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Read featured articles from destinations along the Yellowhead

Manitoba
Celebrate the distinct culture, amazing scenery and brilliant yellow sunflower fields.

Saskatchewan
The sky’s the limit, with creative literary giants and rodeo greats.

Alberta
Renowned for its diverse culture, open range, and Rocky Mountain Playground.

British Columbia
Majestic mountains, mighty rivers, and coastal rainforests entice and invite.

Taste the Adventure!

By Terri Mason

Kamloops Bike Ranch, Kamloops, B.C. Photo: Picture BC/Tyler Meade

Travelling the wide roads and gentle grades of the legendary Yellowhead Highway literally takes you on a journey through the rough and tumble history of Western Canada and some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Known as the famed “Park to Park Highway,” the Yellowhead spans half of Canada, traversing four provinces, five national parks, 90 provincial parks and three national historic sites.

Spread out the official map and you’ll see the highway begins its incredible journey at the historic meeting place of fur traders and voyageurs, The Forks, in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. From here you journey west, following the route of one of Canada’s oldest trails across the vast prairies awash in meadowlark song to Jasper in the spectacular Rocky Mountains. Near towering Mount Robson, Canada’s highest peak, the southern route follows the pass to Kamloops and on to Hope, the gateway to the lush Fraser Valley. The northern route leads you to Prince Rupert and the west coast park reserve of Gwaii Haanas, the Haida Heritage Site of the misty Queen Charlotte Islands.

First travelled over a century ago, today’s Yellowhead Highway began as the secret trail to the fur cache of its namesake, the blond, Iroquois Metis guide known as “Tete Jaune.” Tete Jaune, (literally translated as “Yellow Head”) guided for both of Canada’s greatest fur traders, the Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company. In 1825, Tete Jaune led the Hudson’s Bay Company’s chief trader through the pass that still bears his nickname — Yellowhead.

His once-secret path through the Rockies proved to be an easier route to travel and by the 1830s, Yellowhead Trail was virtually a highway. Slow-moving oxen yoked to Red River carts widened the trail as they rumbled along. Gold-seeking miners slogged its length for the Cariboo Gold Rush in 1856. The 1862 Overlanders followed it to Kamloops and Prince George while eager settlers followed it to homestead in the West. Later, the road became the route for a boom-and-bust railway.

However, travellers prevailed and the popular route was reclaimed, culminating in the development of a roadway. The Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway Association was soon formed and over the years, the organization literally “drove” the four western provincial governments (with some aid from the federal government) to build the Yellowhead Highway Corridor. Their dream came true in 1970 when the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway officially opened.

Folks along the Yellowhead are proud of its heritage. No other route is steeped in the haunting songs and tales of the brash and fearless voyageurs; the robust, adventurous fur trade; the fevered pitch of the Cariboo gold rush; and the dreams of pioneers. Visit renowned sites, join in the ethnic dances at local celebrations, breathe the scent of an ancient forest and retrace the footsteps of Tete Jaune. Taste the adventure — come travel the Yellowhead Highway!