The tour follows the original route of the Cariboo Waggon Road, the naturally scenic and historically fascinating route to Barkerville. For much of your trip, you will be following the route taken by early goldseekers, a journey of several days for stagecoach travellers who had already wound their way many hundreds of miles inland from Yale. Your tour begins at the junction of Highways 97 & 26 just north of Quesnel. You will enjoy a paved highway that climbs from 545 metres (1788 feet) in Quesnel to 1219 metres (4000 feet ) in Wells.

1.QUESNEL
In gold rush days, Quesnellemouth (Quesnel) was the entrance to the gold fields for many miners. Steamboats ran from Soda Creek, on the Fraser River, to Quesnel, the jumping off point for the last section of the Waggon Road, completed in 1865. Quesnel was important and at one time many thought it would become the capital of the colony, soon to be known as the province of British Columbia. Today, Quesnel supplies full facilities for modern travellers.

2.JUNCTION OF HIGHWAY # 97 & # 26 <0.0 km>
During the summer season, the Travel Infocentre here can supply additional information regarding the Wells - Barkerville - Bowron Lake area.

3.COTTONWOOD RIVER <23.0 km>
The Cottonwood River is named for one of the common trees in the area, the black cottonwood.

4.COTTONWOOD HOUSE <24.5 km>
Every 10 or 15 miles along the original road were "roadhouses" that catered to the needs of the early travellers. Cottonwood House, first operated as a roadhouse in 1865, and is one of the oldest buildings in British Columbia and one of the few Cariboo roadhouses still standing. John Boyd gained title to the buildings and the surrounding 59 hectares in 1874. The Boyd family operated the house continuously until 1951, In 1963, Cottonwood House Provincial Historic Park was created, covering 11 hectares including Cottonwood House and most of the major buildings. From May to September there is a living history program at Cottonwood with interpreters in period costumes, giving tours of the house as well as working about the site. Contact: Robin Sharpe (250) 994-3302.

5.COLDSPRING HOUSE <30.4 km>
Although no longer standing, this roadhouse was the original stopping place owned by the Boyd family. When it burned down, the Boyds established Cottonwood House.

6.SWIFT RIVER FOREST ROAD <30.5 km>
The Swift River Forest Road follows the Swift River to the headwaters of the Swift and Little Swift Rivers.

7.MEXICAN HILL <30.5 km>
You are now starting up the grade of Mexican Hill, one of the steepest grades of the Wagon Road. The original roadbed switchbacked several times across the hillside. Watch for the viewpoint signs at the top of the hill and take the pull-off to the right.

8.LOVER'S LEAP <32.4 km>
A stagecoach driver with an attractive passenger pulled in here and threatened to drive the coach and horses over if she would not marry him. She didn't, and another passenger convinced him to complete the trip.

9.WINGDAM <38.2 km>
Here, where the highway meets Lightning Creek, you have reached the goldfields. This creek was one of the greatest producers of gold. It was discovered early in 1861 by Bill Cunningham and his partners, who had crossed over from the Jack O'Clubs Creek area. "Slum" made it impossible for early miners to reach the rich placer deposits that lay here under 100 feet of overburden. In the 1930's, a shaft was sunk in nearby bedrock down to the level of the deposits and then across through the dangerous gravels to the paystreak, which was incredibly rich. A town of several hundred people grew around the mine, but when the main shaft flooded in 1937, the mine was closed and the town soon disappeared.

10.ROBBER'S ROOST <40.4 km>
Take the pullout to the left and notice how a portion of the old Cariboo Waggon Road runs between steep valley walls. It was the perfect place for a hold-up!

