Canine Pleasant Highway Journey British Columbia: Lillooet, Kamloops & Clearwater

From the rugged coast to the majestic Rocky Mountains, British Columbia is a province to behold! For a very real experience, get off the crushed path and uncover numerous the smaller cities and fewer recognized factors of curiosity collectively together with your pet!

 

British Columbia is a province stuffed with spectacular areas. Whistler, Vancouver, Kamloops and the Okanagan may immediately pop to ideas. And they also’re fully improbable pillars for any journey. Nevertheless should you want to uncover just a few of BC’s hidden gems, seize the leash and hop inside the vehicle for a canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia!

We’ve prepared your itinerary, stuffed with adventures and recollections, visiting just a few of those lesser traveled areas. Beginning in Vancouver, the highlights of this canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia are: Lillooet, Kamloops, Clearwater and 100 Mile Residence.

On the way in which by which you’ll discover waterfalls, an azure lake, mountains, desert panorama, hoodoos, and additional. That’s pretty very good for just a few days! And to prime it off, we’ll share some free lakeside campsites the place you probably can preserve.

Canine Nice British Columbia Freeway Journey Itinerary

We began this circle tour in Vancouver, touring to Lillooet, Kamloops, Clear Water, 100 Mile Residence, and once more to Vancouver. Nevertheless it’s possible you’ll hop on the route anyplace and journey it in each course.

First Stop: Lillooet, British Columbia

I was fully in awe in Lillooet. All over I parked the car there was a towering mountain backdrop.

Lillooet is a metropolis of breathtaking environment. Whichever course you enter from, you’ll be struck by it immediately. Driving up from Vancouver I pulled over many situations merely to soak up the panorama. Coming in on from the west on Freeway 99, you’ll be greeted sooner than you get to metropolis by Seton Lake. And proper right here you’ll uncover your first chance with out spending a dime tenting!

 

Canine Nice Actions In Lillooet, British Columbia

Seton Lake

Decrease than 10 minutes from downtown Lillooet (and all through from a free campground) is the splendidly blue Seton Lake. Picnic, paddle board, swim, or launch a ship for a tremendous day on the lake collectively together with your canine.

To entry the canine nice part of the lakeshore observe Seton Lake Reserve Freeway to a lakeside car parking zone. The first seaside shouldn’t be open to pets.

Seton Viewpoint Path

After admiring Seton Lake up shut, you probably can hike to an epic lookout above it. Overlooking the lake and one among many hair pin turns you’ll drive on to achieve it, it makes for a very cool {photograph} opp!

To achieve the parking area, enter “Seton Lake Viewpoint Path” in your mapping app. It’s robust to determine the trailhead whereas driving, so park inside the huge pullout here.

The trailhead is a jaunt all through the freeway from this pullout. Though it’s an uphill stroll that need to be taken slowly on account of cliff edges near the trail, attempt to be to achieve the viewpoint in 10-Quarter-hour.

When you’re a daybreak or sunset chaser, then circle this stop in your map for optimistic! It’s phenomenal any time of day, nevertheless first light and the golden hour may very well be actually explicit. We visited in mid-afternoon and beloved the view.

 

Osprey Park

After collaborating in and adventuring throughout the lake, head by way of Lillooet to Osprey Park. This scenic riverside area supplies you the prospect to see marmots and osprey up shut!

The osprey have constructed an enormous nest on prime of the bridge so it’s simple to determine them. There’s exploring to do on, over, and beneath the foot bridge.

After that there’s a short, beautiful riverside path to walk. Proper right here you obtained’t be succesful to overlook the calls of marmots. There truly are various them, so in case your pup is tempted to chase wildlife, you’ll need to keep tight to the leash!

Marmots reside underground and are members of the squirrel family, nevertheless are rather a lot, rather a lot larger. They’re skittish — not the sort of wildlife it’s a should to concern about approaching you or your canine.

 

The place To Maintain In Lillooet

• Reynolds Resort – A boutique lodge in downtown Lillooet. Prices from $129-$179/night, plus $15/night for pets.
• BC Hydro Campground – All through from Seton Lake. Approximate open dates from mid-May by way of mid-September. First come, first serve. Free for a most 14 days.

