There are two heritage sites located near Ashcroft that date back to the 1800s Gold Rush boom: Ashcroft Manor & Teahouse and Historic Hat Creek Ranch.
Go back even further in time by digging for fossils at the McAbee Fossil Beds; guided fossil bed tours are available and provide all the equipment needed to search for fossilized plants or insects that can be up to 50 million years old.
Located on the Trans-Canada Highway between Cache Creek and Ashcroft, the Ashcroft Manor & Teahouse is one of the oldest roadhouses in British Columbia. Built in 1862, the manor first served as place to stay for prospectors on their way to gold fields in the north. It then became the area's first courthouse, presided over by Judge Matthew Begbie, the "hanging judge." Today the manor is a teahouse, museum, and art gallery. Walk around the grounds exploring the property's original buildings before grabbing a light lunch at the teahouse.
Historic Hat Creek Ranch
Historic Hat Creek Ranch has always been a warm and welcoming stop for travelers. In 1863, the increasing momentum of the Gold Rush necessitated the construction of Cariboo Wagon Road. During this time the ranch provided hot meals, a place to stay, and stables to Royal Engineers and thousands of miners and settlers heading north. Dating back to 1861, the ranch is a well preserved and accessible heritage site. Take a stagecoach ride, pan for gold, or experience Aboriginal culture. Interpreters dressed in period clothing take visitors on guided tours of the well preserved 1860s Roadhouse, which catered to miners and pack-train operators.
Visit the Native Interpretation Centre, where members of the local Stuctwesemc share their history and culture and how the Stuctwesemc community made the transition from nomadic peoples to expert ranch hands. Hat Creek Ranch's other facilities include the Roadhouse Restaurant, newly constructed cabins, numerous RV and tent sites, and a teepee.
McAbee Fossil Beds
McAbee Fossil Beds, home to a diverse variety of plant and insect fossils from the Eocene age (36-56 million years ago), is located 93km/58mi from Ashcroft. Take a guided tour and hunt for more than 50 varieties of plants, countless insect and fish species, and even fossilized feathers, often still intact.
Guided Tours and Finding Fossils
Upon reaching the fossil beds, visitors gain access to a 364m/400yd long outcropping of fossils dating back 50.2 million years to when the entire area was covered by a large lake. Visitors are provided fossil hunting equipment, including rock hammers, bags, hard hats, and goggles. Guides are available daily during July and August (weather permitting). Fossils can also be purchased at the bottom of the hill.
McAbee Fossil Beds is an important archaeological site and part of ongoing research at the Thompson Rivers University. Therefore, all fossils found must be examined by an on-site professional so significant finds are taken to the university.
Visitors should wear closed-toe shoes, a sun hat, and sun block. It is important to bring ample water, as dehydration is a concern when temperatures in July and August reach 38˚C/100˚F.
Read Less