Getting There
Whether you travel by train or by car, the trip from Whistler to Cariboo Country is a visually exhilarating experience.
By Car -- The shortest and most scenic route from Vancouver is along Hwy. 99 (the Sea-to-Sky Hwy.) past Whistler to Lillooet, continuing to Hwy. 97 and turning north to 100 Mile House and points north. From Vancouver to Quesnel, it's 600km (373 miles). If you want to bypass the dramatic but slow Hwy. 99 and head straight up to the central Cariboo district, you can take the Hwy. 1 expressway east from Vancouver, then jump onto Hwy. 97 at Merritt.
By Train -- For decades, BC Rail operated the Cariboo Prospector, which linked Vancouver to Prince George with stops in other towns in the Cariboo Country. In 2002, however, BC Rail discontinued passenger service along this route. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (tel. 877/460-3200 or 604/606-7245), which operates the very successful excursion train service between Vancouver and Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, in 2006 began service along this route with its Fraser Discovery Route excursion trains. For information, go to www.rockymountaineer.com. The train departs from Whistler, with an overnight stop in Quesnel before continuing on to Jasper, where the train will link with other Rocky Mountaineer Vacations trains.
By Bus -- Greyhound Canada (tel. 800/661-8747; www.greyhound.ca) travels from Vancouver through the Cariboo to Prince George via highways 1 and 97, passing through Kamloops, 100 Mile House, Williams Lake, and Quesnel. Note that these routes do not pass through Lillooet, which has no bus service.
By Plane -- Central Mountain Air (tel. 888/865-8585; www.flycma.com) offers daily service between Quesnel and Vancouver. It also offers daily flights between Williams Lake and Vancouver. Pacific Coastal Air (tel. 800/663-2872 or 604/273-8666; www.pacific-coastal.com) links Vancouver to Anahim Lake, Bella Coola, and Williams Lake.
Visitor Information
Contact the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourist Association, 118A N. First Ave., Williams Lake, BC V2G 1Y8 (tel. 800/663-5885 or 250/392-2226; www.landwithoutlimits.com).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
