Chilcotin Plateau Farwell Canyon Road

The Farwell Canyon Road drops you into one of British Columbia’s most isolated corners, where the Chilcotin River has carved a spectacular gorge through volcanic plateau country. Starting from Highway 20 near Riske Creek, this backroad winds 60 kilometers through rolling grassland and pine forest before delivering you to the canyon rim where First Nations fishing platforms still dot the rushing river below. The final descent to the old Farwell trading post site requires careful navigation of loose rock switchbacks.

This is moderate difficulty territory requiring high-clearance 4WD for the canyon descent, though most of the route runs on decent gravel. Summer through early fall offers the best conditions before winter snows close higher elevations. No services exist for 150+ kilometers, so carry extra fuel and water. What you get is pure solitude in some of Canada’s last wild country, with excellent dispersed camping along the plateau and a glimpse into the region’s fur trade history.