Our road trip began with an evening departure, leaving home at 4:30 pm and heading north. Our first stop for the night was Juniper Beach Provincial Park, a scenic spot along the Thompson River. Arriving late in the dark, we opted to sleep in the truck, cozied up in our sleeping bags. The site was peaceful, though the sound of passing trains continued through the night. Despite that, it was a great place to rest before continuing our adventure.

Exploring Hat Creek Ranch & 108 Mile Ranch

The next morning, with a full day ahead before reaching our next campsite, we took the opportunity to explore some historical sites along our route.

Hat Creek Ranch was the highlight of the day. The well-preserved buildings transported us back in time, and the history of the area was fascinating. One of the most memorable moments was meeting the blacksmith, who crafted a square nail for us right on the spot! The old hotel, with its eerie atmosphere, gave me goosebumps—definitely a place full of stories.

History of Hat Creek Ranch

Hat Creek Ranch, established in 1860 by former Hudson's Bay Company Chief Trader Donald McLean, is a significant heritage site in British Columbia. Originally known as McLean's Station, it served as a vital roadhouse during the Cariboo Gold Rush, offering services to miners, stagecoaches, and travellers along the Cariboo Wagon Road. 

The ranch's location along the Cariboo Wagon Road, made it an essential stopover, providing accommodations, meals, and blacksmithing services to those journeying to the goldfields in search of finding their riches during the gold rush. Over the years, Hat Creek Ranch has preserved its rich history, allowing visitors to explore original heritage buildings, including the historic roadhouse, blacksmith shop, and general store.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of the heritage buildings!

Today, Hat Creek Ranch offers interactive exhibits that bring history to life. During your visit you can try out gold panning, go on a stagecoach ride and even join a blacksmithing workshop! The ranch also hosts various cultural events throughout the year, celebrating the diverse heritage of the region. There was a music festival the weekend we visited, however we did not have the time to check it out as we were heading to Likely, BC.

Beyond its historical significance, Hat Creek Ranch also offers walking trails, picnic areas, and stunning views of surrounding mountains and meadows. This blend of cultural heritage and natural splendour makes it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.  They even have accommodation on the property including camping, cabins and even a stagecoach you can rent and stay in!  If we knew that we would have stayed in the Stagecoach.  

For more detailed information and planning your visit, you can explore the official Hat Creek Ranch website.  

Next, we stopped at 108 Mile Ranch. While we love history, this site didn’t capture our interest as much as Hat Creek. The historical hotel, which has a dark past filled with stories of murder, had been converted into a thrift store, which felt like a missed opportunity to preserve its rich history. However, we did find a book about the hotel’s past, Hotel from Hell: The 108 Mile Murders, based on the Cariboo Gold Rush legend of the McVee family, who allegedly ran the 108 Mile Hotel and were involved in multiple murders.  We just couldn’t resist picking it up.

The best surprise at 108 Mile was the farmers market in full swing. We browsed the booths and enjoyed the lively atmosphere. There were several food trucks on-site, and we treated ourselves to delicious fish and chips from the British Fish and Chip truck, followed by some refreshing ice cream for dessert.

If you have time and are there at the right time of year, you can take in a Ghost Tour which would be pretty cool to do! Maybe next time we visit.

Begbie Fire Lookout - A Great Surprise Along the Way!

On our way to Likely and our campsite for the night, we discovered the Begbie Fire Lookout, a historic site established in 1923.  Perched at an elevation of 1,276 meters, the lookout offers panoramic views of the Cariboo region, encompassing nearly 9 million hectares. Accessed via a short but steep trail, the two-story wooden structure with a wrap-around deck provides a unique glimpse into the region's firefighting history and stunning vistas of the surrounding landscapes. We were able to drive most of the way up to the fire lookout but a sharp switchback proved the last little part of the trek difficult so we parked and walked up the rest of the way.  There is also a parking lot just off the highway for those not wanting to try the drive up the narrow dirt road so you can park and walk up.

Arriving at Cedar Point in Likely, BC

After a day of exploring, we made our way to Cedar Point in Likely, BC, where we had a site booked for the night. The journey was made even more exciting when we spotted a young grizzly bear on the way—likely just a year old! Seeing wildlife up close is always a special moment, and it was the perfect way to cap off an incredible day of adventure.

Stay tuned as we continue exploring BC’s hidden gems, historical sites, and breathtaking landscapes!