A look at the attractions, history and activities that are available along our beautiful province, accessible by our BC highway system.
Highway 26 stretches eastward from Quesnel. It’s a quiet, two-lane route that treats you to beautiful views of forests, lakes and mountains. At about 80 kilometres long, it’s a relatively short stretch of highway. But don’t let its serene setting fool you. This road was once one of the most important routes in the province, because at the end of that 80 km you’ll find Williams Creek. That’s where Billy Barker first struck gold in 1861 and where...
What’s in a number? B.C. has many roads that are named for their geographic, cultural or historical relevance, like the Yellowhead Highway which bears the nickname of blonde-haired Iroquois-Métis explorer Pierre Bostonais. But there’s only one B.C. highway that’s numbered after a historical event – that’s Highway 113. Highway 113, also known as the Nisga’a Highway, heads northwest into the Nass Valley from Terrace. The highway number marks the years it took for the Nisga’a Nation to reach a...
Safe driving on long trips means taking regular breaks to rest your mind and body. Driver fatigue is a major cause of vehicle crashes, so try to take a 15-minute break about every two hours. Stretch your legs, move around and revive. Have a beverage (non-alcoholic, of course) and maybe something to eat. Whenever you’re on the road, watch for signs of fatigue like: tired eyes wandering concentration yawning drowsiness restlessness slow reaction time over-steering Across the province, the...
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Tourism BC, have designated circle routes designed to highlight some of the outstanding features of beautiful B.C. These self-guided trips let vacationers experience the attractions and adventures at their own pace. Circle routes are part of our regular highways and roads, linked together to highlight local attractions and geography, so you don’t have to travel the same route twice. How much vacation time do you have…because there are nine scenic drives in...
Do you watch them because they show you the fresh dump of snow your friends in Rossland have? Or do you tune in because they let you see the open roads and blue skies the entire length of your upcoming road trip? The BC HighwayCam Program began with two cams on the Coquihalla and one near Whistler and, believe it or not, these cameras were maintained manually. That meant that when something went wrong with a camera, ministry electrical...
British Columbia is home to many heroes. Some have accomplished amazing feats, while others have paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for their country. And some have done both. On June 9, 2011, the Trans-Canada Highway between 152 Street exit in Surrey and the Sumas exit in Abbotsford was dedicated to the memory of these extraordinary British Columbians, and to the families they left behind. This Highway of Heroes is a memorial and a tribute to these fallen...
If you’re planning on a road trip this summer, it pays to be prepared. We’ve mentioned a few tips already on how you can do that. There’s fuel saving tips and ways to show your car some love, both of which outline ways you can make your car run more efficiently. But the summer brings its own challenges, so here are a few more things you should think about before heading out in the heat on the highway: Tire...
The warm weather is here! If you’re heading out for some camping over the next few days, here’s hoping you’ve got your gear and site reservations in place. But if you’re using a recreational vehicle (RV), you’ll need to take a few extra steps before you’re ready to go. Whether you prefer a motorhome, travel-trailer or a pick-up camper, we’ve got a few basic tips to keep you and your RV safe on the highway. Know how much weight...
