Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventure » Multiday Trips

Jetboat/Kayak Chilko Lake

TRIP SUMMARY
How would you like to take a trip on the most remote and beautiful lake in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia? We shuttle you from your hotel in Vancouver to our Airline Charter and then you will be flown to Chilko Lake. Here you will check into the lodge where you will stay for your first night.

Once you have checked in you will have an exciting Jetboat River Tour on Chilko River where you can fish, explore or relax and enjoy the scenery. The next day we will cruise up the turquoise waters of Chilko Lake in our fully outfitted 27 foot, 620 horse-powered Jetboat with full tops and heaters, here we will spend the next four days Jetboating, camping, hiking and kayaking in and around the mountains of Ts’yl os Park and the waters edge of Chilko Lake. Our inflatable kayaks are a very stable high quality craft that can be paddled by novice or experienced paddlers, no previous kayaking experience is necessary.

the jetboat We will treat our selves to the fantastic scenery that makes Chilco Lake famous worldwide. We explore the Franklin Arm where we can paddle in our inflatable kayaks, fish for trout, hike and explore or have a relaxing time in this quiet and remote wilderness. The third night we will spend at the south end of Chilko Lake hiking, paddling, observing wildlife, exploring and fishing around a magnificent setting of coastal mountains. We will end our day with a Native Chilcotin dinner and sauna. The fourth night will be spent in the most southern tip of the lake exploring Edmond Creek, one of the highlights of Ts’yl os Park.

Our days can be spent Jetboating, hiking to view points, photography, fishing, or enjoying ourselves by the lake. The fifth day we can either have a hike in the beautiful Yohetta Valley or hike to view points on Mount Goddard for spectacular photos of the Capital Mountains and a view of Mount Tatlow (Ts’yl os Mountain). The sixth day we will whisk you back to the lodge where you will board the airplane for your scenic flight back to Vancouver.

The Full Trip Itinerary (click here)

** Guests are not required to partake in any activities that they don’t feel comfortable doing. Our goal is to make all of our guests as comfortable as possible. We can accommodate those who want a soft outdoor adventure to those who would like a more rugged experience.

DEPARTURE DATES
Contact us for information.
4-6 day Chilko Lake Expedition

*Shorter versions of this trip are also available. If these dates are not suitable for you please call to see other alternatives.

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
- Transportation to and from Vancouver
- All meals and beverages while on jetboat trip
*Please advise us of special diet info.
- Guided jetboat trip as outlined
- Cooking Equipment
- First night at lodge

NOT INC. IN TOUR PRICE
- 7 % GST
- Gratuities, personal expenses
- Bring your own sleeping bag, tent and thermal rest (Camping supplies may be rented upon request)

SPECIAL NOTES
- All tours are a maximum of 10 people and a minimum of 5 people.
- All guests are required to sign a waiver of liability prior to departure.
- Our trip itinerary may change as weather can be unpredictable on Chilko Lake.

PARK INFORMATION
Nemiah is the traditional territory of the Xeni Gwet’in people. There is evidence of native ancestry throughout the park. They continue to use this area today for traditional ceremonies, hunting, fishing, food and medicinal gathering. The people of Xeni have a great respect for their land and would like all people who visit the area to also respect it as they do.

Ts'yl-os Park is located about 4-5 hours west of Williams Lake. Ts’yl-os Park is 233,240 hectares in size and has a diverse and ecologically rich landscape. The park beholds rugged coastal mountain peaks to the west side and dry interior plateaus to the east side. Chilko Lake lies in the middle of Ts’yl-os park stretching out 80 km in length. This is also the largest high elevation glacial lake in North America.

Nemiah is also home to the last herd of Wild Mustangs that roam throughout this valley. There are also mountain goats, big horn sheep, eagles, grizzly bear, black bear, wolverine, fisher, peregrine falcon, Vaux’s swift, moose, deer and many small songbirds that live in this pristine wilderness park. This is a true wilderness paradise.

TRIP GUIDELINES
Our gear and equipment is top of the line providing you with safety, luxury and relaxation. We have covered tops for our boats that will protect us from inclement weather and harmful rays. Sit back and enjoy the views while the driver does the navigating. Everyone is required to where a life jacket at all times while on the water, no wetsuit is required.

