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Highway
#99
(The Sea to Sky Highway)
Continuing along
Highway 99 from Horseshoe Bay you will pass through Squamish, Garibaldi
Provincial Park, Whistler and on to the Duffey Lake Road which will take
you to Lillooet and the Cariboo-Chilcotin. The
Squamish Highway also known as the "Sea to Sky Highway", is
a very scenic route which follows the Howe Sound shoreline.
Britannia
Beach:
Once a large producer of copper, the mine was permanently closed in 1974.
Within this National Heritage Site is the BC Museum of Mining which offers
guided underground tours.
From
Britannia Beach continue on to Shannon Falls Provincial Park, which is
six times the elevation of Niagara Falls and provides good hiking and
picnic areas. Next is The Stawamus Chief, with some 180 rock climbing
route. The Stawamus Chief is said to be the second largest piece of granite
in the world (Gibraltar is first).
Squamish:
Squamish is situated at the head of the Howe Sound and overlooks Mount
Garibaldi and the Stawmus Chief. The
region is a prime windsurfing and rock climbing area.
6km (3miles)
past Squamish is Brackendale where from November to February bald eagles
may be observed feeding on spawned out salmon. For more information visit
the Eagle Count Headquarters web site at http://www.brackendaleartgallery.com/Festival.html
From this
point on to Whistler are a number of trails
to Garibaldi Provincial
Park.
The Royal
Hudson:
Visitors may ride the Royal Hudson from North Vancouver to Sqaumish and
return by boat on the MV Britannia. The 1940's Royal Hudson coaches are
pulled by a 1940's steam engine.
 Whistler:
(Resort & Village)
This world renowned all-season resort centre is 120km (74miles)
north of Vancouver. Originally called Alta Lake, it catered to people
interested in outdoor activities. In 1965 the area became more popular
after the highway was constructed and Whistler Mountain opened for skiing.
In 1975 a plan for Whistler Village was developed.
Whistler
and Blackcomb are located in the Coast Mountains and provide more than
200 down hill
ski runs and 27 lifts. There is also excellent cross-country skiing,
heli-skiing, snowmobiling and sleigh rides. In the summer visitors enjoy
activities such as windsurfing, fishing,
boating, canoeing,
swimming, golfing
and hiking
on the many miles of trails.
Gondolas
and Chairlift Rides:
In winter the lifts are for skiing, in the summer for hiking.
The Whistler
Golf Course:
This is an 18-hole scenic course designed by Arnold Palmer.
Chateau
Whistler Resort:
This is the biggest resort-hotel in Canada since the turn of the century.
Continuing
along Highway 99 to Lillooet you will pass by Nairn Falls Provincial Park
with nearly 90 campsites and good fishing in the Green River.
 Pemberton:
This mountain farming village offers visitors a chance to go fishing,
golfing, river rafting, hiking and horseback riding. Pemberton is 32 km
(20 miles) north of Whistler via Highway 99.
Pemberton
Museum:
The museum features of the Fraser River gold-rush exhibits and local
native artifacts.
Meager
Creek Hot Springs:
These three pools are accessed via a part paved/part gravel road through
Pemberton Meadows.
Skookumchuck
Hot Springs:
This natural and undeveloped hot springs is south on the Lillooet River.
From Pemberton
you may wish to visit the Hurley Pass which follows along Lilloet to Gold
River. This is a two-hour (80 km or 50 miles) journey from Pemberton.
Also worth a visit is D'Arcy at Mount Currie or continue along the Duffy
Lake Road to Lilloet to the Cariboo region. The road to D'Arcy is paved
and takes you to Birken, and Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park and finally
D'Arcy. From here there is a 4 x 4 road to Seton Portage and the Bridge
River Road into Lillooet.
Mount
Currie:
East of Pemberton on Highway 99 is the beautiful Mount Currie. The Duffy
Lake Road starts just past here and provides impressive views of the Coast
Mountains. Lilloet is 85 km (53 miles) from here.
 Lillooet:
Once the second largest city north of San Francisco, Lillooet was the
terminus of the boat route through Harrison and Anderson Lakes, and mile
0 on the first Cariboo Road.
Hangman's
Tree:
In the 1860's "Hanging" Judge Matthew Begbie handed out justice
from this locale.
Archeological
Sites:
There are almost 350 sites in and around Lillooet providing detailed history
of the Upper Lillooet Indians.
From Lillooet
you may travel Highway 99 until you reach Highway 97 (the
Cariboo Highway) at Hat Creek Ranch or continue southeast from Lillooet
on Highway 12, ad it winds along the Fraser
River to Lytton and the TransCanada Highway (Highway 1).
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Vancouver
& Southwestern B.C.
