Off Roading | Backcountry Sightseeing
Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast Region, British Columbia, Canada

Off Roading is a way to view the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast country while exploring along a massive network of backcountry gravel roads and dirt trails located throughout the wilderness regions around each community. The gravel roads lead deep into forests, travel across rolling grasslands and up to mountain viewpoints connecting to dirt trails which lead, even, further into the wilderness backcountry.

The gravel roads are created by the industry of the area. The Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast has a deep history in mining and, somewhat forestry. The ground work establishing the network of access dirt roads used by the off-roading community was developed many years ago. With industry came the railroad which was used to transport materials and products. Many of these rail road beds are discontinued routes now, and have been transformed into off-roading and/or dirt bike trails.

Other roads are deactivated gravel roads, often more remote and more rough going. The deactivated roads, ususally marked as 4x4 only, are not used any more by industry. All gravel roads vary from grator groomed to roads with pot holes, soft shoulders and loose rocks blocked by wildlife, dead fall trees and fallen boulders.

Yellow gates are meant to block 4x4 vehicles, please obey these locked gates and other signs while exploring the backcountry. It is important to stay on the trails and roads as you are in nature's backyard now. And.. in some cases tou are crossing through private property with the owners permission. Please do not abuse it and always respect it. Also, please pack in and pack out all items and make sure your fire is out - not smouldering - but out.

The dirt trails in the region vary. Most are marked with signs indicating permitted usage. Some trails are hiking only while others permit mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, snowmobiling and cross country. Dirt biking and ATVing trail usage is permitted, sometimes, as a designated off road park or as a set of wilderness trails permitting the use of off roading vehicles.

An off-roading adventure tour is often the best way to experience the wilderness because of the familiarity of the routes, accommodations and meal planning. Off-road companies use various forms of transportation like, for example, an ATV, dirt bike, open air jeep or a 4x4 truck. Tour groups offer half day, full day and multi day tours.

Some of the prime gravel road tours include the Lillooet to Gold Bridge to Pemberton route exploring along cliffs high above a series of lakes. The gravel road network exploring around the hundreds of lakes outside of the community of 100 Mile House leading to Canim Lake and the Interlakes system. The network of roads west of Williams Lake and near Anahim Lake on the Chicotin Plateau go for ever.