Tatlow Road to Chilcotin Plateau — Chilcotin Wilderness High Road via Big Creek Provincial Park
Chilcotin canyon country, almost zero company.
British Columbia’s Chilcotin plateau doesn’t ease you in. The Tatlow Road branches west off Highway 20 near Hanceville and climbs onto a massive, semi-arid grassland bench cut by the Big Creek canyon system — one of the deepest and least-visited canyon complexes in Canada. The route winds through Big Creek Provincial Park, crosses several unnamed tributaries of Big Creek itself, and pushes toward the Taseko River drainage with views that stretch to the Coast Mountains on clear days. The volcanic grasslands here look more like Nevada than what most people picture when they think of BC, and that’s exactly the point.
This is not a groomed trail — it’s a network of resource roads and ranch tracks that demand route-finding and a vehicle with genuine clearance. Expect soft crossings after snowmelt (May–June), deep ruts in wet years, and zero services between Williams Lake and Tatla Lake. A high-clearance 4WD with a recovery kit and spare fuel is the minimum; a locker helps on the creek crossings. Late July through September is the window. No formal permit, but creek levels and road conditions dictate everything — check with the Chilcotin District of the BC Ministry of Forests before you roll.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5800 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Williams Lake, BC |
| Land manager | BC Ministry of Forests, Chilcotin District / BC Parks |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BC Parks — Big Creek Provincial Park BC Forest Road info |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do you need something more serious?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will struggle on the rougher sections — a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner with all-terrain tires is a solid minimum. Longer wheelbase rigs should watch for some tight switchbacks and creek approach angles. Lockers or at least a rear locker are strongly advisable given the remoteness.
When does the Tatlow Road to Chilcotin Plateau route actually open and close each year?
July through September is the reliable window. Snowpack lingers into June at the higher elevations, and fall storms can make the clay-heavy sections impassable by mid-October. Check with the BC Ministry of Forests Chilcotin District before heading out — conditions vary year to year.
Do you need permits to drive this route or camp inside Big Creek Provincial Park?
No permit is required to drive the forest service roads. Camping within Big Creek Provincial Park is self-registration with no fee as of now, but BC Parks can change that — check bcparks.ca before your trip. Dispersed camping on Crown land outside park boundaries requires no permit.
What's the hardest section of this trail and what actually makes it gnarly?
The canyon rim descents approaching Big Creek are where things get serious — steep, loose shale, narrow shelf road with meaningful exposure, and no guardrails. Wet conditions turn those sections from sketchy to genuinely dangerous. If you're white-knuckling shelf roads, this one will test you.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there any water on route?
Williams Lake is your last guaranteed fuel stop — roughly 60–80 km from the start depending on your approach, so top off there. Creek crossings and tributaries of Big Creek provide water on route, but filter everything; cattle grazing happens in these areas and giardia is a real risk.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.