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Rivermania Trip Details
Sunday August 24th
Launch at Hubble Homestead Jet Boat to Fort George Trading Post. Overnight at a Prince George Hotel (we supply)
Monday August 25th
Depart Prince George 9.30 am from the Fort George trading post. Jet Boat to the Blackwater River, Set up camp, We will demonstrate Fly fishing on the Blackwater River; Try your Hand at Fly fishing, Catch fresh trout for supper.
Tuesday August 26th
Leaving the Blackwater River, Jet boating to Quesnel known as the Gold pan city. We will stop at the Cottonwood Canyon to explore Hard Rock 
tunnels and Gold mining excavations. The Sternwheelers had to be pulled through this canyon with steam winches in the 1860s through to 1930s.The hotel is long gone but we will try to supply photos for publication. We will have a great picture of a Sternwheeler coming down River in the Cottonwood Canyon available for travel writers this can be emailed. Upon arrival in Quesnel you will be taken by Jet Boat to Cariboo Rivers Lodge on the Banks of the Fraser River. www.caribooriverslodge.com We will participate in all local activities and celebrations.
Wednesday August 27 and Thursday August 28
Cariboo Rivers Lodge Has Three Trips available so you can Experience what the North Cariboo area has to offer. Helicopter Circle Tour- Gold, Grizzlies, Glaciers Additional Fee $600.00 per person Leaving Quesnel you would fly to Quesnel Forks for a visit of this Historic Gold Rush Town. You would then continue flying up the 
deepest Fjord Lake in North America Quesnel Lake, Following the west and North arms of Quesnel Lake Landing on a Mountain Top overlooking the Mitchell River Wetlands and the Cariboo Mountains Park. In September this area has the largest concentrations of Grizzly bears in the central 
interior; we do grizzly viewing, in September and October, using jet boats on the Mitchell River. Glaciers can be seen across the lake. Enjoy a glass of wine with cheese and local delicacies in this magnificent setting. Continuing you will fly over Mitchell Lake and view the ice fields surrounding this beautiful lake. You will see the world famous Bowron Lake Chain of canoeing lakes as we make our way to Barkerville were you will disembark for a live theater show in the Historic gold rush town. Transportation will be provided back to your accommodations in Quesnel.
Gold Rush Tour- Quesnel River Day trip, approx 8 to 10 hours.
Embark on an exciting Jet Boat trip 25 miles up the Quesnel River, following the real Gold rush Trail to the preserved Historic Gold rush ghost town of Quesnel Forks. This town was established in 1858 before Barkerville and was the starting point as the miners went over the Snow shoe plateau in the middle of winter to stake claims in the newly discovered Gold fields. The last resident died in 1954. You
will have an opportunity to photograph two of the largest shovel and wheel barrow tailing piles on the river. In the hungry 1930s there were 5000 miners working and living along the banks of the Quesnel River. During this trip you will have the opportunity to explore old abandoned mines. Try your hand panning for gold. The Sockeye Salmon will be returning and Bald Eagles will be a common sight. You will see swimming Chinook salmon that have already arrived and spawned; the clear waters of the upper Quesnel River offers great photos opportunities.
Blackwater River Float Trip- Day trip
Driving west to Nazko 80 km, stopping for coffee at Nazko Valley Lodge where you will meet some interestin
g Cariboo characters. This coffee shop is the hub of the back country. Float an enjoyable 5 miles of the Blackwater River. The Best Dry Fly Fishing in B.C. This river flows along side the Thousands of years old grease trail. First Nations people traded oligan oil which was used for cooking and oil lamps up to the late 1800`s. The grease trail was followed by Alexander Mackenzie as he made the first crossing of the North American continent by land in 1793. On this float you may see the endangered North American White Pelican; the number of these magnificent birds with their 7 foot wing span seems to be slowly increasing. The pelicans fly out 40 to 60 miles daily to feed from their nesting areas on Stum Lake in the Chilcotin.
August 29th Friday Quesnel to Xats`ull Village
Leaving the lodge at 10.00AM, from our river front gazebo you will jet boat down river following the route used by the Stern wheelers in the 1800`s to bring miners to the Gold fields. You will view towering Pinnacle formations, old tailing piles 
left long ago from gold miners and wildlife along the shore. Arriving at Soda Creek you can explore this historic site, as this was the starting point of travel for the Stern wheelers on their 
northern journeys. Thousands of miners boarded here with great expectations many found gold and many stayed after the gold rush to settle this wild land. Continuing for 2 more kilometers brings you to the beautiful Xats`ull Village site. You will travel back to the Lodge at night.
August 30th Saturday Xats`ull Village- Likely, Bullion Pit
Driving down to Xats`ull Village, as no formal activities are plann
ed you have plenty of time to do a road trip to the Village of Likely. Likely is located on the west end of Quesnel Lake where the Quesnel River begins. The second largest runs of Sockeye Salmon of the Fraser River System pass under the Likely Bridge on the way to the Horsefly and Mitchell rivers The Likely museum is a delight to visit, holding many artifacts from the gold rush. We will stop at the Bullion Pit to view this large old Hydraulic gold mine. The sides of the hills were washed by water into the sluice boxes to recover the gold. You will travel back to the lodge for a good nights rest.
August 31 Sunday Xats`ull Village Williams lake
Driving down to take in all the planned activities at Xats`ull village and on to Williams Lake for mini rodeo, POW wow and wagon rides. Head back to the lodge for your last night in a soft bed before heading out camping on the river...
September 1st Monday
Leaving Xats`ull Village you now move into canyon lands and faster moving water. You will pass under the Rudy Johnson Bridge; this was privately built to cross the Fraser River. You then pass Russian rock in the middle of the river. It was used when there was a reaction ferry operating here. Continuing we pass under The Bridge at Sheep Creek Hill, highway 20 known as the freedom highway, it takes you into the Chilcotin Country. Passing old deserted cabins along the river left by early settlers, they are well preserved by the dry climate. You will be passing the largest concentration of California Big Horn Sheep in North America where sightings are common. You will be camping in dry desert like conditions.
September 2nd Tuesday
Leaving the Chilcotin River Campsite you will head down river viewing wildlife and enjoying the changing scenery. You will float by the Gang Ranch on your way to the Cathedrals. The Gang Ranch was the largest cattle ranch in North America, with its own post office and air stip. Camp with us for the last time, a party could break out to celebrate our time on the river together. So long Friends
Cheers,
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