The Gold Rush Trail (GRT) originated in the 1850s when many men traversed the great unknown to seek the ultimate golden motherlode in British Columbia. As the gold rush in California was coming to an end, the men journeyed north to Vancouver. From there they carried on, rushing into British Columbia’s interior.
Today, we celebrate the GRT as homage to those who sought fame and fortune during a time plagued with hardship with the completion of section one in the proposed 463 kilometer Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail (GRST).
Since its initial concept some 20 years ago, the GRST has progressed to include a legally established portion from Clinton to Likely. The trail was originally intended to start at Clinton and end up in Wells-Barkerville linking communities such as 100 Mile House, Horsefly and Likely along the way.
Take time to check the latest maps and trail information, follow all signs, ride safely, ride sober, and watch for others on the trail. Our maps can be downloaded and used offline and you can get pocket maps at the South Cariboo Tourism Office.
Maps & Trail InformationThe Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail (GRST) would like to thank everyone who has helped us to make our dreams come true. We are constantly receiving an astounding amount of support from volunteers and donors. With their passion and commitment, the GRST is increasingly becoming an even more astounding success. To find out who has already contributed, please visit the supporters page.
We encourage you to get involved. Every person who volunteers greatly contributes to the GRST. Please visit the volunteer page to sign up as there are a number of jobs available for individuals with varied skills and abilities. If you would like to donate, please visit our donation page. No matter the commitment you are able to make, you can make a difference.
All funds raised through gracious donations are placed towards the ongoing maintenance of the trail which includes clearing, signing and grooming. The specific location will be decided in consultation with the BCSF and the Regional Management Committee.
As we neared the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was itching for a multi-day winter bikepacking trip. I could almost feel the mold growing on my coldweather kit, which was marinating in tightly sealed bins full of mothballs. With borders still closed, winter events such as the Iditarod Trail Invitational weren’t accessible for us Canadians. Not to mention that I couldn’t ignore the irony and moral pretence of attending an event that runs along a trail made famous nearly a century earlier by sleddog teams transporting a serum to save surrounding communities from their own developing epidemic in 1925. History has a way of repeating itself, especially when we ignore it.
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