Itinerary

B.C. Horse Vacations - Where Adventure & Luxury Meet

Itinerary

"God forbid that I should go to heaven where there are no horses."

“We have both done a fair bit of riding and have horses in our family heritage but we have never truly experienced mountain riding until you took us out there, back there, up there, down there, in and outta there, under there and over there, thro’ there and across there on the Trans Canada Trail, rim trails, meadow trails, forest trails, creek trails, climbing trails, abandoned roads, trails that you had clearly punched in yourselves plus trailering when needed.

Somewhere in your literature I read, ‘We Take Riders Riding’.

Do you ever!!!!!” Wylli D., Peachland, BC

Lodge Rides

The Trails

The 1^st and last day trails are used on every ride. These take you up to the Lodge where you’ll bunk down in comfort and style each night, and then back down to the BCHV facility on your last day.

These are loosely structured rides. The itineraries here are provided as a rough guide, not a set program, and the trails may vary with weather, accessibility or other unforeseen circumstances.

1st Day: Bear Hill

Please plan to arrive at BCHV facility between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.

Luggage will be organized for delivery. Complete waiver forms & business part of your holiday. Then the fun begins - meet your horse and spend a few minutes getting to know each other in the arena, cover a few basic safety pointers, and then it’s time to hit the trails for the day.

Riding about 6 hours, lunch on the trail.

Trails: BCHV ‘Cat’ trails (named for the nimblest of horses) to wide, flat, Trans-Canada, into South Siwash Valley with it’s beaver pond and sparkling creek crossings, up Bear Hill (a great place to watch the local brown bear residents) to a craggy, windswept viewpoint for lunch, then up and over the mountain to ride into the Jellicoe Station Inn.

Last Day: Ridge ‘n’ Rollercoaster

Please have your luggage packed and in foyer for vehicle pick-up prior to your ride.

Riding about 4 hours, lunch at BCHV

Trails: The beautiful, convoluted Wheredat trail connects into the big climbs and bigger views up the Ridge. The Rollercoaster weaves and dips like its namesake, then joins into West Laredo, a long connecting trail that traverses from one valley to another, down through the 4 creek crossings into North Siwash and back to the BCHV facility.

Finish off your holiday by relaxing with a late lunch on the mountain view deck.

Depending on your length of stay, any combination of the following trails may be visited during your vacation.

Along the Lakes (3, 5 or 7 day rides)

Riding about 6 hours, lunch at the viewpoint.

Trails: The Trans-Canada Trail along Link & Osprey lakes is gorgeous and a great area for bird watching. A decked railway trestle takes you over part of the lake, just a few feet above swimming ducks and past a beaver lodge. Ride up to Behm’s Point for lunch, where you can see uninhabited, wild forest for miles in every direction. Razberry trail takes you down to East Laredo, through the Farview and Wheredat trails back to the Jellicoe Station Inn.

The Wildflower Route (Guest’s favorite!) (3, 5 or 7 day rides)

Riding about 6 hours, lunch in the wildflowers.

Trails: – Hembrie Mountain Trailhead to the open meadow of the Wildflower Route. Lunch in the shade of immense Ponderosa pines, then ride the long views on the meadow’s edge trails. A secret, wild trail through the woods takes you down to the Trans-Canada, then through an abandoned railway tunnel to the pickup point. Vehicles will be waiting for transfer back to your lodgings.

The Jellicoe Loop (3, 5 or 7 day rides)

Riding about 5 hours, lunch on the big rock.

Trails: Explore this beautiful system of trails that meander throughout the fragrant pine forest. Take a deep breath, feeling any tension melt away at beautiful mountain viewpoints. Moose, deer, coyotes and bear share these trails, and in June the wild orchids are in bloom. Eventually this loop works it’s way back to the door of the Jellicoe Station.

Spukunne Lake (3, 5 or 7 day rides)

Please meet at the BCHV facility.

Riding 5 - 6 hours, lunch at the lake.

This is a pretty ride that makes good use of some of the abandoned forest roads that criss-cross the area. With wide trails, moose ponds, creek crossings and a fisherman’s favorite lake to lunch at, this is a slighter shorter day and a popular ride on hot days. This is the only loop that begins and ends at the BCHV facility.

Bear Berry: (3, 5 or 7 day rides)

Riding up to 4 hours, lunch at the BCHV facility.

This is the fastest day available in the itinerary, with the best footing and least amount of climbing for the horses. Excellent variety of trails, nice views, frequent bear spotting… and some great trots and canters! End the day with a late lunch on the deck at the BCHV facility.

Westmere Lake (5 or 7 day rides)

Riding about 6 hours, lunch at the lake.

Trails: This remote, no-vehicle-access lake is always a peaceful place to enjoy lunch. The lake is high enough up into the snow line that the trails are only passable through late July, August and early September. Start at Pelly’s Access to Yellow Gate, up Westmere Trail to the lake, Rickety Bridge and loop back to Three Lakes trailhead. Gorgeous!

Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary (5 or 7 day rides)

Riding 5 – 6 hours, lunch on the trail.

Follow scenic loops through the protected lakeside birder’s paradise, then into rolling hills of wide-open ponderosa forest where the deer and elk bed down on bunchgrass cattle range.

Top of the World (7 day ride) Available in September only, with special permission of ranch owners.

Riding 5 - 6 hours, lunch on the trail.

Trails: Iron Mountain up Mt. Baldy and Sky High viewpoint, Aspen trails, loop back to trailhead, through open cattle range and ponderosa forest. Guest’s may debate which is more spectacular, the Wildflower Route or Top of the World, but definitely agree that these two trails are amongst the most beautiful they’ve ridden in the world.