Know Before You Go
Cariboo, BC | Michael BednarImportant Notices:
- Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park is currently closed
The natural splendour of British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast draws visitors from around the world. While BC is a safe and enjoyable destination, we encourage all travel planners to read our guide to Safe & Responsible Travel in preparation for a visit to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and to stay informed while you are here. Using the following resources for advanced planning and to keep up-to-date on ongoing events during your trip will go a long way towards ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip.
Plan Ahead
Please check DriveBC for the latest information on road conditions, closures and alternate routes, inland ferries and trip planning.
Information line: 1-800-550-4997
For the latest information on travel within and to British Columbia as it relates to COVID-19, please visit the Province of British Columbia’s dedicated Travel and COVID-19 webpage.
Effective September 7, 2021 – Canada will allow entry to fully vaccinated international visitors for leisure travel. Whether you are driving or flying, please visit the Government of Canada’s Requirements page for COVID-19 vaccinated travellers, and the Canada Border Services Agency website for additional travel information.
Proof of Vaccination is no longer required by the government to participate in discretionary activities and access events, services and businesses, however, some businesses may still opt to continue to require proof of vaccination. More details.
It is important to always call and double-check your booking before leaving home to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey to your destination. Some of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region’s wide-open spaces do not have cell service so it is best to plan your route and give your accommodation provider an estimated time of arrival.
Access, Egress, Closures, Evacuation Alerts and Orders
Attention Visitors – Important Notice!
July 15, 2022: Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park is currently closed due to the evolving Nohomin Creek (K750580) Wildfire affecting the access and egress to the lower trailhead near Lytton. Updates for the park and the wildfire are provided on their respective pages linked above. The park will remain closed until further notice, however we invite you to consider other provincial parks in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast unaffected by wildfires.
When hazards arise that may threaten public safety, it is sometimes necessary to issue evacuation notices. In British Columbia, these notifications come in two forms: alerts and orders.
Evacuation Alerts are issued when there is a hazard that may develop into a threat to public safety. They are an advance warning of a potential evacuation. You are not required to evacuate an area under an evacuation alert, but you should be ready to if the alert gets upgraded. Make sure you know where everyone in your party is and have a plan to evacuate if needed.
Evacuation Orders are issued when there is an imminent threat to public safety. When an evacuation order is issued for an area, everyone in that area must leave immediately. Evacuation orders are always issued with a defined evacuation route; you should take this route if possible. If you are unable to evacuate an area that has been placed under an evacuation order, please contact the local authority that issued it for assistance.
Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders are posted by their respective local authorities. In the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, these are:
Central Coast Regional District
Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
Fraser-Fort George Regional District
Wildfire Safety
Wildfires are a seasonal event in many of British Columbia’s ecosystems. Wildfires can refresh the ecosystem and make way for new growth, but can also pose a potential hazard to people and infrastructure. The British Columbia Wildfire Service manages wildfire response throughout the province; they also provide information on current wildfire events. To see information on current wildfires, fire danger ratings and air quality, visit the BC Wildfire Service website.
Fire Information line: 1-888-336-7378
If you see a beginning wildfire, please report it to the Wildfire Service at 1-800-663-5555 or text *5555 from a cell phone.
When long periods of hot and dry weather conditions make wildfires more likely, it is sometimes necessary to restrict the use of open fires (such as campfires or private land-controlled burning). Fire bans and restrictions are published on the Province of BC – Fire Bans and Restrictions web page and affect all public and private land, such as crown land, wilderness areas and campgrounds.
Provincial Emergency Information
Emergency Info BC is the provincial source for information on ongoing emergency situations. Community-specific questions should be directed to the involved region’s local government listed above.
Website: emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca
Twitter: @emergencyinfobc
Additional Information Sources
British Columbia’s Community Visitor Centres
- Staff at these centres can help you with trip planning information, alternative routes and reservation changes.
- BC Parks offers information regarding Provincial campgrounds and park closures.
- env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Recreation Sites and Trails BC
- Recreation Sites and Trails offers alerts, closures and warnings regarding BC’s rustic campsites and recreational trails.
- www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/camping-hiking/sites-trails/alerts