The place To Eat In Lillooet

• Fort Berens Winery – Lovely outside patio setting and grass area. Award profitable wines from British Columbia’s newest and most enjoyable rising wine space. Title ahead for reservations!
• Lillooet Brewing Agency – A mannequin new brewery set to open in late 2022. Craft beers constructed from native and pure substances.
• Abundance Artisan Bakery – “Healthful Handmade Meals.” Bakery objects, pizzas and pasta served on a cute picket patio.

Touring From Lillooet To Kamloops

As you allow Lillooet, uncover the desert panorama on the other side of the freeway. It’s pretty unusual to see this terrain in British Columbia!

 

Marble Canyon Provincial Park

Between Lillooet and Kamloops plan to have a riverside campfire picnic at Marble Canyon. There’s a day use area with many picnic tables and fireside rings correct on the river.

All through the river there’s a waterfall cascading down the cliff to complete the scene. Paid tenting is accessible proper right here too, once you need to preserve.

 

Juniper Seaside Provincial Park

One different choice to stretch your legs as your canine nice freeway journey by way of British Columbia takes you to Kamloops is Juniper Seaside Provincial Park. Proper right here you probably can uncover the desert panorama and stroll alongside the Thompson River. Or choose this as a spot to setup camp in your technique to Kamloops!

Kamloops Hoodoos

Merely sooner than you attain Kamloops from Lillooet, plan a stop to see the balancing rock and hoodoos. This generally is a favorite of mine, and hope will most likely be for you too!

This generally is a pleasant little journey with good lake views and a path to distinctive geographical formations. To hunt out it, kind in “Kamloops Balancing Rock and Hoodoos” to your mapping app.

The parking area may very well be very small and unsigned. Coming from Lillooet, will most likely be in your reverse side, and it’s greatest to drive earlier it, uncover a protected place to indicate spherical, after which entry it from the similar side of the freeway.

Once you’re parked, head by way of the fence and all the way in which all the way down to the right to start out discovering all the distinctive formations. (And watch out for little cacti!)

 

Second Stop: Kamloops, British Columbia

Kamloops is the largest metropolis on our itinerary. Resulting from this reality, it’s a tremendous place to refill on any requirements. (Although most requirements might be present in all of the cities, if important).

Spherical Kamloops you and your canine can sit up for improbable, warmth sunset desert walks and discovering hoodoos!

READ MORE ⇒ 7 Essentials For Desert Hiking With Your Dog

Canine Nice Actions In Kamloops, British Columbia

Buse Hill

For a relatively temporary hike (barely under 2km a way), Buse Hill delivers with an unexpetedly rewarding payoff. You may spend additional time proper right here than you’d anticipate!

Discovering the top rock was pleasant, and taking inside the valley views beneath made for a tremendous hike with Riley. The light vibrant tones over the desert created an extra peaceful night time to benefit from.

Two notes of warning for this stroll are doable cow encounters and the cliff edges once you attain the very best.

Buse Hill is positioned here. There isn’t any sign for the trail, so sit up for the sign asking vehicles to stay on the freeway. That’s the place the trail begins and the place you’ll want to park.

Seek for the observe heading up the grassy hill to the forest to start out your stroll. The trail was worn successfully and was simple to watch.

 

Deep Lake Hike

Deep Lake is a 3.4km loop path by way of desert grassland that entails a small, open lake inside the hills. It’s thought-about fairly troublesome and encounters with cows and completely different wildlife are doable.

Riley suggests making noise on any path to let wildlife and animals know of your presence so that they aren’t startled.

There are so many canine nice parks and trails to check out spherical Kamloops. Proper right here’s a list of these we’re hoping to go to on our subsequent journey:

• Kenna Cartwright Park – An off-leash park with over 40km of trails and loads of overlooks of Kamloops.
• Peterson Creek Park – Identical to Kenna Cartwright Park with 10km of trails.
• Dallas Barnhartvale Nature Park – Try the Pussy Willow or Hoodoo trails for most interesting views of the silt bluffs created by a earlier glacial lake.
• Mara Loop Path – 4.3km loop path by way of Kamloops’ desert panorama. Not advisable for respectable days, because it’s completely uncovered.

 

Canine Seashores In Kamloops

When you occur to’re in Kamloops on a scorching day, there are two native canine seashores to check out. A very powerful is at Overlander Park. This massive, off-leash expanse of white sand alongside the river and in no way feels too crowded.

