Hanceville: Trails, Community and History

Hanceville combines its location on Highway 20 with a history of its own and trails whose history stretches far back. From here, a 121-kilometer gravel road leads via Konni Lake and the Nemiah Valley to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground. The names Lee’s Corner and Tom Hance also tell the story of the area. Depending on whether you’re interested in these stories or the routes, Hanceville can be a different starting point for planning your trip.

Hanceville on Highway 20

Hanceville lies about 92 kilometers west of Williams Lake on Highway 20. The highway continues through Hanceville to Anahim Lake and Bella Coola. For navigating your trip, both the community itself and its connection to the highway are important. Access to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground in Ts’ilɂos Provincial Park is via Highway 20 to Hanceville. From Hanceville, the 121-kilometer gravel road to the campground runs via Konni Lake and the Nemiah Valley. The road surface and distance are useful details when choosing accommodation based on your planned route; driving conditions can vary, so check them before setting out.

The two route connections are not the same: Highway 20 continues through Hanceville to Anahim Lake and Bella Coola, while the gravel road described here leads to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground. You can choose where to stay based on which part of the trip is your priority. A vacation rental in Hanceville may be an option as a place to stay if you factor the community and its position on these routes into your plans.

Local history and trails with a long history

Historic Hanceville is located on the site of an early ranch belonging to Tom Hance. The area was originally called Lee’s Corner, after Norman Lee. A local story recalls how, in winter, he tried to drive a herd of cattle 2,500 kilometers through the rugged country. This was an attempt, not a present-day activity; the long distance and winter conditions are part of the historical account. This local history gives the names on the map a tangible connection to the area’s past.

The trails also tell stories of history and culture. Trails used by First Nations people on horseback and on foot led from Hanceville and the Taseko Lakes to the Bridge River. Today, this trail network forms a large part of the trails in South Chilcotin Mountains Park. The connection between the trails of the past and today’s network makes the route a subject of historical interest in its own right. Hanceville’s new outdoor ice rink, meanwhile, was built for the Yunesit’in community. It is a year-round recreational facility for community members of all ages and an example of an amenity expressly intended to serve community life.

More trails and history in the wider Cariboo region

The wider Cariboo destination offers another perspective on trails and landscapes. The Cariboo Regional District’s trail network includes 22 wheelchair-accessible trails spread across the region. The examples offer different highlights: the Bullion Pit Low Mobility Trail provides a view of a man-made canyon from the gold-rush era. The Ninety-Nine Mile Low Mobility Trail is 1.7 kilometers long, passes through lush mountain forest, and has four viewpoints, including one overlooking a wetland.

The Quesnelle Forks Low Mobility Trail also connects a trail with history and landscape. The trail network covers about 860 meters and offers viewpoints overlooking a gold-rush-era ghost town and the confluence of the Quesnel River and Cariboo River. These examples in the Cariboo vary in what they showcase: forest and wetland, a canyon, or the combination of gold-rush history and river scenery. They provide a regional comparison without combining the different destinations into a single route.

Choose the right base for your trip

The trails spread across the Cariboo are not locations in Hanceville; they offer a broader context for planning a trip. If the connection between Hanceville, Highway 20, and the route described to Nu Chugh Beniz Campground matters to you, factor these specific route details into your choice of where to stay. That way, you can choose a vacation rental to suit the destinations you actually want to include in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Telkwa, Elkford, Sparwood, Kleena Kleene, Wasa, Fraser Lake.

Back to the main travel overview: British Columbia.