Circle Routes Scenic Driving Guide

COAST CARIBOO . n voyage, keep your eyes on the shoreline, 1 In Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver, board to 100 Mile House and see an original ocean and sky—wildlife is prolific in this stagecoach. Continue beyond to Clinton, a BC Ferries vessel to set off on the coastal area where whales, dolphins, eagles and where you can jump in the saddle for leg of your journey. In Victoria, take bears are common sights. a real cowboy experience at one of the time to admire the city's gardens, parks, area's many guest ranches. Along with museums and beaches before driving 4 Drive the celebrated "Freedom Highway" delicious home-style cooking and western north to Chemainus, where more than (Hwy 20), named after the determined hospitality, you can ride the range and 40 painted murals have turned the town locals who built the road linking Bella round up cattle. Or explore the countryside into a massive outdoor art gallery. Take Coola to Anahim Lake on the Chilcotin while fishing, hiking, canoeing and time to explore the surrounding Cowichan Plateau. This drive includes a steep, river rafting. Valley—visit artists and artisans or tour the exhilarating switch-backed section—locally many wineries and vineyards. In Nanaimo, 7 Head south towards Pemberton on known as "The Hill"— which rises 1,524 take a heritage tour and stroll along the metres (5,000 feet) above the sea. Note: Hwy 99 and stop at Joffre Lakes Provincial waterfront or head to Newcastle Island This road is mostly paved, but there is also Park, where hanging glaciers crown three Marine Provincial Park where a shoreline a well-maintained gravel section; suitable turquoise-coloured lakes. Complete the of sandstone cliffs, complete with caves for all vehicles. circle route via the spectacular Sea-to-Sky and caverns, awaits your exploration. Highway (Hwy 99). From the mountainHead from Bella Coola past the rugged 2 Continue north towards Parksville. For encircled village of Whistler, travel Coast Mountains to Tweedsmuir Provincial through narrow valleys with snow-capped a scenic side trip, detour west on Hwy 4 Park. BC's largest park spans 981,000 mountains visible in the distance alongside to Port Alberni and the scenic west coast hectares (2,452,500 acres) and offers Howe Sound. The Sea-to-Sky Highway turns of Vancouver Island. Stop and walk through outdoor enthusiasts spectacular scenery, a final corner and the mountains give way the ancient Douglas fir trees of Cathedral wildlife viewing, horseback riding, fishing, to a spectacular view of Vancouver. Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park, or head canoeing and camping in a pristine west and stay at an oceanfront lodge in the wilderness environment. From Nimpo Lake, seaside villages of Ucluelet or Tofino. From charter a float plane to fly over Turner Lake Tofino, visit Hot Springs Cove for a soothing and view one of North America's highest soak in the ocean-cooled hot pools waterfalls—Hunlen Falls plunges 253 m (only accessible by boat or seaplane), and (850 ft) over a sheer rock face. leave your footprints on Long Beach, the 5 Drive from Tatla Lake to Chilko Lake longest stretch of surf-swept sand on along a gravel road for 80 kilometres Vancouver Island's west coast. (50 miles). Angle for trophy-sized rainbow Backtrack along Hwy 4 and head north on and bull trout in the turquoise waters of Hwy 19A to relax on the sandy beaches of Chilko Lake—one of the largest lakes in Parksville and Qualicum Beach—ideal for the Coast Mountains. Continuing east warm, saltwater swimming. Continuing from Riske Creek, detour along 2000 Road north, cast a line from the public fishing (a well-maintained gravel forestry road) pier in Campbell River, dubbed the for 24 km (14 mi) to see hoodoos at "Salmon Capital of the World." Stop in Farwell Canyon and watch for resident Telegraph Cove, a historic boardwalk bighorn sheep. village raised on stilts, and join a 6 Heading east again on Hwy 20, you'll find whale-watching, grizzly bear-watching Williams Lake amid rolling ranchland. Visit or kayaking tour. the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin, also 3 In Port Hardy, board a BC Ferries home to the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame, for vessel on the Discovery Coast Passage. a dose of cowboy culture. Williams Lake is Depending on your sailing, stop in remote also a great spot for mountain biking and coastal communities such as Bella Bella, a launching point for rafting trips on the Shearwater, Klemtu, Ocean Falls and Bella Chilcotin, Chilko and Fraser rivers. Coola where experiences abound including, Drive south on Hwy 97, which follows the fishing, sea kayaking, wildlife viewing route of the Cariboo Wagon Road, and visits to Aboriginal sites. During the Coast Cariboo DBC-SP-72_CircleRts_Reprint2013.indd 7 7 13-06-13 10:37 AM

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