For an on-leash canine seaside, head to Pioneer Park in downtown Kamloops. Proper right here your pup can have a splash inside the river, then profit from the paved strolling trails.

A third chance is at Paul Lake Provincial Park, barely under half-hour from Kamloops. It’s not terribly widespread for provincial parks to have a selected canine seaside., so this place is a gem! And it’s possible you’ll camp proper right here, too.

The place To Eat In Kamloops

• Eat Clear Categorical – Healthful, guilt free indulgences. Good selections for a takeaway lunch, just a few seats for street-side consuming. Vegan nice.
• The Paintings We Are Cafe – Wraps, sandwiches, soups, salads with a sturdy take care of native sourcing and a street side patio. Vegan nice.
• Shiny Eye Brewing – “Imaginative and always evolving kitchen menu.” Dine on the canine nice patio, or order drafts and meals for pickup.

The place To Maintain In Kamloops

• Edith Lake – Picturesque desert lake campground with web sites correct on the water. $15.00 per night from April 2 – October 10.
• Paul Lake Provincial Park – Big campground set on a scenic lake with alternate options for climbing, swimming and boating. Starting at $28 per night.
• The Plaza Resort – Fairly modern decor with value vary pricing. As little as $90 per night. Pet cost $25/night max 2 pets, welcome current for pets on arrival.

 

Driving From Kamloops To Clearwater

To interrupt up your drive between Kamloops and Clearwater, make a stop at Extreme 5 Diner. This very eclectic and funky eatery focuses on comfort.

Extreme 5 Diner

You probably can have a meal on their pet patio, or select up some take away for a picnic. Thompson River Provincial Park is just a 15-minute drive for a riverside lunch and stroll. Or once you’re heading east on Freeway 24, the free Latremouille Lake Campground can be merely Quarter-hour away.

Thompson River Provincial Park

Thompson River Provincial Park is an effective place to stretch your legs (and stroll off lunch) between Kamloops and Clearwater. We cherished a peaceful stroll alongside and above the river proper right here sooner than persevering with on our technique.

This place moreover makes an excellent base camp for exploring Clearwater. Campsites for all kinds of campers might be discovered for $23/night.

 

Third Stop: Clearwater, British Columbia

Clearwater is the third stop on our canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia. This very good wilderness playground is right inside the coronary coronary heart of BC.

A gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park, Clearwater supplies you fast entry to the park’s many waterfalls. There are so many trails to find on this park, you’ll be climbing to your coronary coronary heart’s content material materials for optimistic! Start on the shopper’s center for path suggestion and a park map to help plan your go to.

Canine Nice Actions In Clearwater, British Columbia

Spahats Falls

Spahats Falls is the first waterfall you’ll come to as you drive into the park. Proper right here you and your canine can stroll to the waterfall in a few minutes, or profit from the 3km path for an prolonged pet nice hike.

Standing on the rim of this enormous gorge watching the falls take their plunge is a strong view.

 

Helmcken Falls

Helmcken Falls is one different sight to behold, and a popular goal to go to Wells Gray. Being the fourth highest waterfall in Canada, it optimistic has a presence.

At Helmcken Falls it’s additionally doable to pick to view the falls after strolling a few minutes or make a hike out of it. The Rim Path is about 8km spherical journey on comparatively flat flooring and offers fully completely different views on the falls.

 

Dawson Falls

Dawson Falls is form of a mini Niagara. It’s in depth and multi-tiered as a result of it plunges down, making it pretty fully completely different from the other tall, skinny waterfalls inside the park. Strolling to the falls takes about 20 to half-hour on a primarily flat, well-worn path.

Trophy Meadows

Trophy Meadows provides the prospect for every once more nation climbing and tenting. It’s a tremendous place to stay in your canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia.

When you occur to desire to take images of your canine with flowers, then this path is definitely for you! From spherical mid-May by way of mid-August the meadows are coated in a vibrant differ of wildflowers and fascinating alpine blueberries.

It takes about 45 minutes on a light ascent by way of earlier progress and alpine forest to achieve the open meadow the place the most important flower fields are positioned. Flowers and blueberries could also be seen alongside the way in which by which though! We’ve been a bit late in August for the alpine topic to be in full bloom, nevertheless there was a great deal of proof of how magnificent it was.

