There’s gold in them thar hills!
That’s what a few prospectors in the area around Gold Bridge claimed, and they were right. West of Lillooet, this area opened up in the late 1920s and soon became the richest gold-producing region in the province. History buffs have plenty of old ghost towns and abandoned mines to poke around in here, while those more inclined to explore the outdoors will find plenty of hiking and trail riding in the area.
Gold bridge is located in the Bridge River Valley, nestled amongst the towering snow-covered peaks of the Southern Chilcotin Mountains. The Bridge River Valley consists of many small communities, including Bralorne, Gold Bridge, Gun Creek, Gun Lake, Tyax Lake, and Marshall Lake. Bridge River Valley’s claim to fame would be the old gold mines in the valley, and each of the communities has its own special part in the history of Bridge River Valley.
Today, prospectors have been replaced by visitors in search of the area’s crystal clear lakes for canoeing and fishing, spectacular views for photography, fresh mountain air, and miles of trails for walking, hiking and cross-country skiing.
Location: Gold Bridge is located in the Bridge River Valley, 66 miles (105 km) west of Lillooet and 150 miles (240 km) north of Vancouver (4-1/2 hours).
The Bralorne Pioneer Museum Society preserves the history of the Bridge River Valley, with information on each of the surviving communities, as well as some of the communities that did not survive for one reason or another, such as Pioneer, Minto and Brexton, to name a few. The Museum is located in the old Industrial Ed. Shop of the Bralorne High School, and is usually open throughout the summer months on weekends.
Some of the historical buildings still standing in the historical Bridge River Valley are the Pioneer Mine, Bralorne Hospital, Boultbee Memorial Church, the Old Catholic Church, Jail House, the Model Bakery, School Gym, Bralorne Pioneers Mines Office building, and the Bralorne Pioneer Mine.
The nearby town of Bralorne was once home to the richest gold mine in Canada.
Bring your camera to Tyaughton Lake where big horn sheep and mountain goats range, and black bear and cougars prowl the craggy heights. The surrounding mountains here rise to almost 10,000 ft.
Fishing: With the valley’s abundance of lakes, seasoned fishing guides offer the angler several opportunities to experience a new and exciting fishing destination each day. The lakes and streams are tailor made for flyfishing, and are home to rainbow trout, eastern brook trout, kokanee and dolly varden, from a pound and a half to 3 pounds on average. Big rainbows up to 10 pounds and huge dolly varden up to 18 pounds have been landed as well.
Gold Panning: Although the Gold Rush in the Cariboo has long since past, Gold Panning still offers an enjoyable and perhaps even profitable way to spend an afternoon in the great outdoors.
Bridge River Valley Reunion: The Valley has changed since the 1940s, but the memories are still alive in Gold Bridge. These memories are relived every three or five years on the July 1st weekend, when the Bridge River Valley reunion is held. The memories are passed down from the old to the young, so hopefully the history of this little valley will never be forgotten.
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