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Discover Hat Creek
Journey into Gold Rush stories, pioneering ambitions and First Nations culture.
History
Known formerly as ‘Carquile’, Hat Creek has a rich First Nations, ranching and mineral history. The earth of Upper Hat Creek holds broken arrowheads and other remnants of historic First Nations communities. Hat Creek House was built in 1861, and served as an integral stopping point along the Cariboo Trail. Although the building has been bought, sold, moved and enlarged over the years, the original walls form the core of the current Hat Creek House. The Hat Creek Coal project dates back to the discovery of coal in 1877. First worked in 1893 by rancher George Finney, who supplied coal to local residents from Hat Creek to Ashcroft, the rights to the Hat Creek coal deposit were acquired by B.C. Hydro in the 1970s. The coal seams remain rich with amber and petrified wood fragments.
Things to Do
Take an interpretive tour of the Hat Creek Roadhouse and McLean Cabin at Historic Hat Creek Ranch. Your guide, dressed in period clothing, will take you on a journey through the fascinating 1860s Roadhouse and the pioneer farming legacy that surrounds it. A member of the Shuswap Nation will guide you through local First Nations history and culture at the Native Village. Take a stagecoach ride along the historic Cariboo Wagon Road, but watch out for bandits! To experience the beautiful scenery of Hat Creek, don’t miss the opportunity to take a trail ride. The ranch gift shop includes exquisite crafts by local artisans.
B.X. Historical Marker, Painted Hills
If you are travelling through the region on Hwy 97, stop at the B.X. Historical Marker to take in the mineral rich hillsides aptly known as the Painted Hills.
Dining
Take a break from exciting explorations at the Historic Hat Creek ranch to enjoy a bite to eat at the licensed restaurant or a refreshing drink on the outdoor balcony.
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Gold Country Communities Society acknowledges that we provide services within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the
Nlaka'pamux, Secwepemc, St'át'imc, Syilx and Tsilhqot'in Nations.