Boston
Bar, Lytton & Yale
Fraser River & Thompson River Canyon Towns, BC
BOSTON
BAR
Map
of this area
Boston
Bar, like other towns along the Fraser Canyon, came
to being because of the gold found in the area. Many
of the gold seekers in this region were Americans,
and because the ships that brought them to British
Columbia shores generally came from Boston, the aboriginals,
referred to them as "Boston men," hence
the name Boston Bar.
Boston
Bar was also a well known and busy roadhouse stop
during the gold rush. According to history, Boston
Bar Alex, ran one of the best stops along the way,
with good food and sufficient sleeping accommodations.
The
Building of the Railway also played an important role
in this region, first came the Canadian Pacific followed
by the Canadian National. In the beginning the CPR's
divisional point, at North Bend, across the Fraser
from Boston Bar, could only be reached by an aerial
ferry. Today there's a bridge. No matter whether you
stand on the east or west side of the Fraser, you
can see both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National
railways on either side.
This
is river rafting country. River rafting is a great
and adventurous way to get a god look at the Fraser
in all it's fury.
Population:
890
Elevation:
163 metres (534.6 feet)
Access:
On the Trans Canada Highway # 1, 42 km (26 mi) north
of Yale. Easily reached by car or bus from the Vancouver
and points south, and from interior points north and
east.
Recreational
Facilities & Activities: River Rafting, gold
panning, rock hounding, fishing, and hiking. During
the winter there's snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
Local
Attractions: North of Boston Bar is Jackass Mountain,
commemorating the mules that toiled carrying supplies
up and down the steep canyon slopes. Southwest is
Hell's Gate, Alexandra Lodge and the old Alexandra
Suspension Bridge.
Accommodations:
There are motels, a hotel, a resort and campgrounds.
For
Information:
Hope Travel Information Centre,
919 Water Avenue, Box 370, Hope, B.C. V0X 1L0
Phone: (604) 869-2021 • Fax: (604) 869-2160
LYTTON
Map of this area
Located where the green waters of the Thompson River
meets with the brown, silt-laden Fraser River, Lytton
is perhaps best known as the Rafting Capital of Canada.
Numerous first class commercial rafting companies
guide visitors through the white waters of these adventurous
river routes. For those seeking "tamer"
activities, hiking, camping and fishing are all available
within close proximity to the town.
The
site of a native Indian village, Lytton was also along
the path taken by hardy prospectors who made their
way north to the gold fields. Gold rush history as
well as native culture are all visible through the
different buildings and activities such as the Remembrance
Day Pow Wow.
Lytton
also lays claim to having one of only a few reaction
ferries in B.C. For those not familiar with this type
of ferry, it uses the power of the current to propel
the craft - well worth a short trip across the river!
To add to the uniqueness of Lytton, it also contains
the "Lytton Jellyroll" an interesting conglomeration
of silt, sand and gravel formed at the end of the
last Ice Age.
Definitely
a destination of unique and exciting adventures!
Population:
360
Elevation:
171 metres / 561 ft.
Main
Industries: forestry, tourism
Access:
From Vancouver and points south, Lytton is about a
3 hour drive or bus ride of breathtaking scenery on
the TransCanada Highway. From the north, it is approximately
85 km (52 mi.) most of it following the winding Thompson
River. For a more round about route, but one with
spectacular scenery, travel to Lillooet and then down
the Duffey Lake Road (Highway 99) through Pemberton
and Whistler to Vancouver.
Recreational
Facilities/Activities: river rafting; hiking;
camping
Local
Attractions/Events: reaction ferry; the "Lytton
Jellyroll"; Remembrance Day Pow Wow; Skihist
Provincial campsite and picnic area
Accommodations:
motels available; provincial campsite at Skihist just
north of town.
For
Information:
Lytton & District Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 460, Lytton, B.C. V0K 1Z0
(250) 455-2523 • Fax 455-6669
Gold
Country Communities Society
P.O. Box 933 Cache Creek, B.C. V0K 1H0
Telephone and Fax: 250-457-6606
E-mail: info@exploregoldcountry.com
YALE
Yale
sits on the banks of the Fraser River, where the canyon
really starts to show its dark side. The mountains
go down to the river's edge, while the water churns
and snarls heading for the Pacific Ocean. This is
one of the oldest communities in B.C., and one of
the most historic as well.
In
the year 1848, it became a Hudson's Bay Company fort,
named for James Yale, an officer in charge of Fort
Langley. Yale gained importance as the inland terminus
of the Fraser River Sternwheelers and also the beginning
of the "wagon road" to the Cariboo goldfields.
When, in 1858, gold was discovered on Hill's Bar,
just south of town, the population exploded. Hill's
Bar was the site of the very first gold found in British
Columbia. Today, there's very little evidence to show
that the population swelled to over 30,000 when gold
was discovered in this region.
Just
22 km (13.6 mi.) north of Yale is the first suspension
bridge at Alexandra. It opened in 1863, taking miners
and all their supplies across the Fraser River. It
was replaced by the second bridge in 1926 and rests
on the original abutments. See it from Alexandra Bridge
Provincial Park. From here you can also see bits of
the original Cariboo Road, just east of the bridge.
Step
back in history, with a historic walking tour of Yale
and area, with a splendid view of the Fraser River
Canyon entrance and surrounding mountains.
Population:
(District) 200
Elevation:
76 metres ( 249 ft.)
Main
Industries: Tourism
Access:
From Vancouver and points south, Yale is about a 2
hour drive or bus ride on the Trans Canada Highway.
From the Lytton in the north it's 76 km ( 46 mi.)
through the heart of the Fraser Canyon.
Local
Attractions/Events: The Yale Museum; St. John
the Divine Church; Pioneer Cemetery; Historic Walking
Tour.
Accommodations:
a motel, and a RV Park and campground.
Activity
Providers
Fraser
River Raft Expedition: Whether you prefer
to paddle and oar on twisting mountain streams, or
motor-rafting the gorges and canyons of BC's major
rivers, Fraser River Raft Expeditions has something
for you with our wilderness and semi-wilderness whitewater
adventures. Our one to six day expeditions provide
scenic wilderness unmatched in North America.
For
Information:
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains,
250-1508 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1H2
• Tel (604) 739-0823 • Fax (604) 739-0153
• 1-800-667-3306
e-mail: info@coastandmountains.bc.ca
Boston
Bar | Lytton
| Yale
|
