Cache Creek

Cache Creek is a very small town of less than 1,000 people (2016) in the Thompson-Nicola region of British Columbia. It is little more than a few gas stations and restaurants at the junction of Highway 1 (east and west) and Highway 97 north to Prince George. The closest city is Kamloops, about 45 minutes east. Though not part of the region, Cache Creek is the starting point for exploring the Cariboo region of British Columbia.

Understand
The name is derived, apparently, from a cache or buried and hidden supply and trade goods depot used by the fur traders of either the Hudson's Bay Company or its rival the North West Company. The first Cache Creek post office was established here in 1868.

Although still very active with traffic, Cache Creek was extremely busy for a few decades before the Trans-Canada Highway was superseded by the newer and shorter Coquihalla Highway, which bypasses the Fraser and Thompson Canyons between Hope and Kamloops via Merritt, about southeast.

The nearby fossil locality, the McAbee fossil beds, is noted for the wide diversity of Eocene plants and animals preserved in the shale, including the extinct plants Dillhoffia and Trochodendron drachukii.

By car
Cache Creek is the crossroads of a few major highways that serve the interior of British Columbia.
 * Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) travels north from Vancouver and Hope through the Fraser and Thompson River Canyons, and west from Kamloops.
 * Highway 97 travels south from Prince George and the Alaska Highway, and north from Kamloops and Kelowna.
 * Highway 97C travels north from Merritt and is a good alternate for travelers heading from Kelowna to points north.
 * Highway 99 travels north from Vancouver and Whistler; and is a slower-paced, scenic alternative to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Get around
The town is very small. You can see everything wandering around on foot; however, you will need a private car for visit the surrounding area attractions.

By public transit

 * BC Transit operates Health Connections trips three days per week to Kamloops. and once a week to 100 Mile House, Lillooet, Lytton. Health Connections trips are open to everyone to ride, but must be reserved 2 business days in advance and trips to medical appointments receive priority. Travel time between Cache Creek and Kamloops is about an hour.
 * BC Transit operates Health Connections trips three days per week to Kamloops. and once a week to 100 Mile House, Lillooet, Lytton. Health Connections trips are open to everyone to ride, but must be reserved 2 business days in advance and trips to medical appointments receive priority. Travel time between Cache Creek and Kamloops is about an hour.

Ashcroft
(population 1,500) is a village about 11 km southeast of Cache Creek, located about 6 km off the Trans-Canada Highway along Highway 97C. Named after nearby Ashcroft Manor Ranch.