EXPERIENCE THE GORGE

"Let's stop for an hour or so at Hell's Gate Airtram" suggested Marcel as we left Kamloops, British Columbia. Marcel and I along with three hungry kids had just had a hearty breakfast and were ready for the three hour trek ahead of us. Once there, I looked up and saw an airtram against the deep blue sky. It looked like it was dangling from a thread - it was so high! I really wasn't sure what to expect - the truth is, I suffer from acrophobia - I am afraid of heights. Despite this unfortunate fact... I (almost) always force myself to take part in the adventure and today was no different.

Hell's Gate is located in the beautiful Fraser Canyon almost an hour out of Hope, British Columbia. It was mid-October and the Airtram season was coming to a close. We went in and bought our tickets - and talked a bit with the owner. The Swiss-built airtram has been running since 1971, and there is no wonder it has become a "must-see" attraction in the area. The tram was put in at the narrowest point of the gorge which really adds to the excitement and thrill you feel as you go down - down - down the 150 metres.

Looking down you can see the power 200 million gallons of water per minute has as it smashes and swirls against the smoothened rock cliffs.
Although we had planned on staying an hour or two, we ended up staying the whole afternoon and taking advantage of the many activities:

VISIT THE PAST

Find out about the fascinating history of Hell's Gate. From the discovery of the area to the spawing salmon, you'll enjoy the many artifacts, stories, photographs and well-explained exhibits.


SUSPENSION BRIDGE & OBSERVATION DECKS

Step onto the suspension bridge & observation decks and see the international fishways that were skillfully created for the salmon in the Hells Gate gorge.


FISHY STUFF

Discover how the salmon of the British Columbia spawn by visiting the fisheries exhibit and learn about their life cycle by watching watching "Run Sockeye, Run". (Winner of a bronze medal for Best Ecological Short Film at the New York Film Festival by the way!)


GOLD PANNING

Once you start panning, you won't want to stop! Our kids spent over an hour panning through gravel from Hills Bar, located along the Fraser River. We were told that Hills Bar is where the biggest claim was ever staked in the Fraser Canyon during the great Fraser River Gold Rush of the mid 1860's.






I'M HUNGRY...

Stop long enough for a bite to eat at Simon's Cafe! For dessert enjoy one of 100 different fanstastic fudgy delights at the Fudge Factory or a couple scoops at the ice cream parlour! We really liked the salt water taffy!


SEARCHING FOR SOUVENIRS?

Pick up a good book from the vast selection at the Gold Panner Gift Shop. Find that special treasure from beautiful British Columbia.

LOCATION & ADDRESS

Hell's Gate Airtram is located 2.5 hours from Vancouver between Hope and Kamloops on the Trans Canada Highway.

Hell's Gate Airtram
43111 Trans Canada Hwy
Boston Bar, BC Canada
604-867-9279

GPS COORDINATES:

N 49º 46’ 55.3
W 121º 26’ 48.5”

MORE LINKS...

Click here to learn more about the "Mighty Fraser River"
Click here to learn more about the History of the Fraser Valley and Hell's Gate Check out the fun events at this historic attraction!

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

Waterfalls? Visit Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, or how about Mistaya Canyon, Johnston Canyon or Maligne Canyon! Witness the power of water and watch how water cuts, carving its way into age-old rock. The white churning water crashes and turns into the greenest flow. The spray - refreshing... and cold!!! Nature at its finest.

Glaciers? These mystifying ice flows really connect you back to a time when the earth was covered in ice. Come and experience the

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/icefields-parkway.html target=_blank>Icefields Parkway and go for an ice walk or take a ride on an Ice Explorer to learn more about these disappearing wonders.

Sparkling blue-green Lakes? Yes, they really do exist! The mountain parks are famous for their blue-green colour.

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/lake-louise.html target=_blank>Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake and

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/jasper.html target=_blank>Maligne Lake (famous for Spirit Island) are just a few of the breath-taking jewels here in the Rockies that are easy to get to. Don't forget your camera!

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/by-rail.html target=_blank>Travelling by Road & Rail? One of the most beautiful ways to travel across this big country is by rail. Make a

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/via-rockies-road-and-rail.htmltarget=_blank>Vancouver circle trip that takes you from Vancouver through the Rockies to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and back to Vancouver. There is nothing like the views from a train in the mountains!

href=http://www.rocky-mountain-tour-guide.com/scenic-drives.html target=_blank>Scenic Drives? Whether you are on the road with a rental car, a motorhome or your own vehicle, there are a number of scenic drives you can do yourself that will guide you to the most interesting spots in the mountains that you won't want to miss.

Learning a little more about Canada? Read up on this diverse country of many cultures in my Canada Quick Study. Need to know more about our currency? Take a look at my Canadian Money Quick Study and study up for your trip!

The Next Great Souvenir? You want to take something special home from the Rockies, but what? Get some tips on what you have to think about when buying souvenirs and find out what is typical here in the Rockies.

Activities? There are so many great outdoor activities that allow you to discover the mountains in a whole new way. Take a canoe out on Lake Louise or a Kayak on the Bow for an afternoon. Go horseback riding through the Sundance Canyon or go hiking at Johnston Canyon.