamish there is plenty of opportunity the rest and visit its brew pub, organic restaurant, shop in its shops. Also along the river there is a excellent viewing spot to watch the eagles feeding on the salmon if you are there at the right time. The town itself is full of hiking trails, miles of them some up into the mounatins and other follow the river valleys inland. It is a very outdoor orient young community.

Squamish courtesy of British Comlumbia.com

The gondola is attracting a whole new species to the Squamish ecosystem – tourists. They’re now mingling with Canada’s youngest and most outdoorsy population in brew pubs, bistros and a chocolate shop. It’s fun to watch the town change, and you have plenty of time to snoop … your destination is just 15 kilometres down the road.

Whistler

From Squamish you continue on the Sea to Sky highway climbing from Squamish at the head of the fjord at sea level to the base of the Whistler Blackcomb ski hill at 2,145 feet, Whistler mountain itself is 7,165 feet from the base. So it has a vertical drop of 5,020 feet as you ski from the top of the peak to the bottom. The ski resort itself is placed on two mountains with a peak to peak gondola connecting the two mountains, with 4,457 acres of skiable in boundary terrain.  It is the largest ski resort in North America and is 50% larger than its nearest competitor. It also has an enormous lift capacity, 5 gondolas, 14 high speed quad chair lifts, 4 triple chairlifts and 3 t-bars. In the summer 10 lifts are open for higher and mountain bikers.

Whistler Blackcomb

There is of course a lot to do in here in the summer as well hiking, canoeing, white water rafting, zip lines, dining, art galleries, museums, really almost anything you wish.

Pemberton

After leaving Whistler you follow the highway North for a 29 minute drive to Pemberton. Along the way you skirt Green Lake, then the road narrows into a deep river gorge. Along the gorge there are pull offs and a campground at Narin Falls Provincial Park. After this you come out into the Pemberton valley, it is an isolated valley is know for its potatoes and summer music concerts. At this point it is wise to rest up have a meal, gas up the car and do those other things you need to do for the next leg of the journey to Lillooet is an hour and 33 minutes up through a stunning alpine pass complete with glaciers. You leave Pemberton route 99 the Pemberton Portage Road. In the small First Nation in Mount Currie you stay on 99 as it turns into the Lillooet Lake Road which winds along the valley floor, until you reach the top of Lillooet Lake. At this point highway 99 turns North and climbs out of the valley onto the Duffey Lake Road.

Joffrey Lake, courtesy of Frédéric Brodeur

Your first stop, if you want a hike you might be Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, nestled below Mount Matier and Joffre Peak. The hike to the lake is an easy 5 minutes but you can continue on to a longer 3 mile hike. The park also contains a walk in wilderness camp site. The road continues on into an alpine meadow surround by glacier capped peaks. In among the mountain there is Keiths's Hut for serious hikers of skiers. As you continue on you come to Duffey Lake where I have often seen people camping in the wilderness.

Duffey Lake, courtesy of Eric Praetzel

Sometime after the lake the road begins to descend into a continually narrowing valley surrounded by fir trees, which eventually breaks out into a much more dry area at Seton Lake, where the fir trees give way to ponderosa pines and sage vegetation more suitable to the dry climate of the valley in which Lillooet is located.

Seton Lake just before Lillooet, courtesy Jamieout

Lillooet

The town of Lillooet, formally Cayoosh Flat or Cayush, is only 820 feet above sea level and in the summer boast some of the hottest temperatures. The word Cayoosh or Cayush is also part of the Chinook trading language used throughout the West which was made up from words from many languages both European and First Nations. It is believed that this word comes from the Spanish word Caballo meaning horse. But in the trading language referred to a horse best suited for work in mountainous territory. It is one of many words you will find through out BC that are connected to this language and many still in local use.

Lillooet on the Fraser River from above photographer unknown

Lillooet was one of the main centres for the 1858 gold rush and they claimed it was the largest town West of Chicago and North of San Fransisco, although they were not the only town to claim this title at that time. It is also the access point to Carpenter Lake, Bralorne and Carpenter lake to the West. Where there are still gold mines and copper and silver prospecting. Lillooet also has a very large deposit of nephrite jade and many massive jade sculptures adore its streets.

Double wagons and a team going to the Cariboo Goldfields in late 1800's.