From the meadow, you probably can proceed climbing 1.5 hours to Sheila Lake the place once more nation tenting is permitted. Sheila Lake is 6km round-trip from the car parking zone, so it’s moreover a wide selection for a day journey.

Silvertip Falls

Silvertip Falls isn’t faraway from Trophy Meadows. It’s a 2.1km out-and-back on a fairly troublesome path. Dropping from 550 toes, it splits into many beautiful tails as a result of it comes down. And it’s the tallest waterfall inside the park! As a result of it’s an prolonged stroll from the first freeway, it’s moreover additional liable to be a quieter waterfall hike than the others.

 

The place To Maintain In Clearwater

• Raft Cliffs Rec Web site – $14 donation. A neighborhood of biking/climbing trails begin on the campground. Superior views inside strolling distance.
• Thompson River Provincial Park – $23/night
• Birch Island Campground – Non-serviced web sites starting at $20. First canine free, after that +$2/night.
• Jasper Method Inn – Resort, cabin, tent, and RV web sites all accessible on Dutch Lake. Resort starting at $107 + $20/night per pet.

The place To Eat In Clearwater

• Wild Flour Bakery – Wonderful breakfast stop! Each half crafted from scratch in-house. A few sidewalk tables accessible.
• Strawberry Moose – Snackery consisting of bakery objects and sandwiches with cute outside setting.
• Gateway Grill – Brunch and dinner menu. Bubble tea bar. Canine nice patio.
• Clearwater Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday from May – October. 9am-12pm.

 

Driving From Clearwater To 100 Mile Residence

Latremouille Lake Recreation Web site

The free, first-com, first-serve lakeside campground at Latremouille Lake Recreation Web site is solely minutes out of your route on this canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia. There are 9 web sites, and loads of have direct entry to the lake.

 

Goose Lake Recreation Web site

One different free tenting chance near Latremouille is Goose Lake. This campground can be on a lakeshore, and there’s a small carry-in boat launch ramp accessible.

Goose Lake is perhaps greater for paddling than swimming, as a result of it’s pretty chilly. Nevertheless most canine don’t ideas the water temperature and can benefit from a swim proper right here.

Bridge Lake Provincial Park Campground

Bridge Lake has a small forested campground for campers and tents. There are even numerous walk-in web sites with fast entry to Bridge Lake. Full with a canine nice strolling path and lake entry, we stopped at this park merely to take a break from driving.

Nevertheless, it’s moreover an excellent place to spend a night or two. The campsites are $18 per night.

Bridge Lake Ice Caves

With numerous kilometers of canine nice trails to find, Bridge Lake Ice Caves is an attention-grabbing stop in your canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia. Trails lead alongside a lake and spherical some intriguing rock formations. The ice stays into June, nevertheless was gone for our go to all through the height of summer season season.

Loon Bay Resort

If staying in a cabin sounds fascinating, then Loon Bay Resort seems to be like like an amazing chance! They’ve lake entrance cabins with fireside pits starting at $105/night.

And for the campers, web sites are $33 for no hook ups, and $46 for full hook ups.

As well as they’ve all forms of watercraft leases accessible for you and your pup to get out on the water!

 

Fourth Stop: 100 Mile Residence, British Columbia

The final word stop on this canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia is 100 Mile Residence. In and spherical this metropolis, you and your canine can have a full differ of actions to pick from! There are additional waterfalls, a fire lookout, a historic outside museum, and lakes to camp, swim, and paddle.

Canine Nice Actions In 100 Mile Residence, British Columbia

Centennial Park/Bridge Creek Falls

Bridge Creek Falls is a lush riverside stroll and solely 5-10 minutes from downtown 100 Mile Residence. It felt like a bit metropolis oasis with all the crops.

The dashing water drowns out manmade sounds making for a peaceful stroll. And there are additional trails throughout the park and former the waterfall to extend your stroll when you choose!

Sepa Lake/108 Mile Heritage Web site

Canines are welcome to hitch you for a stroll once more in time on the outside museum at 108 Mile Heritage Web site. They solely can’t go inside any of the buildings.

There are buildings proper right here relationship once more to the 1860s, all through the time of the Cariboo gold rush.

After touring the grounds, take a stroll spherical 108 Mile and Sepa Lake. The combined lake trails make a 10km loop and are recognized for wonderful fowl sighting alternate options — along with pelicans!

