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Merritt, British Columbia

The growing city of Merritt is located at the hub of the Coquihalla Highway system, in easy reach of Vancouver, Kamloops and the Okanagan. Merritt is the service centre for the ranch country of the Nicola Valley, and provides an excellent base for exploring the many outdoor recreational opportunities in the area.

Initially discovered by pioneers searching for a route between the Coast and the Interior, the valley was used as a brigade trail by the 1850s. What they discovered here was a vast expanse of grasslands where livestock could roam. The ensuing settlement originated at the meeting of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, with ranchers, loggers, prospectors, merchants, and businessmen all making a living.

With the completion of the railway in 1885, the coal interest at The Forks was heightened. Originally called Forksdale and Diamond Vale, Merritt was renamed in 1906 in honour of railway promoter William Hamilton Merritt. Today, the Nicola Valley incorporates the communities of Merritt, Quilchena, Douglas Lake, Aspen Grove, Spences Bridge, and Logan Lake.

Travelling northbound from Hope, Highway 5 follows the Coquihalla River until near the summit of the Coquihalla Pass, then follows the Coldwater River to Merritt. The route is particularly scenic in the early fall, when rolling fields and forest foliage take on a golden glow. The surrounding Merritt Forest District supports stands of Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, and subalpine fir at higher elevations; Douglas fir and ponderosa pine are found on the lower benchlands. Extensive grasslands also occur at low-elevation areas, particularly toward Merritt.

The Coquihalla Highway was the only toll road in BC - a toll route to Merritt and Kamloops - until the toll was eliminated in September 2008 after recovery of the construction cost of the Hope-to-Merritt section. The old toll booth is located near the summit of the Coquihalla Pass. Prior to reaching it, a variety of gravel roads lead off into the bush on both the Hope and the Merritt sides of the pass. An alternate approach to Kamloops via Princeton and Merritt is Highway 5A, the route that predates the Coquihalla, which opened in 1986. Merritt is a hub, where three highways converge - 5, 5A, and 8.

Population: 7,595

Location: Merritt is located on the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) at the junction with Highway 8, 76 miles (121 km) northeast of Hope and 54 miles (87 km) southwest of Kamloops.

• There's plenty of Nicola Valley history and heritage for the curious at the Nicola Valley Museum.

• Coldwater Hotel, Merritt, BC

  Central to this colourful town is the grand old Coldwater Hotel, a font of cold draught and some interesting history. Locals say this is where the whole town would come to meet on Saturday nights, with cowboys and miners coming from all around.

• The Spius Creek Fish Hatchery offers a fascinating view into the raising of fish to replenish local waterways.

• The higher elevation upland plateau is a rich resource of lodgepole pine, fir and spruce. Moose, mule deer, bears, and grouse are the main wildlife species found here, while small numbers of elk and mountain goats find refuge in the timber-clad slopes of the region.

• Discover the dozen or so large and historical working cattle ranches in the area, including the Nicola Ranch in the pristine Nicola Valley, one of Canada's largest cattle ranches. Steeped in history, Nicola Ranch has been renowned for producing fine cattle since the 1870s. The ranch offers many and varied outdoor activities and rugged wilderness adventures.

• Located on the northwest shore of Nicola Lake, 22 km north of Merritt, Monck Provincial Park is a good park for the entire family, where camping, boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming and hiking are popular activities. From Hwy 5, a 12-km paved road follows the northwest side of the lake to the park, which is open May through October. Hiking trails, including an interpretive walk to some lava beds, provide spectacular views of the valley and surrounding countryside. The park features a visitor program and amphitheatre, boat launch, horseshoe pitches, and three archaeological sites. This area of the Nicola Valley was a winter encampment for Natives for centuries before European settlers arrived. Pithouse depressions remain near the park's beach as evidence of their habitation. The name Nicola was given to the famous chieftain Hwistesmetxquen by the early fur traders who couldn't pronounce his Native name. When they tried it phonetically, it sounded vaguely like Nicholas or Nicola, and their mispronunciation has remained. The vegetation of this part of the Thompson Plateau is chiefly ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and black cottonwood. Tule and cattail, both used in Native mat making, grow in dense patches round the shore of Nicola Lake.

• The largest and most northerly provincial campground in this area is Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park, located 37 km southwest of Kamloops. Besides camping and water sports, it provides lakeshore hiking opportunities, horseshoe pitches, and visitor-program activities in its amphitheatre. The park also contains two archaeological sites. The waters of Lac le Jeune are famous for producing fighting rainbow trout. From Hwy 5, take the Lac Le Jeune exit. An alternate access route is a 29-km paved road from Hwy 1. The various parks around Lac Le Jeune offer plenty of opportunities for canoeing. Lac Le Jeune is one of the bigger lakes in a region characterized by hundreds of pocket-sized ponds, many of which provide serenity in the midst of splendid isolation.

