Horseback Riding & Ranches, Resorts & Wilderness Lodges
Flying U Ranch
Phone: (250) 456-7717
View Listing
Experience the great outdoors with professional content creators Jordan Dyck and Ben Giesbrecht who took a trip from their home in Ucluelet to Kamloops and through the Cariboo region’s wide open spaces. Follow their adventure to get a taste of the unique travel experiences found in BC’s ranches, rivers, and ranges.
Part 1
Expansive Kamloops covers a city area bigger than Manhattan, but the pace and style couldn’t be more different. Stay overnight (direct flights from Vancouver) and chillax with a cold brew between bouts of adrenaline-pumping activities. Be sure to also make time for a drive up to the Kamloops Lake Viewpoint, a beautiful spot for a picnic underneath massive willow trees overlooking the lake and sagebrush below.
Downtown Kamloops is bustling so definitely save some time for urban exploration, including a self-guided Back Alley Art Gallery Walking Tour to see this eclectic outdoor collection. Enjoy a patio dinner at Mittz Kitchen, a trendy downtown hot spot, and book a time with DiVine Tours to sample a variety of local brews in town.
Part 2
On your way to Big Bar Guest Ranch, make fun pit stops along the way such as Horsting’s Farm Market, just outside of Cache Creek, where you can explore the orchards and gardens and pick up fresh produce as well as homemade pies (try haskap berry!) Stop by the Clinton Emporium, a vintage, flea market-inspired shop that’s straight out of an old Western movie. Then, look out for bighorn sheep as you pass through the caves, chasms, and limestone karsts of Marble Range Provincial Park.
You’ll get a friendly welcome at Indigenous-owned Big Bar Guest Ranch, which is accommodating physical distancing requirements this year by bringing fresh food to your cabin door to minimize contact. After fishing on the lake, head back to the cabin to warm up by a fire under the open skies.
Part 3
Drive along winding roads through ranchlands dotted with grazing cattle and horses, making a stop at Chasm Provincial Park. This amazing ponderosa pine-covered canyon features striking colours best seen at sunrise or sunset when the light brings out hues of red, brown, yellow, and purple. A steep, lava-layered canyon wall runs for eight kilometres along a 600-metre wide, 300-metre deep chasm. Slam an espresso shot with real maple syrup from the roadside Sugar Shack in 70 Mile House to keep you alert for the drive.
At the Flying U Ranch, experience authentic Cariboo culture and stay in a cozy cabin at Canada’s oldest guest ranch, established in 1849. Guests have “free-rein” of the grounds, including use of the main lodge saloon, theatre, games room, dock and swimming area, as well as access to canoes, kayaks, hayrides, yoga, and archery. Three home-cooked meals are provided daily and guests also have access to a 24-hour refreshment centre.
Note: This story was originally published in 2020
Feature Image: Ben Giesbrecht fishing the stock pond at Big Bar Guest Ranch. Photo: Jordan Dyck
Always check trail conditions before you head out, and no matter what outdoor activity you are planning, be prepared.
Plan Your RouteCheck Drive BC for the latest information on road closures around the province.
Check ConditionsFollow these tips to travel safely and responsibly in BC this season.
See the TipsDiscover everything from luxury hotels and B&Bs to wilderness lodges and campsites.
Find Accommodation