 
| Lillooet |
Lillooet is a historic gold rush town built on the banks of the Fraser River. The town, named for the Lil'wat First Nations people who live in the area, was on the original route for prospectors traveling to the Cariboo gold fields and Barkerville. The miners traveled from the coast on the Douglas Trial, along Harrison and Anderson Lakes, by paddle-wheeler and over rough cut trail, through to Lillooet where the Cariboo Wagon Road began. Lillooet was known as Mile 0 on the Cariboo Wagon Road and towns and roadhouses along the road to the goldfields were named by their distance from Lillooet. Many of these names, such as 100 Mile House, still remain today. As a main supply point along the Gold Rush Trail, Lillooet grew quickly and in 1860 was one of the largest cities in B.C. with a population of close to 15,000.
When the Royal Engineers built a new road through the Fraser Canyon and eventually connected with the Cariboo Wagon Road at Clinton, Lillooet and the Douglas Trail were bypassed. Although population declined, Lillooet continued to thrive on natural resource based industries. In recent years the tourism industry has grown as visitors discover the scenic beauty and unlimited recreational opportunities the area offers. Newly designated as the "scenic route" to the coast, Highway 99 runs from Cache Creek through Lillooet to Whistler and North Vancouver, offering travelers a spectacular all-season drive.
Visit the Lillooet Museum and learn about the community's rich history or stroll about the town, stopping at the old Anglican Church, the Mile 0 Cairn, the historic Miyazaki House and pioneer cemetery. Or take a walk across the Old Suspension Bridge, built by the Royal Engineers in 1913.
Jade, B.C.'s provincial gemstone, abounds in the area and pieces are often found along the banks of the Fraser River. You can find them all along Main Street, too, as you enjoy Lillooet's unique Jade Park. Four enormous cut jade boulders, mounted outside the museum, round out this one-of-a-kind collection. The Fraser River is still rich with gold dust and you can try your luck gold panning - who knows, you might strike it rich! Rock hounds also search the area for jasper, garnet, soapstone and agates. The "Chinese rocks" still lie in windrows along the river banks, a reminder of the industrious Chinese miners who neatly piled the rocks as they searched for elusive gold nuggets and prized jade boulders on the banks of the Fraser.
All-season recreational opportunities abound in the pristine wilderness and snowcapped mountains surrounding Lillooet. Hiking, rock climbing, trail riding, camping, fishing, swimming, river jet boating and biking are popular summer activities, offering breathtaking scenery, wildlife viewing and wilderness adventure. Don't miss the Lillooet Golf Course; where else in the province can you enjoy nine holes of golf, in the company of sheep and the occasional bear? Winter activities include ice climbing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and back-country skiing. Recreational facilities include a curling rink, tennis courts, stock car track, BMX track, bowling alley, indoor swimming pool, ice arena, racquetball and squash courts, weight room and gymnasium.
If you're in town on the second weekend in July, don't miss "Lillooet Days", a colorful annual event celebrating this vibrant community's rich history.
Population: 2,814
Elevation: 799
Average daytime summer temperatures highs 38 lows 25
Average daytime winter temperature highs 0 to 10, lows -10
Amenities include:
- Accommodations
- Grocery Stores
- Restaurants and Pubs
- Service stations
- REC Centre
- Municipal Park
- Museum
- Shopping
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