• Also accessible via the Lac Le Jeune exit from Hwy 5 is Walloper Lake Provincial Park, about 60 km northeast of Merritt.

• Hiking and fishing, including fly-fishing, are possible at McConnell Lakes Provincial Park. Nearby Stake Lake has extensive hiking trails and standard-issue, single-track, mountain bike trails. The area is just over 18 km southwest of Kamloops on access from Hwy 1, or take the Lac Le Jeune exit from Hwy 5.

• Outdoor activities in summer include hiking, camping, mountain biking, trail riding, watersports, backroad exploring, and wildflower photography. For more recreation in the Thompson Okanagan.

• In addition to the campsites in Monck Provincial Park, the BC Forest Service maintains numerous small, rustic campsites in the region. They are located near lakes and rivers, blending in with the natural surroundings. Although these sites do not offer sophisticated amenities such as power hookups and piped water, they include basic sanitary facilities, fire rings, picnic tables, and, where appropriate, boat-launch ramps. Access is mostly via narrow unpaved roads, not always suitable for large RVs. Three popular sites with two-wheel-drive access via gravel road are those at Harmon Lake West, Harmon Lake East, and Kane Lake, and can be reached from Hwy 5 or 5A. To find them, drive about 20 km south of Merritt on Hwy 5A, then about 8 km west on the Kane Valley Forest Rd.

• Golf: The Merritt Golf & Country Club is a challenging, affordable 9-hole golf course located in the heart of Merritt, surrounded by scenic hillsides. The men's yardage stretches 6,209 yards, and the Nicola River factors into play six times in the 9 holes. The facility is fully equipped with a practice range, short game area, and putting green - a fun and challenging place to spend some time and stretch those legs. Golf Vacations in British Columbia.

• Go Trail riding at one of the many resorts, guest ranches or riding stables in the area that offer a range of activities for the beginner or experienced rider. Try an overnight camping trip, a three day trip, or maybe just an hour on one of the many wilderness trails.

• The Nicola Valley is a fisherman's paradise, offering excellent sport fishing in the nearby lakes, rivers and streams. Many of the 150 area lakes are just a short drive from Merritt. Hundreds of cool, clear lakes in the valleys are home to the Kamloops trout, one of the wildest strains of the rainbow trout in the world. The variety of fish waiting to be caught are: coho, chinook, sockeye, Ling cod, dolly varden, rainbow trout, brook char and white fish. Fishing in British Columbia.

• For those who enjoy winter sports, there's great cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Hay rides and sleigh rides are also available for the romantic at heart, and curling and ice skating add to the pure enjoyment for the whole family.

• The Kane Valley Ski Hills are located in Kane Valley, west of highway 5A/97C and 18 km south of Merritt. The Cross-country ski trails follow old roads and skid trails through open timber and across grassy slopes. The trails are generally protected from the winter winds by the Coast Mountains, and offer very pleasant skiing, even during colder weather. The terrain is variable and offers Nordic trails for beginners to advanced skiers.

• Murray Church, Merritt, BC

  Thynne Mountain in the Brookmere area, Swakum Mountain and Henning Mountain all offer great snowmobile trails. Organized to raise funds for children with disabilities, the annual Snowrama is a favourite snowmobiling event held in February.

• Annual events include the Merritt Mountain Music Festival in July, which attracts thousands of visitors every summer for a weekend of country music, and the Fall Fair and Rodeo, held every Labour Day weekend, which highlights the area's ranching heritage.

• History buffs may want to stop in Quilchena, where you can walk down the old settlement of Nicola and view one of the most photographed structures in British Columbia, the Murray Church, built in 1876.

• The first settlers arrived in neighbouring Nicola Lake in July 1868, with the establishment of the community of Nicola Lake in 1882. Shortened to Nicola in 1905, it was the government and commercial centre of the Nicola Valley. The Nicola Courthouse was built in 1886, and the cookhouse, still operating today, was built in 1906. From 1907 to 1916, it provided meals for ranchers shipping cattle on Canadian Pacific Railway.

• Farm Guide: Travellers looking for a down-to-earth experience can find a list of resources and activities featured in the Kamloops Farm Fresh Guide. The guide showcases the diversity of life in the Thompson Nicola region, which ranges from wine tasting to guided family horseback rides on a working cattle ranch. Visitors can use the guide (available from Tourism Kamloops) to locate area farmer's markets and fall fairs, discover fresh-picked fruit and vegetables, farm-raised meat and eggs, and value-added products like honey and jellies.

• See the best of BC when you embark upon one of the many circle tours that take in Vancouver Island, the Discovery Coast, the Sunshine Coast, the interior winelands or the remote Northern British Columbia. The coastal tours involve exciting rail, road and ferry trips, which is half the fun of travelling in British Columbia. Scenic highways flank the coast, taking you through charming beachside communities, rolling farmlands and majestic mountain ranges. Start your journey here and now, by selecting from one of the Circle Tours, designed to assist you in planning your journey by road through beautiful British Columbia.