70 Mile House is a starting point for recreational destinations around Green Lake and Watch Lake. The community is also historically connected to two routes: an early roadhouse stop on the Cariboo Gold Rush Trail and the mileage marker on the Cariboo Wagon Road. Choosing a suitable base therefore raises a specific question: Should your stay focus mainly on the community’s historic significance, or include activities at nearby destinations? Green Lake and Chasm Park offer different themes to consider.
Historic Route Markers
Historically, 70 Mile House was one of the first roadhouse stops on the Cariboo Gold Rush Trail. On the Cariboo Wagon Road, the community marks the distance from Lillooet, with Lillooet designated as Mile 0. These two connections serve different purposes for orientation: the roadhouse stop places 70 Mile House on the Gold Rush route, while the mileage marker refers to the Wagon Road and is counted from Lillooet. Those interested in the history of these routes will find two specific points of connection in the community. They help explain the historic role of 70 Mile House without treating the two road connections as one and the same.
Nearby Green Lake and Chasm Park
Nearby destinations offer different highlights. Green Lake Park features designated swimming areas and fishing opportunities, while Chasm Park combines a viewpoint overlooking canyon walls with informal hiking trails. When planning, you can choose whether to focus more on water activities or on views of a distinctive landscape.
Green Lake Park has designated swimming areas marked by buoys at all day-use and camping areas. Fishing opportunities are also available, supported by an annual rainbow trout stocking program. Swimming and fishing are two distinct reasons to include the park in your selection of recreational activities. You can decide which option better fits your plans based on the focus you have in mind.
Chasm Park offers a viewpoint overlooking layered lava canyon walls in shades of red, brown, yellow, and purple. There are also informal hiking trails in the area, which generally follow old roads. The viewpoint and trails are two different aspects of the park: one draws your attention to the layered canyon walls, while the others offer a chance to explore on foot. Compared with Green Lake, the focus here is on the canyon landscape rather than swimming and fishing.
Snowmobile Routes and Distance Information
Two route connections are worth distinguishing for snowmobiling. A 2016 statement published by the provincial government gives the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail an approximate length of 259 kilometres between 70 Mile House and Horsefly; the length may have changed. The Green Lake Snowmobile Trail system is also located east of 70 Mile House. Check its current trail conditions before planning. This information helps distinguish the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail and its endpoints from the Green Lake Snowmobile Trail system to the east.
The Wider Region: Thompson-Nicola
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District encompasses a wide range of landscapes. These include the gently rolling grasslands of the Nicola Valley, desert and semiarid climates around Kamloops Lake, and temperate inland rainforest in the upper North Thompson Valley. Wells Gray Park is also known for old-growth rainforest, alpine meadows, and numerous waterfalls.
Discover more destinations: Merritt, Kamloops, Monte Creek, Logan Lake, Clinton, Spences Bridge, Barrière, Sun Peaks
View the broader travel guide: Thompson-Nicola.
