Cariboo Highway

The Cariboo Highway (Highway 97) largely follows the route of the Cariboo Trail and Cariboo Waggon Road, which led from Lillooet to the gold-rush regions in the Cariboo Mountains. However, the present Cariboo Highway 97 begins at the TransCanada Highway near Cache Creek and connects the latter with Yellowhead Highway further to the north near Prince George, a distance of 445 km (276 mi.). From there it is known as the "John Hart Highway" and continues further north to create a link between the TransCanada Highway and Vancouver and Dawson Creek, where the Alaska Highway begins. In a southerly direction the Highway initially follows the TransCanada Highway eastwards, then turns off with three alternative routes into Okanagan Valley and links up with the east-west link road, Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3; see entry), which runs near to the U.S. - Canadian border.

The first gold-seekers, on hearing news of great finds of gold in the interior of British Columbia, came north from California, initially following the rocky Cariboo Trail along the Fraser River.