It is the responsibility of each member to set up their own tents and sleeping arrangements. The guides prepare all the meals, but if you would like to join in, please do so. Our menu for the week will satisfy all your food desires while away from your normal style of life. There will be no consuming alcohol until we reach camp. Here we will provide three beers per person per day and along with our meal we have wine. Gourmet coffee will be provided throughout the day. If you would like to bring along your own supply of alcohol you may, but please no glass containers. Insects are not much of a problem along the rivers, but you may want to pack a small supply of bug dope just in case. We care about our environment and take all our garbage with us, please respect Mother Nature and don’t hesitate to give any garbage to us to dispose of properly.

SAFETY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Our guides are certified Swift Water Jetboat Operations Technicians, River Rescue Technicians, and government licensed First Aid attendants. Our boat is equipped with all river rescue gear and then some. We take every precaution to make this expedition safe for you and your belongings, there are certain risks involved when undertaking a wilderness river expedition or a mountain lake expedition. You must sign a liability release form before leaving on our trip. We do recommend you purchase an inexpensive travel insurance package covering your personal belongings, increased medical coverage and trip cancellation insurance.

CHILKO LAKE TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1
From your hotel in Vancouver you will be shuttled to Northern Thunderbird Air, a private charter, who will provide exceptional safety and comfort during your flight. This flight will take you over the Pemberton Ice fields and huge glacier filled valleys within the Coastal Mountains. You also pass over Mount Waddington, BC’s highest mountain peak. The plane will then land at Chilko Lake where your jetboat guides will greet you. We will check into the lodge and drop off our luggage. You will get ready to head out on a river trip after you have relaxed from your flight. We will meet you out in front of the lodge, here you will have a short orientation on safety, fit your lifejackets, and then you will board the jetboat. We will take you past a few ancient native sites as we enter Chilko River where we will drift to Henrys Crossing, a traditional native fishing site. If you have a fishing tag you may fish for Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout at stops along the way (Fishing Tags may be purchased at Chilko Lodge). We will have an enjoyable lunch along the river then head back upriver where we may have a peek at some of the coastal mountains from Chilko Lake. After we can go back to the lodge and relax; you may take in some of the activities the lodge has to offer, hike or just kick back. Dinner will be served at the lodge.

DAY 2
Your breakfast will be served at the lodge, after breakfast you will bring your personal gear out to the jetboat. We will load your gear and take off for our next four days of exploration on Chilko Lake in our 27 foot, twin engine, 620 horse-powered, covered and heated jetboat. We will explore the rugged shoreline of Chilko Lake as we journey towards the Franklin Arm, our first stop may be at “Big Lagoon” where we may get a glimpse of moose as they feed on the lush aquatic vegetation that draws them to this wonderful spot. We will pass great mountains and huge magnificent valleys. Mountain Goats and California Bighorn Sheep can be seen high above grazing in lush green alpine valleys on the rugged mountains surrounding the lake. We may see grizzly bears feeding off the shores of Chilko Lake for salmon that are wearily swimming in the lake during their last days of life. We stop by Treadcroft Creek for lunch. We may also do some exploring by foot, hiking up to an old mine site, to get a spectacular view of Nemiah Valley and the surrounding mountains. We will continue up the lake to Franklin Arm where we will spend the night This is truly a remote and beautiful spot and is a privilege to experience in every aspect. Once we’ve finish dinner we can relax and watch the light and the shadows move gently throughout the mountains created by the magic of the setting sun. One can only feel peace as we absorb this picturesque scenery.

DAY 3
When we awake in the early morning we can watch the sun rise above the Hamathako Ice fields. The mornings are usually calm and the lake reflects a mirror image of the sky and mountains. This mountain scenery will astonish any traveler who appreciates pure nature. We will spend the morning paddling around this remote little inlet. Here we may see moose, grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, deer, eagles, including the many songbirds that live amongst the mountain flowers that are scattered throughout this diverse landscape. We will take short hikes to waterfalls, ice fields and glacier fed creeks that are surrounded by lush spruce, fur and cedar forest. We will also explore where miners lived and mined for gold in the earlier years. You may also fish for trout in the tributaries. Once we’ve eaten, packed our gear and loaded up the jetboat, we set out for the south end of the lake where we will spend the next few days. We will make camp along Farrow Creek. We will explore the surrounding area and for the more adventurous we can hike to a viewpoint and feast our eyes on the numerous snowcapped mountains of the Coastal Range. Tonight we will enjoy a traditional native dinner of salmon, wild rice and bannock. If you like you can partake in the building of a native sauna, called a ”sweat lodge” that rejuvenates the body and the mind, and brings us closer to our surroundings.

