Bridge River Valley

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Hi Blog!

On our last day in Lillooet, we decided to explore the Bridge River Valley. The Bridge River is a 75 mile long river that flows from the Coast Mountains into the Fraser River. It is located just six miles north of Lillooet. The once mighty Bridge River was nearly completely diverted into Seton Lake through a tunnel in the mountains as part of the Bridge River Power Project. From our vantage point, you can see the deep channel the river once filled.

Just as we started up Highway 40 toward Gold Bridge, a couple of spruce grouse crossed the road.  We had to gently remind them that the road is a dangerous place for vulnerable birds such as they are.

For the most part, the 65 mile drive was paved, but there were sections of the highway, taken out by rock fall, that were regraded and graveled.

The road alternated from being high above the canyon floor, to right next to the river with rocks hanging over our heads.

We passed dozens of waterfalls along the way. We loved this whimsical sign next to an impressive falls:

We noticed a golden eagle flying down the river valley. He/she stopped to perch in a dead tree. We waited to see if they would fish for salmon, but he/she was only interested in resting.

As part of the Bridge River Project, a dam was built on the Bridge River. The resulting Carpenter Lake stretches west and above the dam for 35 miles.

We made our first stop at Gold Bridge. Located at the confluence of the Bridge River with its south fork, the Hurley River, and perched just above where the Bridge River becomes Carpenter Lake, Gold Bridge began as a freewheeling merchandising and services center supplementary to the company-run gold mining towns, and in its heyday had a large commercial roster ranging from insurance and stockbrokers through to bootleggers and "sporting houses". We stopped for lunch at the old hotel and cafe.  The only other patrons were two men who had apparently taken their yellow canoe out on a local lake.

Just across the street was the General Store. However, since today was Sunday, it was closed.  That was just about all there was in Gold Bridge.

After lunch, we continued our journey up to Bralorne, a historic Canadian gold mining community some eighty miles west of Lillooet. We drove high above the Hurley River, which is a major tributary of the Bridge River.

Gold has been the central element in the area's history going back to the 1858-1860 Fraser River Gold Rush.  In 1897, three men hiked in from Lillooet to Cadwallader Creek looking for gold. They made three claims:  the Lorne, Marquis, and the Golden King. These would form the core of the complex of claims which became the Bralorne Mine. The district was one of the few bright lights in the BC economy during the Great Depression.  In a seven-year period in the 1930s, the mines of the Bridge River produced $370,000,000 in gold.

After the last gold mines closed in 1971, Bralorne sat abandoned and forgotten for many years, its empty buildings bare and open to all who wanted to strip or damage them. Private owners purchased many of the homes and have worked to improve them.  With recent increases in the price of gold, the mine has reopened and the former head office of the Bralorne Pioneer Gold Mine is being turned into a museum to the local history of gold mining. 

Just across the street from the old mine office building is the temporary headquarters of the history museum. Most of the artifacts are boxed up waiting to be cataloged and installed in the mine office building. However, we did learn a little about the area from the docent.


After checking out the museum, we headed back down to Gold Bridge. This doe stopped to watch us as we made our way down.

As we drove, we got this magnificent view down Cadwallader Creek toward the Bridge River.

Our next stop was the Haylmore Heritage Site in Gold Bridge. Will Haylmore was the original and long time gold claim mine recorder in the Bridge River Valley.  Will lived near Gold Bridge where he had his home and office and his own placer mine. The Bridge River Valley Community Association has restored one of the buildings on the property and is planning to restore the site further.

The site operates as a Tourism Information Booth and a place to purchase locally produced artisan’s goods. You can also pan for gold!

Never one to turn down an opportunity to strike it rich, Kathy proceeded to pan away.

Eureka! We now have a few more flecks to add to the collection. At this rate, we'll be able to retire soon.

Before long, we began to wind our way back down the Bridge River Valley. At the upper end of Carpenter Lake near Gold Bridge, the Bridge River meanders through a mud flat or estuary.

The blue-green water has an almost milky quality from the glacial silt.

As with most of our stays, we wish we had more time to explore. Our next stop is Harrison Hot Spring where we hope to soak our cares away. 

Until next time - Keep Smiling!