Bonaparte Plateau Mining Loop

This 85-kilometer loop starts from the Cache Creek highway and climbs onto the Bonaparte Plateau, where 1860s placer miners scraped gold from highland creeks that still glint in your pan today. The route connects ghost towns like Ashcroft Manor and abandoned hydraulic mining sites through rolling grassland plateau country. Watch for the massive Glory Hole pit near Loon Lake — a testament to early 20th-century copper extraction that carved a 200-meter crater into the hillside.

Easy to moderate difficulty on mostly graded gravel roads suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though spring washouts can create challenging sections. Best driven May through October when snow clears the 1,200-meter elevation. No permits required but respect private mining claims still active in the area. Fuel up in Cache Creek; carry water and basic recovery gear. This circuit delivers big-sky plateau views, fascinating industrial archaeology, and quality dispersed camping with zero light pollution — pure Cariboo country.