May 9, 2024 | Words by Tyson Newell
If you have a keen, observant eye, you might have noticed that summer hiking getaways to our Cariboos location in British Columbia, Canada, now have an extra day added to them. That isn’t a typo, fortunately.
We added a 4-night/5-day trip length option because if there’s one thing that’s true about our mountain lodge in the Cariboos, it’s that it’s truly remote. Wild, in the very best ways. And a further distance to travel to compared to our other summer lodges.
In fact, that’s part of the appeal.
“Beautiful places are hard to get to.”
~ John Mellis, CMH guide and former area manager for CMH Cariboos
An alpine paradise lined with ancient glaciers surely isn’t found too close to civilization, making every journey to the Cariboos relaxing, refreshing, and recharging.
READ: Colossal Glaciers and Untamed Peaks: Exploring CMH Cariboos
THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY ROAD TRIP
But know that getting to such a place, especially if you’re making the trip from the closest international airport in Calgary, requires a travel day. Now, this travel day is just a little different than your average commute, given that you get to trace the Icefields Parkway, which some call one of the most scenic drives in the world. This is some of the Canadian Rockies finest scenery, and to have it on display roadside? Truly incredible.
Acknowledging this commute, whether self-driven or by CMH shuttle to the Cariboos heli-pad, we added a day to these trips to accommodate travel to and from, ensuring you get even more of a chance to explore, adventure, roam, climb, admire, savour, and disconnect out in the hills. Hard to beat that, wouldn’t you say?
READ: Icefields Parkway: 10 Self-Drive Tips on Canada’s National Treasure Road Trip
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ADVENTURE IN THE CARIBOO MOUNTAINS
Alright, so with an extra day out in the Cariboos on your itinerary, what do you do with that day?
The terrain out here is big. Hard-to-comprehend-and-even-harder-to-explain big. Peaks for days, literally. That means the only hard limits on your adventures are daylight, weather, and just how many miles your legs can muster. Though, it should be mentioned that there are adventures here accessible to everyone. You need not be a grizzled, fitness fanatic to soak in what the Cariboos have to offer, though we certainly have options for those folks, too.
There are legendary hikes like Crazy Horse and the 9th Hole that, with just a short heli-ride, offer the sorts of glacial, mountainous scenery you might have thought reserved for dreams. Pinch yourself, because you’re definitely not dreaming.
If you want to kick the adrenaline up a notch or two with your extra day, then your gaze will lead to the Zillmer Canyon Via Ferrata.
READ: What is a Via Ferrata?
With three different routes for different abilities and comfort levels, the Zillmer Canyon Via Ferrata skirts the edge of a glacier-fed waterfall, venturing through the canyon before finally emerging to the gobsmacking views above. TLC said not to go chasing waterfalls, but this is an instance worth ignoring their advice.
Throughout your journey, you’ll be securely clipped into your harness which attaches to a safety cable, and led by an ACMG-certified guide. Knowing this, you can lean into the feeling of scaling vertical rock in an alpine environment, animated with balance beams, suspension bridges and even zip lines. Surely there are worse ways to spend a day.
YOUR SUMMER VACATION IN THE CANADIAN MOUNTAINS
As if you needed any additional motivation to consider coming to the Cariboos, we just had to add a few sprinkles on top. It might be a longer journey to get there (though the commute is as beautiful as it gets), but when you step out of the lodge that first morning and hear the audible silence of the mountains, perhaps a few birds chirping beyond, and take the biggest, deepest breath of fresh air you’ve taken in recent memory and all the drudgery of day-to-day life fades away at the edges, you’ll know it was worth it. And that’s only day one.
Questions? We’re here to chat. Contact us when you’re ready.
