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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
100 Mile House
Give it one night as a Highway 97 break, or two if you ski: the town itself is 2 hours, the trails and lakes are the reason to stop.
100 Mile House is the service town of the South Cariboo, about 1,900 people on Highway 97 between Cache Creek and Williams Lake. There is little to see in town beyond the marsh and the giant skis, but the surrounding ranch country has groomed cross-country ski trails, lakes and heritage buildings. Most travellers pass through; a stop pays off if you ski, fish or want a quiet night off the highway.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for lakes and hiking; Dec–Mar for cross-country skiing
- Avoid
- Nov and Apr (trails closed, lakes cold, mud season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget $70–110 excl. bed · Mid $110–180 excl. bed · High $180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · BC health advice line (24 h) 811 · 100 Mile District General Hospital +1 250-395-7600
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–5 |
| Diner or pub main | $16–28 |
| Grocery run for two, one day | $40–70 |
| Vehicle-accessible campsite, per party per night | $18 |
| Ski trail day pass | $8.50–20 (check) |
| Ski equipment rental | $14–18 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $15–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YWL · Williams Lake Airport
- About 1 h 15 min south by car; small regional flights, check schedules
- YKA · Kamloops Airport
- About 3 h south by car; larger airport with connections via Vancouver and Calgary
Typical fares
- Ebus Williams Lake → 100 Mile House
- about 1 h; book ahead, runs three days per week per direction
- Ebus Kamloops → 100 Mile House
- about 2 h 15 min
- Fuel, Vancouver → 100 Mile House (450 km)
- roughly $60–90 depending on vehicle (check)
Get around
A car is effectively required: the town is small but the trails, lakes and heritage site are 2–25 km out on Highway 97. BC Transit runs two local routes in the 100 Mile House area (check current times and days). Ebus stops in town three days per week per direction between Kamloops and Prince George.A car is effectively required: the town is small but the trails, lakes and heritage site are 1.2–16 mi out on Highway 97. BC Transit runs two local routes in the 100 Mile House area (check current times and days). Ebus stops in town three days per week per direction between Kamloops and Prince George.
See and do
Known for
- World's Largest Cross-Country Skis
- 99 Mile and 108 Mile ski trails
- 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site
- Cariboo Gold Rush roadhouse history
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site | Drive north on Highway 97, about 15 min | About 20 min |
| Lac La Hache Provincial Park | Drive north on Highway 97, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Williams Lake | Drive south on Highway 97, about 1 h 15 min; Ebus about 1 h | 1.25–1.5 h |
| Quesnel | Drive north on Highway 97, about 2 h 30 min; Ebus about 2 h 45 min | About 2.75 h |
Sleep
- Highway 97 south end
- Chain motels on Alder Ave at the highway junction; cheapest beds, walk to groceries and the Red Rock Grill.
- Town centre
- A few blocks of shops, the art gallery and the hospital; quiet at night, still car-dependent.
- 108 Mile Ranch
- About 15 km north: guest ranch, heritage site and ski trails; you need a car for everything.About 9.3 mi north: guest ranch, heritage site and ski trails; you need a car for everything.
- Lac La Hache
- About 25 km north: provincial park campground on the lake, mid-May to September.About 16 mi north: provincial park campground on the lake, mid-May to September.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorry |
| Where is the trailhead? | Where is the trailhead? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Is the pass good for today? | Is the pass good for today? |
| Where is the nearest gas station? | Where is the nearest gas station? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter temperatures can drop far below −20 °C; the record low is around −48 °C. Carry a blanket and check the forecast before driving at night.
- Highway 97 is a two-lane road with logging trucks and wildlife (deer, moose) at dusk and dawn.
- Cell coverage is patchy on side roads and at some lakes; download offline maps.
- Many businesses close early or on Sundays; fuel up when you see a station.
- Groomed ski trails need a day, week or season pass; pay at the lodge or guest ranch.
Low-crime small town; the real risks are winter driving, wildlife on Highway 97 and long distances between services. Tell someone your route if you head onto side roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for 100 Mile House yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- World's Largest Cross-Country Skis
- 99 Mile and 108 Mile ski trails
- 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site
- Cariboo Gold Rush roadhouse history
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- 100 Mile House official site: www.100milehouse.com/
- Discover South Cariboo (visitor centre): www.discoversouthcariboo.ca/
- BC Transit — 100 Mile House: bctransit.com/100-mile-house/home
- BC Parks — Lac La Hache Provincial Park: bcparks.ca/lac-la-hache-park/
- 100 Mile Nordics: 100milenordics.com/
- 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site: historical.ca/
- Parkside Art Gallery: www.parksideartgallery.ca/
- Interior Health — 100 Mile District General Hospital: www.interiorhealth.ca/locations/100-mile-district-general-hospital
- Wikivoyage: 100 Mile House, revision 5225571 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5225571
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
100 Mile House
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- BC health advice line (24 h)811
- 100 Mile District General Hospital+1 250-395-7600
No embassies in town; the nearest consulates are in Vancouver. US citizens: consulate general in Vancouver.
English is the working language; a few Secwepemc place names are worth saying slowly.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/100-mile-house). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.