The Cariboo Highway
Meadow Lake Road, north of Clinton, leads west off Hwy 97 to one of the most fabled spreads, the Gang Ranch. If you don't want to backtrack along what is, at times, a most challenging dirt road, forge ahead from the ranch along Dog Creek Road to Hwy 20 and Williams Lake via Alkali Lake, a total of about 80 dusty miles (a just-as-dusty 130 km). Expect some confusion, but persevere.

The road to Horsefly and Quesnel Lakes and the settlement of Likely (which must be visited simply to reward the town for coming up with that name) leads to superb fishing country. The turnoff runs east from 150 Mile House for about 35 miles (60 km). Horsefly is one of the most important salmon-spawning sites for Fraser River stock; this road also leads to Horsefly Provincial Park.

Finally, follow the historic Gold Rush Trail (also known as Hwy 26) to Barkerville. It begins north of Quesnel. A detailed map of all the historic sites along this route can be obtained from the Quesnel InfoCentre.

The Bella Coola Road (Hwy 20)
The Coast Mountains begin about 18 miles (30 km) west of Anahim Lake and stretch to Bella Coola, at the mouth of Burke Channel's North Bentinck Arm. Heavy glaciation on these peaks is evidence that parts of British Columbia are still in grip of the most recent ice age. Viewpoints abound. Particularly notable are those at the summit of the Bella Coola Freedom Road (Hwy 20) at Heckman Pass near the eastern entrance to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, and farther west at the Hill, which overlooks the Atnarko Valley. Lee's Corner Rest Area, about 56 miles (90 km) west of Williams Lake in Hanceville, offers the panorama of the Chilcotin Plateau, with the Coast Mountains in the distance to the west.

Good views of the Upper Fraser Canyon can be had from several locations along Hwy 20 near Williams Lake, including the Chilcotin Bridge, about 15 miles (25 km) west of Williams Lake. At Riske Creek, 32 miles (52 km) west of Williams Lake on Hwy 20, take a side trip south to Farwell Canyon for a look at ancient hoodoo rock formations and Native rock pictographs. A bridge spans the canyon carved by the Chilcotin River; the pictographs are on the cliff south of the bridge. This road will also take you through a California bighorn sheep reserve.

Southwest of Bella Coola on the South Bentinck Arm, the Big Cedar Tree Forest Service Recreation Site protects one of the province's largest western red cedars. Measuring more than 16 feet (5 m) across, this old cedar stands as a monument to British Columbia's ancient forests. A short trail begins about 150 feet (50 m) from the roadside, and there is a picnic table nearby.

Picnic sites along Hwy 20 in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park include, from east to west, Rainbow Range, just inside the park's east entrance; Young Creek, a good place to take a break while driving the Hill; Big Rock, almost 7 miles (11 km) west of park headquarters; Fisheries Pool, in the middle of the Hwy 20 corridor through the park, where there is a covered picnic shelter; and Burnt Bridge, 16 miles (26 km) west of park headquarters near the park's western entrance.