Canada's unknown "Grand Canyon," The Fraser Canyon.

[Metro-One]

So, this summer I got to visit my home province, British Columbia. I have always loved the semi-arid / desert landscapes of the southern interior valleys (north of Washington State).

While I have been visiting some of these areas my whole life (Thompson Valley / Okanagan) I finally got to visit the Fraser Canyon north of the town of Lillooet for the first time. After visiting the area, I would best describe it as Canada's "Grand Canyon."

I had my drone with me, so I was able to make this video of the Fraser Canyon area + the Painted Bluffs in the Thompson Valley.

• Video Link

And here are the pics from the Fraser Canyon!

First note, it was a really hot day, 41 degrees C (106F).

Hot Days by Ian, on Flickr

Now to the pics! We camped up on the ridge, which had a lovely warm wind blowing up the whole night from the canyon.

Fraser Canyon Sunrise by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Morning by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Steep Grade by Ian, on Flickr

This was an amazing spot to watch the sunrises and sunsets. The best part, no one else is there!

Cougar Point by Ian, on Flickr

Cougar point Views by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Cliffs by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Hoodoo by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Cliffs by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert by Ian, on Flickr

Some old homesteads from the gold rush days.

Fraser Canyon Homestead by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Living by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Cowboy by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert Sage by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Narrow Pass by Ian, on Flickr

Driving along the Canyon Walls

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

These sand dunes on the canyon bottom were insanely hot. Running to the river barefoot was a big mistake!

Fraser Canyon Sand Dunes by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Sand Dunes by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Sand Dunes by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Hot Sands by Ian, on Flickr

These cliffs were spectacular!

Fraser Canyon Chasms by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Chasms by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Razor Edge by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Blue Sky by Ian, on Flickr

Be careful for the cactus!

Fraser Canyon Cactus by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Golden Hills by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Golden Hills by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon High Desert Roads by Ian, on Flickr

These naturally terraced hillsides are amazing!

Fraser Canyon Farm on the Edge by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert Wall by Ian, on Flickr

Some dinner for us!

Fraser Canyon Pheasant by Ian, on Flickr

Hot and dry!

Fraser Canyon Barren Desert by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Welcome to the Desert by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon West Side by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

This is a free ferry (Big Bar Ferry) across the Fraser River. It is free but closes at 7pm, only one vehicle can cross at a time.

Fraser Canyon Big Bar Ferry by Ian, on Flickr

The Epic Fraser Canyon by Ian, on Flickr

Sunflowers!

Fraser Canyon Sunflower by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert Sunflowers by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Desert Dream by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Tilted Tree by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Dry Gulch by Ian, on Flickr

And a nice sunset back at our camping point on the ridge.

Fraser Canyon Sunset by Ian, on Flickr

Fraser Canyon Sunset by Ian, on Flickr

[Architype]

Amazing landscapes and excellent photography. In these landscapes the shadows can make for outstanding photography.

This was one of my favorites:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

[Metro-One]

Thanks! Yeah, we were in the canyon from dawn to dusk and the change in lighting and shadows was spectacular.

I feel it really is a place where throughout the days and seasons you could take a picture of the same place and get very different results.

[Coldrsx]

Wonderful set of such a unique area of Canada.

Thanks!

[mrnyc]

isn't that something? wonderful pics of one of our lesser known natural canyon landscapes.

and no snow -- and it was as freakin hot as my trip to palm springs. yikes!

[MolsonExport]

Amazing. It has been 25 years since I last visited. Looks more beautiful and parched than I remember. Nobody would believe that we have this sort of landscape in Canada. I lived in the Okanagan for several years....which of course is not nearly as parched as the Fraser Canyon

[sopas ej]

Very nice and interesting photos!

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I'm such a road sign nerd... what caught my attention was the wording. In the US (or in California), this would say TRUCKS USE LOWER GEAR.

[AviationGuy]

Really beautiful. I'm assuming there's a rainy season where the landscape turns green, like in much of California.

[Metro-One]

Thanks for the comments!

Yeah, the next day (we left in the morning) was even warmer there, hitting 42.2 (108F). Two years ago during the heat dome this area hit 49.6 (121F). That would have been something to feel...

And yes, it does have a green season, starting from early April to the end of June. Lots of wild flowers too. It may green up a little again some years in October before winter starts to settle in around mid November / early December.

I also enjoy seeing the different verbiage / symbols used on signs in different areas.

[Evo5Boise]

Fun thread! Thanks for sharing. Looking this up on Google Maps, I wouldn't have expected that dry of a climate that far north in British Columbia. Really neat topography. Seems British Columbia has a little bit of everything.

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by Evo5Boise

Fun thread! Thanks for sharing. Looking this up on Google Maps, I wouldn't have expected that dry of a climate that far north in British Columbia. Really neat topography. Seems British Columbia has a little bit of everything.

yes i looked on the map and its right there — clearly it should be more well known, but better its not so much — ha.

so yeah i hope we can visit sometime.

also, aside from the obvious hiking, there are several hot springs around. nice.

[geomorph]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Be careful for the cactus!

Fraser Canyon Cactus by Ian, on Flickr

I have never seen this species of cactus, is it abundant in that area?

[Metro-One]

It is Prickly Pear Cactus, but not sure of the exact name of this variant.

It is everywhere throughout this canyon. You got to be really careful walking anywhere in the grass / scrublands.

[xzmattzx]

Looks interesting. I never heard of this place!