Barkerville

[Vanny]

My wife and I have decided to take our kids to Barkerville for the first time this summer. We are booked for 3 nights at one of the local campgrounds. We are going to go as far as PG to visit my wife's cousin. We have never been to PG.

The current plan is to take the standard HWY 97 route and pull the tent trailer to the campground. My wife and I were discussing since I am only taking 10 days this summer we should make the holiday more of an 'adventure'. I am looking for opinions (this forum generally isn't short of them) on a different route and whether or not it would be a good idea to do something different with the family and one vehicle.

I am considering going through Harrison Hot Springs and taking the Harrison West route to Whistler. From there heading on the Highline Road to D'Arcy/Seton Portage. From there I don't know. Maybe just back to the highway. I remember as a kid my family doing the Highline Road in a 2 wheel drive F250 with a camper. It was a fun adventure. We wouldn't pull the tent trailer. Instead we would stay at hotels or B&Bs.

Looking for any other ideas or thoughts for this trip.

Thanks.

 

[Enigma]

When are you going? might see a herd of 'cruisers if late August.......

 

[AJAEbj42]

There used to be a 'back way' into Barkerville from Likely if you're looking for something different. I looked on Google Earth and the road appears to be still there and well travelled. Travel to Horsefly/Likely area, the turnoff is at 150mile house south of Willies puddle.

There is a nice Provincial campground on Horsefly lake as well.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

From Lillooet (fuel up) continue on Hwy 99 north and turn right near Pavilion through the reserve up over the Clinton Pavilion Rd over the hill then down to Pear Lake Park (turn left to the park if you want - through a gate), Kelly Lake to the right then take Jesmond Road, take the High Bar road to the left (steep hill- big thrill for the kids) loop down to the Fraser Canyon (very dry and hot in the summer look for rattlesnakes - I drove over one year) past the Big Bar Ferry (stop and watch the reaction ferry) then continue back up to Jesmond and feeds onto Poison Lake turn left onto Canoe Creek road down to the Fraser Canyon again across the Gang Ranch bridge (don't go to Dog Creek) drive up through Gang Ranch (lots of tame deer) continue on Word Creek Rd (2700 Rd.) turn right at Gaspard Main head north through Farwell Canyon (check out the hoodoos) and keep heading north and you pop out at Hwy 20 near Riske Creek (no fuel) west of Williams Lake -then cross the Sheep Creek Bridge over the Fraser back to your familiar Hwy 97.
Just a suggestion.

 

[Vanny]

When are you going? might see a herd of 'cruisers if late August.......

Looks like the week of July 19.

 

[Fantom]

Let me check if I still have my old GPS track from a trip I did a few years back. I ended up doing a lot of camping and FSRs coming back from Fort St John after a job and came in the back way into Barkerville. The camp sites up there are very nice. Some of them are done by Hydro and the places looked like they were never camped in.
If I still have the track I'll shoot you a PM and mail it to you.

 

[Granite Grinder]

Really nice FSR that runs from Barkerville to Wells, follows Bowron River, great spots to camp along the way. Turn left when you get to Wells and head to PG

 

[Deny]

Yanks Peak from Likely to the back side of Barkerville. Can also head to Likely from Horsefly. Did this trip years ago solo, was fine. Also did the Barkerville Likely loop a few years back with a stock full size bronco, might be a thread on the Swamp Donkey Page. not sure if I would take pop up trailer on that trail, but if you go slow you might get through.

 

[Vanny]

I would prefer to stay in campgrounds, motels or B&Bs. I know my wife will not be comfortable camping with just our family in 'the outback'. She has a fear of our children being eaten. Being a short trip I may take a tent and set up the back of he 80 for the kids to sleep in. Might be better than hauling a tent trailer. Pretty sure it would rattle apart on the FSRs.

 

[jvanhove]

Must have a 'screamer' when you guys are in The Pig.

 

[wrongway around]

Pavilion road to the backside of clinton (kelly lake ) is a good bypass if your wanting to head the fraser river way (chances are good for cougar spotting at the top of the power line lookout). After you do head down the switch backs from jesmond to high bar (kids will remember that) , keep an eye on the fraser side for a couple valleys that join the fraser, there is a high overhang lookout that you might want to checkout, can be nerve racking for some , (might want to bring a leash ).Good goat country there. Likely loop from horsefly is gated by the feds to cover up the polley mine disaster . But yes the back way from likely to barkerville is a nice day drive, check out ghost lake rare nice waterfall at lakes outflow. Be grizzly wise when your on the bowron river can be a bit of a zoo at times.

 

[BC40]

Must have a 'screamer' when you guys are in The Pig.

is that some kind of reference to Deliverance, or a 'don't ask what happens when the dutch go camping' scenario?

 

[jvanhove]

Martin,
You are very insightful. Just like Fight Club, the first rule of Dutchies camping is "Don't talk about Dutch Camp!"

(BTW A 'screamer' is a slurpee mixed with soft serve. Delicious!)

 

[ElectricDyck]

Falls out of ghost lake

 

[ElectricDyck]

The likely Barkerville loop is long and really just boring logging road driving but there are a few cool spots to check out and some nice lakes, pretty wild area, you will see lots of bears if your timing is right, black and grizzly. One guy had a pic of an immature grizzly standing under the beware of grizzly sign at the ghost lake rec site...We have gone hunting up there in the past.

 

[ElectricDyck]

 

[Enigma]

Wow, those falls are gorgeous!

 

[Antarctican]

Really nice FSR that runs from Barkerville to Wells, follows Bowron River, great spots to camp along the way. Turn left when you get to Wells and head to PG

Once had a rifle pointed at me by an old toothless gold miner along that river. Good times.

 

[Granite Grinder]

Once had a rifle pointed at me by an old toothless gold miner along that river. Good times.

I thought I recognized you

 

[ElectricDyck]

The history in that area is facinating...with gold up there are a ton of little 2 Man operations running in that area and around quesnel...