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Read featured articles from destinations along the Yellowhead

Manitoba
Celebrate the distinct culture, amazing scenery and brilliant yellow sunflower fields.

Saskatchewan
The sky’s the limit, with creative literary giants and rodeo greats.

Alberta
Renowned for its diverse culture, open range, and Rocky Mountain Playground.

British Columbia
Majestic mountains, mighty rivers, and coastal rainforests entice and invite.

Yellowhead Highway #5 the Route to Hope

by Terri Mason

Exploring marine life in its natural state fosters a deeper understanding of fragile ecosystems, and gives a great opportunity for an extreme close up of our natural world. Photo: Tourism British Columbia

The North Thompson River was once the busy highway of the First Nations people and later, the fur traders, gold prospectors, ranchers and settlers. Heading south from Tête Jaune Cache, the stunning scenery surrounding Valemount beckons travellers to explore the area using a range of transportation from horseback riding to helicopters, ATVs to white water rafting. Nearby George Hicks Regional Park is laced with trails and is home to the world’s longest Chinook salmon run, that generally takes place in late August to early September.

Clearwater is the gateway to Wells Gray Provincial Park. Known as the “waterfall park,” one of the most spectacular is Helmcken Falls, which plunges 141 meters down a narrow canyon. Higher than Niagara Falls, this is a must see!

The friendly community of Barriere is at the confluence of the Barriere and North Thompson Rivers. Get back to your rural roots as you take in the farm produce and livestock competitions at the North Thompson Fall Fair, which also features a professional rodeo, chuckwagon and pony chariot races.

The city of Kamloops has long been a traditional gathering site for the Shuswap people, and their history is honoured in the Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park. Kamloops also offers art galleries, fine dining, a wealth of accommodations, a symphony orchestra and a professional theatre company. A key event in the region is the annual cowboy poetry gathering held in March.

Nestled in the Nicola Valley, the city of Merritt is proud of its western heritage. First settled by ranchers, the Merritt area is home to premiere working guest ranches. Other attractions in the area include the Spius Creek Fish Hatchery and fascinating mine tours. Summer events include Mountainfest, Canada’s largest outdoor country music festival.

The snowcapped Cascade Mountains surround the city of Hope and here nature is at its most magnificent. A must-see is nearby Hell’s Gate. At peak spring levels, over 200 million gallons of water, twice the volume of Niagara Falls, surges through this 35-metre (110 ft) wide gorge. An aerial tramway will carry you high above for a spectacular view. Each July, the town welcomes the greatest blues players to the Hope Mountain Blues Fest.

From Hope, enjoy a pleasant drive to the coastal city of Vancouver, an hour north of the U.S. border. For those continuing on to the U.S.A., the border crossing at Sumas, Washington is approximately a three-hour drive from Seattle, Washington.

Experience for yourself all that the Yellowhead Highway Corridor has to offer. Come travel the ancient trail of Tête Jaune and experience the best of British Columbia!

Yellowhead Highway #16 the Route to the Coast - more>