11.BLESSING'S GRAVE <41.4 km>
Pull off to left. In 1863, Charles Morgan Blessing of Ohio arrived at Yale on his way to the mines of the Cariboo and was joined by Wellington Delaney Moses, a black barber, Barkerville-bound to open a shop. Somewhere between Yale and Quesnellemouth, they fell in with a gambler by the name of James Barry. At Quesnellemouth they parted company, Barry & Blessing going on to Barkerville, Moses staying in Quesnellemouth to attend to some business. Upon reaching Barkerville, Moses opened his shop, and then became concerned when the others had not shown. Finally, Barry appeared with the unlikely story that Blessing had turned back. Moses was suspicious but had no proof of any wrongdoing. Then a Hurdy Gurdy girl told Moses of a nugget Barry has given her, a peculiar nugget in the shape of a skull, one that Moses well knew had belonged to his friend Blessing. About the same time, Blessing's body was found with a bullet hole in the back of his head. Barry tried to skip town but he was captured at Yale and returned to Richfield for trial. The jury found him guilty and Judge Begbie sentenced him to hang. He was hanged in front of the courthouse, sharing the scaffold with a Native Indian found guilty of killing a white man at Soda Creek. These were the only two hangings on Williams Creek.

12.PINEGROVE <42.1 km>
In 1862, E.F.Edwards and W. "Bloody" Edwards, an Englishman who acquired his nickname by frequently using the world "bloody", built a stopping house here on Lightning Creek. In 1868, they sold to J. Hamilton who gave it the name Pinegrove.

13.BEAVER PASS HOUSE <47.9 km>
Beaver Pass House, built on land pre-empted in 1862 by H. Georgeson and G. Buchanan. The buildings collapsed several years ago, although foundations are still evident on the right side of the road.

14.DONOVAN CREEK <49.9 km>
On the mountain directly ahead is Donovan Creek. Legend has it that, at a time when the famous Billy Barker was down on his luck, local residents bought a claim on Grubstake Creek and "sold" it to Barker. This was a form of veiled charity because this creek (later known as Donovan Creek) was one where a miner could always make a quick grubstake. In the 1890's, the creek was successfully mined by James Donovan.

15.JAW BONE CREEK <54.8 km>
"Jaw Bone" was miners' slang for credit. One Cariboo bar had a polished horse jaw hung where all might see it with the announcement, "None of this here!"

16.STANLEY ROAD <57.1 km>
Take the road to the right which leads to the ghost town of Stanley. It rejoins the highway after approximately 3 kms.

17.STANLEY CEMETRY <57.9 km>
Buried here are many important people from the area. The remains were buried temporarily, then disinterred and returned to China for proper burial.

18.STANLEY & VAN WINKLE <58.3 km>
This valley has seen the rise and fall of two towns. Van Winkle, 2 km upstream on Lightning Creek sprang up after Ned Campbell made a rich strike in 1861. By 1865, the Cariboo Sentinel reported it "nearly deserted". 1870 saw renewed interest in the area as the miners found ways to work the deeper diggings. By 1874, Stanley, here at the junction of Lightning and Last Chance Creeks, boasted 20 businesses, many of which were relocated from Barkerville. By the end of the decade, it too was fading. Today nothing remains of Van Winkle. The few remaining buildings at Stanley are from the 1930's with the exception of the two story log building, the Lightning Hotel, which is felt by many to predate 1900.

19.RETURN TO HIGHWAY #26 <59.7 km>

20.MAN-MADE LAKE / KETCH HYDRAULIC PIT <64.6 km>
The numerous hydraulic mines in the area used large quantities of water; a reservoir was made here to help control the supply. The Ketch Mine was on the right side of the highway. In 1937, this hydraulic mining operation produced the largest gold nugget (over 16 ounces) that had been recovered since before 1900.

21.SLOUGH CREEK <66.2 km>
Slough Creek gold was found in 1870 by Joe Shaw. Within a short time, it was the site of many hydraulic mining operations, owned for the most part by immigrants.

22.JACK O'CLUBS LAKE <69.7 km>
Williams Giles of Missouri was known as Jack of Clubs; the lake takes its name from the creek discovered by Giles, as does the theatre/casino in Wells.

23.TAILINGS <71.2 km>
Look past the large map sign introducing you to Wells/Barkerville/Bowron Lakes area to see huge piles of mining debris left behind from hardrock mining by the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine that opened in the 1930's and closed in 1967.

