Unique Rail Experience – May 15-16

Description

The adventure sets off from Kamloops on Friday afternoon. Our first stop is a scenic viewpoint overlooking Kamloops Lake. We’ll drive along the lake, pass through Savona and Cache Creek. We’ll stop at the world famous Desert Hills Taco Stand.

We will travel through Marble Canyon Provincial Park and see Pavilion Lake, a globally unique freshwater body famous for its massive, ancient freshwater microbialites that resemble coral reefs. Formed over 11,000 years ago, these structures are studied by NASA to understand early life on Earth and potential Martian life.

Spend the night in Lillooet with comfortable accommodation at Retasket Lodge.

Lillooet has a colourful history shaped by trade, transportation, and frontier ambition. Long before European settlement, it was an important gathering and travel area for Indigenous peoples, especially the St’át’imc Nation. During the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, thousands of prospectors passed through the region, rapidly transforming it into one of British Columbia’s busiest inland towns. In the 1860s, camels were famously brought in as pack animals to carry supplies over the dry, rugged trails, though they proved unpopular and impractical in the mountain terrain. Later, the arrival of railways and improved roads linked Lillooet more closely to the rest of the province, helping it evolve from a gold rush boomtown into a transportation and ranching centre with a rich heritage.

From here, travelers hop aboard the Tsalalh Seaton bus, a one-of-a-kind vehicle. The specialized “hi-rail bus” is designed to operate on both roads and railway tracks by having retractable flanged steel wheels that are lowered to engage with the rails.

This unforgettable route winds along sheer cliff faces, glides beside the brilliant jade-green waters of Seton Lake, and ventures deep into untouched backcountry. The route serves as an essential connection for First Nations residents heading to school or shops. Adventurous visitors are welcome whenever space allows. For those lucky enough to join, it offers a rare opportunity to experience breathtaking scenery from a perspective few tourists ever encounter.

Itinerary

Friday, May 15

4:00pm Depart Kamloops
4:30pm Kamloops Lake Viewpoint
5:15pm Desert Hills Taco Stand
7:00pm Arrive in Lillooet

Saturday, May 16
9:00am Unique Rail Experience
11:00am Lillooet Tour: Visit the Hangman’s Tree, Old Bridge, and Museum.
12:00pm Free time for lunch and exploring on your own.
1:30pm Fort Berens Estate Winery (Optional Wine Tasting)
3:00pm Pavilion Lake Photo Stop
5:00pm Arrive in Kamloops

Trip Includes: