Clinton
Near Clinton, Tom Ryan photo
Clinton (population: 578), located midway between Prince George and Vancouver in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region, evokes an atmosphere of a gentler era. As a part of the vast Shuswap Territory, a thoroughfare for gold fortune, and a leather-tough ranching town, Clinton has led many past lives.
Today, these lives can be experienced on a self-guided walking tour of local heritage sites, or on a historic circle route drive around Clinton and the surrounding area. Spend some time at the Clinton Museum, look for hidden treasures at antique shops, or have lunch at one of many picnic spots nestled between heritage buildings.
Outdoor Activities
Clinton's proximity to several provincial parks, such as Big Bar Lake Provincial Park, Chasm Provincial Park, and Marble Range Provincial Park, allows easy access to amazing geological exploration, lakeside fishing and camping, trail and wilderness hiking, and easy-to-advanced cross-country skiing in winter.
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For a truly memorable experience in Clinton, stay at a working guest ranch. Historically rich hiking and unique spa treatments await visitors to Echo Valley Ranch and Spa, while Big Bar Guest Ranch offers up the opportunity to pan for gold.
Dining and Accommodation
While standard dining and accommodation options are limited, one-of-a-kind charm is endless. Drop by the local coffee shop and listen to friendly locals spin tall gold rush tales. Camp under the starry western sky at either private campgrounds in town, or lakeside campsites at Big Bar Lake Provincial Park. Stella Ranch on Kelly Lake Road 12.5km/7.7mi west of Clinton even provides accommodation for horse-accompanied travelers.
Clinton Then and Now
Clinton received its name in 1863 from Queen Victoria, who christened the town in honour of Lord Henry Pelham Clinton, Colonial Secretary to the British Government. Since then, Clinton has thrived by adapting to change (like many small communities in British Columbia). The gold rush "Junction" of the 1850s (between Cariboo Gold Rush Trail and Cariboo Wagon Road) became the hard-working cattle ranch town of the 1870s, became the soap soda and Epsom salts distributer of the 1940s, became the bush- and saw-mill town of the 1950s, and so on. Today, Clinton is an outdoor adventure destination in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region, marked by incredible geological variation.
Geography
While the town of Clinton has evolved according to economic necessity, the geography of Clinton and the surrounding area has continually transformed under thousands of years of glacial movement and erosion. At Chasm Provincial Park, view the Painted Chasm, geological layering red, brown, yellow, and purple sediment, created by ancient lava flows, further formed by glacial movements, and constantly altered by weather erosion. The Painted Chasm colourfully illustrates the incredible geographic history of Chasm Creek Valley and Bonaparte River Valley.
Stop by the Clinton Visitor Centre for more information, maps, directions, and recommendations.
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