24.WELLS <71.6 km>
A must! Take the first turnoff to the left (Pooley Street rejoins highway in 0.5 km) to visit the quaint & historic section of this 1930's town. Named after Fred Wells, discoverer of the richest hardrock deposits in the Cariboo, Wells was home to the famous Cariboo Gold Quartz, Island Mountain, and Coronado Mines. The Cariboo Gold Quartz mine opened in 1933 at a time when the rest of the country was deep into the depression. In five years, most of the town was built. It became a thriving company town of 4500 people, and was the largest town and cultural centre in northern B.C. Today, Wells is a thriving art community. Escape Artists choose Wells because it is the perfect get-away. Some come for the back-country to hike or canoe to their hearts content. Others, come for the scenic, peaceful setting to concentrate on their art.

<STOP>
Wells is a great place for a stretch & rejuvenation stroll, or a coffee/lunch stop. Stop at The Wells Hotel. Allow 15 - 30 minutes for a cappuccino or an ice-cream & a stroll through Wells. Follow the Wells footpath from Pooley Street to visit a variety of unique galleries and gift shops. From the Marie Nagel Gallery (located in the old St. George's Church), the Amazing Space Studio & Gallery (located in the old Holy Rosary Catholic Church) to Island Mountain Arts Studio and the Wells Museum. Allow 45 - 60 minutes for lunch at an eatery in town, and be sure to stop at the newly constructed Jack o'Clubs 1930s Casino & Music Hall.

25.STROMMVILLE <72.9 km>
The marsh to the left, fed by Williams Creek, is the headwater of the Willow River. When Wells was at its height of activity, a racetrack and a golf course were located on the flats near the island. Strommville was a suburb of Wells named after Harry Stromme, and in the 1930's was noted for its gambling dens and houses of prostitution.

26.WILLIAMS CREEK <74.9 km>
(Pull off to left) During the peak of mining activity, the gravels of this creek, which follows the road from here to Barkerville, yielded gold worth up to $ 1,000 per foot of length at a time when gold sold for $ 16 an ounce.

27.REDUCTION ROAD <75.7 km>
This alternate, higher route to Barkerville was originally the road from Williams Creek to Mosquito Creek on Island Mountain, completed in 1868. It leads past the site of the old government ore reduction plant (now non-existent), through the 1930's bedroom community of New Barkerville, alongside the Barkerville cemetery and on to Barkerville.

28.LOWHEE CAMPGROUND <76.8 km>
Lowhee Campground is one of three provincial government campgrounds around Barkerville. Across the road is the Forest Rose Campground, named for a mining claim, and closer to Barkerville is the Government Hill Campground. The aircraft landing string adjacent to the Lowhee Campground has a paved runway 762 metres long at an elevation of 1274 metres.

29.BALLARAT CLAIM <77.1 km>
The Ballarat Claim, just east of the Bowron Road, was named for a gold strike in Australia and is one of the oldest continuously worked claims on the creek.

30.BOWRON LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK <77.1 km>
The gravel road to the left travels approximately 25 km northeast to this provincial park, named for John Bowron, a Cariboo gold commissioner and member of the party that first travelled to the Cariboo gold fields overland by way of the Yellowhead Pass in 1862. This chain of lakes forms a 116 km canoe circuit and is situated in the Cariboo Mountains. Lodges, campsites, and canoe rentals are available.

31.CAMERONTON <78.1 km>
You are now travelling near what once was the site of Cameronton, named for John A. "Cariboo" Cameron, who found gold in this area. Cameron's claim was even richer that Barker's, but Cameron, like Barker, died a pauper and is buried in the cemetery which overlooks the site of his town.

32.BARKERVILLE <78.7 km>
A must! Relive the magic of this historic turn-of-the-century gold rush town. Barkerville is open to the public year-round, however, during the summer months, Barkerville operates a living history program, with animators in costume playing the roles of several of Barkerville's famous (and infamous) citizens! Stroll through 125 original and restored buildings with over 100 displays, as well as live theatre (1 hour musical comedy at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. daily except Friday), and street demonstrations. Contact: Robin Sharpe (250) 994-3302.

33.THE LAST MILE
Today you have entered Barkerville from the north. The early miners entered from the south along the road from Stanley. The Last Mile of the original Waggon Road has been preserved as a hiking and ski trail. During the summer months, Judge Begbie performs at the Richfield Courthouse, the sole remaining building at Richfield, but the trail is beautiful in any season. When you enter Barkerville through Chinatown, with St. Saviour's Church at the head of the street, you are seeing the town exactly as the miners did in the late 1860's and '70's.