For a shorter stroll, the Sepa Lake loop is 3km or the 108 Mile loop is 7km.

 

Begbie Lookout Recreation Web site

Fifteen minutes south of 100 Mile Residence, you probably can hike to a decommissioned fireside lookout tower. From the car parking zone any path you choose will take you there. There are just a few single-track trails that wind up and throughout the small mountain to the lookout. Or take the in depth gravel service freeway.

As you’d anticipate, it’s a little bit little bit of a climb. Nevertheless the prime is reachable in 10-Quarter-hour. From there you probably can uncover the very best of the mountain after which climb the tower for the simplest views!

On a clear day, there’s a 9-million hectares view to admire! A picnic desk is accessible up on the prime, making this a nice place to take a break from the car.

When you occur to’re a van lifer or boon-docker, you’re moreover welcome to spend the night inside the parking area. We spent an uninterrupted night proper right here with one completely different van life camper. There are two picnic tables and two pit bogs accessible from the car parking zone.

READ MORE ⇒ Car Camping With Pets: Prep The Car, What to Pack, and More

Howard Lake Recreation Web site

Howard Lake provides free lakeside tenting, the place you probably can swim, boat and fish. Nonetheless, changing into an infinite rig on this small campground might probably be robust.

 

Canim and Mahood Falls & Mahood Lake In Wells Gray Provincial Park

At merely over 2km round-trip, the stroll to Canim Falls is definite to go away you with a smile. Enterprise a bit further alongside and likewise you’ll be correct on prime of the falls for an unbelievable feeling and sight!

After your hike, Mahood Lake Campground is solely down the freeway. There you probably can organize camp, profit from the canine nice seaside, or take one different waterfall hike to Deception Falls (2km round-trip).

The place To Eat In 100 Mile Residence

• Rise and Grind Espresso Residence – Cute! Canine nice patio.
• Cask and Cleaver – Brewery and restaurant with canine nice patio.

The place To Maintain 100 Mile Residence

• Inexperienced Lake Provincial Park – Campgrounds embody Arrowhead, Sunset View and Emerald Bay. Web sites starting at $28.
• 99 Mile Resort – Near downtown 100 Mile Residence. Family-run lodge, very pet nice. Comprises area for canine to run. Prices start at $80.
• Spruce Hill Resort Spa – Cabins starting at $129 + $15 per canine/per night. Tent and RV tenting accessible as successfully. Cabins and campers every have entry to a pool and a health middle.
• Cariboo Bonanza Resort – Cabins and campground on beautiful Horse Lake. Open May by way of September. Cabins starting at $82 +$5 per night for pets, most value $50. Campground starting at $30.

 

Driving From 100 Mile Residence To Vancouver

The ultimate leg of the journey takes you once more to Vancouver and closes the loop in your canine nice freeway journey in British Columbia.

Chasm Ecological Reserve

Just a few minutes from the freeway and the finale of the journey is a vast lava layered canyon. That’s the define from BC Parks had us heading there in a flash.

“A spectacular present of coloration illustrates the park’s rich geology inside the Chasm Creek Valley and part of the Bonaparte River Valley. Successive lava flows kind layers in numerous tones of crimson, brown, yellow and purple. These have been revealed inside the steep lava-layered canyon partitions by way of erosion over the earlier 10 million years.”

From BC Parks website.

On the end of the ultimate ice age, water from the melting glaciers carved this 8 km prolonged, 600-metre in depth, 300-metre deep canyon.

The views have been spectacular from the car parking zone and solely acquired greater as we hiked the chasm edge. Imagining the forces that sculpted this panorama made it far more excellent.

The trail previous the fence skirts the sting a variety of the way in which by which, so undoubtedly plan for an on-leash stroll. You moreover may want to suppose twice about this hike once you’re uncomfortable with heights. Even once you don’t hike earlier the fence, it’s nonetheless a worthy view!

 

Vancouver to Kamloops Freeway Journey Full

That completes our canine nice, smalls cities circle tour freeway journey in British Columbia. We hope we’ve impressed you to see additional of what British Columbia has to provide!

Inform us your favorite stops inside the suggestions beneath. And ensure to go away a bear in mind once you’ve discovered one factor alongside the way in which by which that you just simply and your canine beloved!

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