South Chilcotin Mountains Ride

Wind your way past the glacier dotted peaks that vault defiantly into the crystal blue sky, descending into meadows of wild alpine flowers, bursting with colour from June to September. Along the way you may spot some of the local inhabitants: bears, (black or grizzly), moose, marmots, deer, wolves, mountain goats, California Big Horn Sheep or a Kittiwampus. Bring your camera to capture it all.

Not only will you visit some of our base camp locations in the wilderness, but we will go further into the back country were few people roam. While in the back country accommodation will be provided in one of our spike camp locations and you will be housed in new dome tents and sleep comfortably on our inflatable sleeping pads. Wake each morning to a roaring campfire and the smell of cowboy coffee, and a full breakfast.

There will be numerous photo opportunities on this trip as well as a lifetime of memories. This pack trip heads above the tree line into the wildflower carpeted alpine meadows. Rowboats are at your disposal for some fishing for Rainbows. When the sun casts long shadows over the lake, the fresh caught rainbow trout are baked over the campfire. On a clear night, a breeze filled with the sweet scent of alpine flowers might carry the lonely cry of a timber wolf into camp. Children and novice riders can participate as we put groups together according to their riding skills. All tours are fully catered and a cook will prepare all your meals.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Sample Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in the afternoon around 5 PM and check in. Dinner is served at 6 PM. Talk about the week ahead and overnight.

Day 2 - Early start from our main ranch on Pearson Pond just north of Gold Bridge. You will be heading for the high alpine of Eldorado. You start the journey at about 2800 feet and reach a peak in elevation at 6500 feet. See spectacular views of the Bridge River Valley. The trail heads west into Cinnabar basin which is blanketed with alpine meadows. As the trail heads over Cinnabar Pass and down into Little Eldorado we reach our lovely log cabin where we will camp for the night.

Day 3 - Today we are headed for our Spruce Lake Camp. The trail meanders through alpine meadows and sub alpine forests. Most of this trail is in open country. Windy Pass is one of the best view points of this day. The summit of the pass is 7400 feet and the view is almost 360 degrees, you can see the mountains for several miles. Camp is just off the lake on Spruce Creek nestled in a pine forest. The camp consists of several new wall tents with wood floors and stoves. Boats are available to use either to fish or just row around.

Day 4 - We head for Tyax Creek Camp. This route mainly follows the valley bottoms of Spruce Creek and Tyaughton Creek. This route follows some of the traditional native trails used for trading. The Tyax Creek Valley is very beautiful with a mix of lodge pole pine forests and grasslands. Wildlife is abundant with hoary marmots, mule deer, grizzly bears, black bears, California bighorn sheep as well as many others. The camp is on a meadow looking towards the headwaters of the creek. We will use dome tents as well as a cabin for accommodation - our home for two nights

Day 5 - Today we will not move camp but enjoy a lovely day trip, gear does not need to be packed today. One of the favorites is a four hour ride which goes to the top of a trail ridge, which lies between Lorna Pass and Elbow Pass. The view is very impressive.

Day 6 - Ride over the spectacular Deer Pass to Trigger Lake Camp. There will be a lot of elevation gain to the summit. The descent into camp is steep in spots but the horses are of the most sure footed breed and kept in extremely good condition. Camp has a large log cabin with bunks as well as several dome tents for your use. The cabin is on the edge of a meadow- we spend two nights at this camp.

Day 7 - We will take a day trip up Warner Pass. This route is an old mining trail and travels along Warner Lake. There is definitely a more coastal feel to the mountains here.

Day 8 - We will set off toward home. The trail follows along Gun Creek most of the day. We will be met by a ranch vehicle at the trial head and be vehicle supported part of the way home to make for a more comfortable day. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 - Departure after breakfast

Subject to Change

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodation: For the first and last night you stay at the ranch in rustic cowboy cabins or bunkhouse/tent camp. The bathhouse is located a few feet away from your door where you will find both a shower and bath area, washing and toilet facilities. The bath house has both hot and cold running water. The ranch cabins have a very cozy setting, nestled among the fir and pine trees. You can hear the creek gurgling from your doorstep and may even awake in the morning to a deer on the lawn. There is also a campfire and horseshoe pit. You are surrounded by a vast network of horseback riding, hiking and biking trails.

During the Pack Trip: Some of the more fixed camps have tents on platforms and cots to sleep on. At the spike camp locations you sleep in new dome tents comfortably on our inflatable sleeping pads.

Meals: Wake each morning to a roaring campfire and the smell of cowboy coffee, and a full breakfast. We serve scrumtious campfire food including grilled steaks, roast turkey and sizzling sockeye salmon.