Boston Bar is an unincorporated village of about 190 people (2016) in the Fraser Canyon in the Thompson-Nicola region of British Columbia.
Understand
The name dates from the time of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush (1858–1861). A "bar" is a gold-bearing sandbar or sandy riverbank, and the one slightly down river and opposite today's town was populated heavily by Americans, who were known in the parlance of the Chinook Jargon as "Boston men" or simply "Bostons". A settlement developed on the east bank of the river to the north of the confluence with Anderson River. This was later moved to the present site with the construction of Canadian Northern Pacific Railway (modern-day Canadian National Railway).
Across the Fraser River is the small settlement of North Bend, which could only be accessed by rail or by aerial ferry until January 1986 when the two lane bridge was built. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) has a small terminal here that is the half way point between Vancouver and Kamloops.
Get in
By car
Boston Bar is located on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) between Vancouver and Kamloops. It is approximately 3 hours from Vancouver and 45 minutes north of Hope.
By rail
VIA Rail Canada. Operates The Canadian up to three trips per week between Toronto and Vancouver with stops in both directions in medium to large cities and tourist destinations such as Sudbury, Winnipeg, Portage la Prairie, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Kamloops. This route can offer a scenic view of the Canadian Rockies, depending on the train schedule, as the train operates day and night. This service connects with another route that travels between Jasper and Prince Rupert. 2022-03-31
- For westbound trips from Toronto to Vancouver, the train stops at Boston Bar railway station.
- For eastbound trips from Vancouver to Toronto, the nearest station where train stops is west of the Fraser River at North Bend railway station.
This split in service is due to CN and CPR sharing tracks through the Thompson and Fraser Canyon. Westbound trains are on CN tracks and eastbound trains are on CPR tracks.
See
- Hell's Gate Airtram, 43111 Trans-Canada Highway (10 km south of Boston Bar), +1 604-867-9277, visit@hellsgateairtram.com. Open daily April to mid-Oct, 10AM-4PM (open until 5PM from mid-May to early Sept). Gondola ride over the white water of the Fraser Canyon. It has a gift shop, cafe, fisheries exhibit and other small activities. Adults (19+) - $30.99; Seniors (65+) - $28.99; Students (19+) - $28.99; Youth (6-18) - $26.99; Child (0-5) - free 2020-09-26
- Tuckkwiowhum Village, 46292 Tuckkwiowhum Road (5 km south of Boston Bar), 49.836312°, -121.432040°, +1 604-860-9610, TuckkwiowhumHeritageVillage@gmail.com. Tuckkwiowhum (pronounced Tuck-we-ohm) Village is a heritage village which preserves and shares the teachings of the Nlaka’pamux (pronounced ing-khla-kap-muh) people. 2020-09-27
- Francis Harrington Park, Trans Canada Hwy & North Bend Ferry Rd, 49.869718°, -121.442917°. Site of the refurbished old aerial tram, which used to connect the towns of Boston Bar and North Bend. Storyboards that detail the history of the tram. 2020-09-29
Do
- REO Rafting Resort, 61755 Nahatlatch Forest Service Road (14.5 km N of Boston Bar; follow Chaumox Rd into North Bend and follow the signs), 49.987966°, -121.541111°, +1 604-941-9777, bookings@reorafting.com. The resort offers white water rafting on the Nahatlatch River, which has 25 rapids (rated Class 3-4+). Glamping tents and yoga retreats available. 2020-09-27
Buy
- Fraser Canyon Market, 48045 Trans-Canada Hwy, 49.86883°, -121.44275°, +1 604-867-9422. Local general store that offers hardware, groceries, liquor, and hot food to go. 2020-09-29
Eat & drink
- Fat Jack's Homestyle Diner, 50865 Trans-Canada Highway, 49.92039°, -121.45182°, +1 604-206-7295. Tu-Su 8AM-8PM. 2020-09-29
- Old Towne Inne, 47555 Trans-Canada Highway, 49.85979°, -121.4396°, +1 604-867-9321, oldtowneinne@yahoo.ca. Daily 11:30AM-8:30PM. 2020-09-29
Sleep
- Blue Lake Resort, Blue Lake Road (18 km N of Boston Bar), 49.996123°, -121.494997°, +1 604-867-9246, bluelakeresort@hotmail.com. Offers a lodge, rustic & lakeside cabins, and a campground. 2020-09-29
- Canyon Alpine Motel, 50530 Trans-Canada Highway, 49.913823°, -121.445896°, +1 604-867-9295, canyonalpinemotel@hotmail.com. 2020-09-29
- The Mighty Fraser Motel, 50865 Trans-Canada Highway, 49.920813°, -121.452182°, +1 604-753-7231. 2020-09-29