About 92 kilometres west of Williams Lake, Hanceville is located on Highway 20. The area is shaped by its ranching and trail history and lies along various routes through the region. For planning, it helps to first ask whether you will continue along Highway 20 to Anahim Lake and Bella Coola or include the gravel road to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground.
Routes around Hanceville
Access to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground in Ts'ilɂos Provincial Park is via Highway 20 to Hanceville. From there, a 121-kilometre gravel road runs via Konni Lake and the Nemiah Valley to the campground. This is a different route choice from continuing along Highway 20, which passes through Hanceville on the way to Anahim Lake and Bella Coola. Travel conditions may vary; check them before setting out.
The two routes differ considerably: the 121-kilometre gravel road leads to the campground, while Anahim Lake and Bella Coola are waypoints on Highway 20. If the campground is part of your plans, take the road’s length and gravel surface into account when preparing. For a trip along Highway 20, the relevant waypoints are instead the named places Anahim Lake and Bella Coola. This makes it possible to determine in advance which route is relevant to your trip.
Ranching history and old trails
Historic Hanceville is located on the site of an early ranch belonging to Tom Hance. The Hanceville area was originally called Lee's Corner, after Norman Lee. Local history also includes Lee's attempt to drive a herd of cattle 2,500 kilometres through this rugged country in winter. The area's history thus brings together a ranching past and a story about the long distances people and cattle travelled through the region.
A further-reaching trail history is connected with the First Nations. Trails from Hanceville and the Taseko Lakes led to the Bridge River and were used by First Nations people on horseback and on foot. Today, this network forms a large part of the trails in South Chilcotin Mountains Park. The connection between the starting points, the river destination and today's park landscape makes this history a distinct aspect of the region, alongside stories of ranches and cattle drives.
An amenity of the Yunesit'in community
A new outdoor ice rink was built in Hanceville for the Yunesit'in community. It is a year-round recreational facility for Yunesit'in community members of all ages.
Cariboo: regional context
The Cariboo region includes 22 wheelchair-accessible trails managed by the Cariboo Regional District, spread throughout the area. It offers a broader perspective if you would also like to consider other parts of the region when planning your trip.
The examples in the Cariboo have different highlights: the Bullion Pit Low Mobility Trail offers a view of a man-made canyon dating from the gold rush. The Horsefly Wheelchair Accessible Salmon Habitat Viewing Trail runs alongside the Horsefly River and offers views of the salmon migration channel. The two trail highlights in the Cariboo differ: at Bullion Pit, the view is of a man-made canyon from the gold rush era; at the Horsefly River, it is of the salmon migration channel.
Discover more destinations: Elkford, Wasa, Sparwood, Kleena Kleene, Fraser Lake, Telkwa
Go to the main travel overview: British Columbia.
