100 Mile House

Cariboo ranching and forestry town named for its milepost on the old wagon road.

100 Mile House is a small town in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, named for its position on the old Cariboo Wagon Road, 100 miles north of Lillooet (Mile Zero). It is a ranching and forestry town that serves as a gateway to some of the best cross-country skiing and lake fishing in the province.

The area around 100 Mile House has over 100 lakes within a short drive, making it a popular destination for trout fishing in summer and ice fishing in winter. The town bills itself as the "Handcrafted Log Home Capital of North America," and you will see evidence of this in the impressive log buildings around the area. The 100 Mile Marsh, right on the edge of town, is a good spot for birdwatching, with nesting grebes, herons, and various waterfowl.

In winter, the Cariboo region receives reliable dry snow, and the 100 Mile Nordic ski trails — some of the finest groomed cross-country terrain in British Columbia — attract serious skiers from across the province. The town is a convenient stop on the drive between Kamloops and the northern Cariboo. Guest ranches in the surrounding hills offer horseback riding and a taste of the ranching life that still defines this part of British Columbia.

Guide

Getting There

100 Mile House sits on Highway 97 (the Cariboo Highway), which is the main road north from Kamloops through the Cariboo plateau. The drive from Kamloops is about 185 km (roughly two hours). From Vancouver, the route goes via Kamloops — about 400 km total, a four-to-five hour drive.

There is no scheduled air service to 100 Mile House. Greyhound Canada previously served the route; check current bus schedules as services change. Most visitors arrive by car, which also gives the flexibility to explore the surrounding lakes and back roads.

Guide

Things to Do

100 Mile House is an outdoor destination. The main draws are cross-country skiing in winter and lake fishing in summer, with the 100 Mile Marsh offering birdwatching year-round. The surrounding Cariboo countryside — wide valleys, ponderosa pines, and hundreds of small lakes — rewards slow exploration by car or on horseback.