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Mighty Fraser Country
Living in a technology driven world, we can be forgiven for thinking microchips and wireless phones rule the world. But you have only to stand in the foaming thunder of Hell’s Gate through which the Fraser River roars at 200 million gallons a minute (760 million litres) to realize that nature is actually still very much in charge and that mighty is exactly the right word to describe her power. The Fraser is the heart of one of the world’s greatest salmon producing river systems. And the country it traverses is simply magnificent. In fact, the river actually shaped much of Fraser country. Over thousands of years, it carved a spectacular canyon through the Coast Mountains, a broad, lush valley with some of Canada’s most fertile farmland, and a vast delta and wetlands. Yes, Fraser Country is mighty, and mighty varied. From snow-capped mountains you look down on dairy farms, berry fields and tidy rows of vegetables that stretch across the valley. Prosperous farm communities dot a landscape rich with aboriginal and heritage pioneer sites, celebrating those who first discovered this country’s unstinting abundance. Almost 150 years ago, thousands of prospectors streamed through the valley lured by gold strikes to the north. Today, there are new prospectors. Some are outdoor-loving visitors from near and far, lured by Mighty Fraser Country’s broad coastal forests, streams and lakes, and ski hills and trails. Hikers, rafters, paddlers, canoeists, campers, boaters, rock hounds and aerial sports enthusiasts have struck gold here. Other people are prospecting for a taste of country peace and quiet. Picking berries, birdwatching, fishing pristine streams, riding horses, taking in a farm or aboriginal festival, or soaking away the cares of the world in hot springs. By and large, they all find what they’re looking for. And so will you. One of the biggest joys in visiting Mighty Fraser Country is the people and surprises you meet along the way. Here’s a sampling of where you can start to discover the simple, but profound pleasures of Mighty Fraser Country. Articles:
Abbotsford On Hwy. 1 just 65 km. (40 miles) east of Vancouver, Abbotsford is the “City in the Country”. Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Harrison Mills Harrison Mills is known as the “Home of the Bald Eagle”, and Harrison Hot Springs is a health and vacation resort dating from 1886. Bridal Falls Nestled at the base of Mount Cheam east of Hwy. 1, Bridal Falls offers a panoramic view of the Fraser Valley. The 122-m. (400-ft.) falls the sixth largest in Canada Chilliwack Famous for its sweet corn and other agricultural products, there are several interesting farm tours in the area, and local lakes and rivers offer excellent fishing and water sports Eagle Rafting One of the best ways to see the gathering of thousands of bald eagles in the Squamish Estuary and on the Harrison River every November to January is from the water, on a raft Fort Langley Just 40 minutes from Vancouver on Hwy. 1, Fort Langley was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post in 1827; it was southwestern B.C.’s first European settlement Fraser River One of the world's great rivers and integral to British Columbia's history. Golf in Mighty Fraser Country Mighty Fraser Country, Harrison Hot Springs, is becoming renowned place to play golf, found in the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region. Hope, Manning Park and Fraser Canyon A 25-minute drive east from Harrison is Hope, where Hwys. 1,3,5 and 7 all meet. The city has a magnificent setting on the banks of the Fraser River with the Cascade Mountains forming a natural amphitheatre behind it Hot Springs Slipping into hot springs is a joy in any season, and for any reason. As if nature had not blessed British Columbia enough with forests, mountains, lakes, streams and ocean, she also liberally dispensed hot springs across the landscape Langley The City of Langley, “The Country Side of Vancouver”, is set on the lush Nicomekl River nature preserve. The downtown is made for walkers, with fountains, public seating, greenways and lots of shops for browsing Maple Ridge Agriculture and forestry are mainstays in this lovely countryside running along the Fraser River east of Pitt Meadows, with nine distinct communities making up the District of Maple Ridge Mighty Fraser Country Circle Tour Envision yourself surrounded by dramatic river valleys, lush vineyards, verdant forests, and abundant wildlife. Travel through communities such as Vancouver - Pitt Meadows - Maple Ridge - Mission - Harrison Mills - Harrison Hot Springs and more! Mission Mission has long been a meeting place. The Sto:lo people established a settlement there 9,000 years ago, today marked by a longhouse interpretive centre. The Catholic mission that gave the city its name was founded in 1861 Northern Fraser Canyon The Fraser and Thompson Rivers come together at Lytton, which regularly records some of Canada’s hottest temperatures. The confluence is spectacular the deep blue of the Thompson mixing with the muddy brown of the Fraser Pitt Meadows On the North Bank of the Fraser along Hwy. 7, Pitt Meadows is the start of farm and horse country. Rock Hounding There are more than 600 varieties of rock to be found on the banks of the Fraser River, many of them semi-precious. The stretch between Bridal Falls and the Fraser Canyon in Mighty Fraser Country is especially good for rock hounding. Snowmobiling Go where even skiers have never been on secret snow roads and across frozen lakes that wind through the mountains ringing the Whistler Valley and north to Pemberton and Lillooet.
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