DAY 4
Once we have had a great breakfast we can take a scenic cruise to Edmond Creek in the most southern, and most remote end of the lake. Edmond Creek is one of the main features of the Park and offers a great opportunity to spot wildlife in its most natural state. We will find a cozy little spot to camp. Once camp is set up we can spend the rest of the day explore the surrounding area, we may paddle around the south end of the lake for the day exploring the pristine glacial streams and creeks that flow into Chilko Lake’s south end. Here we will have a chance to absorb the peaceful energy of the mountains that surround this picturesque location. There will also be plenty of time to fish for trout or have a short hike where we can take magnificent photographs of the surrounding mountains, animals and of our travel companions and friends. We will head back to camp where we will eat dinner and just enjoy ourselves.

Day 5
The sun rises, its another wonderful day in this splendid paradise, so we wake up early not wasting a moment of time. After a wholesome breakfast we will jetboat up to Rainbow Creek where, if you would like we can hike on the Yohetta and Tchaikazan Trail or we can hike to Mtn. Goddard where we will have views of Chilko Lake. While on the Trail we can hike to vantage points and other scenic spots where there will be excellent photo opportunities. We often see wildlife on this trail, as this is wild country. Your guides are experienced in the outback and take the necessary precautions should we have any close encounters with wild life. Usually our guides will carry spotting scopes so our guests can get an up-close look at wildlife with minimal disturbance. We may continue on and hike to Dorthy Lake, weather and time permitting. We will stop for lunch in a scenic setting to rest and relax, and later return to camp for dinner. For our final evening we will have a farewell celebration as we sit together around the fire and catch the sunset on the lake and enjoy the light as it creates shadows in the surrounding scenery of Good Hope Mountain, Five Brothers Peaks and all the other snow capped mountains that surround us before we turn in for the night.

Day 6
This morning we will have our breakfast, load our gear and head towards Chilko Lodge making a few stops along the way at Nemiah Valley and “Little Lagoon” a precious little spot hidden behind the trees with golden grass as far as you can see with Mount Nemiah as our backdrop. This will be a great photo opportunity. That is if you have any film left. We will then head to Chilko Lake Lodge where you can enjoy yourselves for drink or lunch before boarding the plane for the one-hour scenic flight back to Vancouver.

** As Chilco Lake can be rough at times, the trip itinerary may change due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control**

EQUIPMENT LIST
Please pack all gear in soft duffle bags.
Each participant is expected to arrive on the river with the following clothing and equipment:

One pair of light hiking boots or walking boots
One pair sneakers or tennis shoes
Socks and underwear for 6 days
Wind and waterproof rain suit
2 pairs fast drying pants
2 shirts, 2 T-shirts polyurethane
1 warm sweater-wool
Pile jacket or down or hollow fill vest
Light jacket(fleece)
2 pairs shorts
Swim suit
Undergarment/Socks for 6 days
Hat for sun and rain
Personal Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, towel, face cloth, lip balm, biodegradable soap ect)
Personal medication
Sun Glasses with strap
Sun block/skin cream
Camera and films and batteries
Flashlight
Tent (may be rented)
Sleeping Bag (may be rented)
Thermarest, air mattress or insulated pad
Small Day pack for hikes
Collapsible fishing rod or other in case (if you wish to fish

For more information & reservations contact:
Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures
P. O. Box 63
Riske Creek, B.C., V0L 1T0
Ph/Fax (250) 659-5800
Toll Free 1-877-RIV TOUR (748-8687)
www.jetboatadventures.com
Email: info@jetboatadventures.com

Payment By: Visa, MasterCard, Money Order, Travellers Cheque or Cash