Merritt
British Columbia
Part of the BC Adventure
Network. Over 5 million web site visitors annually !
Merritt,
BC
Merritt
and the Nicola Valley exposes the traveller to the soft, wind-stirred
beauty of thriving ranchlands. The valley
offers sharp contrasts; from green fields or sagebrush-studded hillsides
to rich marshes teeming with birds.
This
area of BC was first settled by ranchers who recognized the potential
for a productive cattle industry; the area contains the Douglas Lake
Cattle Ranch, one of the largest working cattle ranches in North America.
Merritt
replaced Nicola to become the central
service community in the area to serve the local coal mines and area
ranches.
Merritt
is also at the junction of four major highways serving British Colmbia's
Thompson Nicola region. The entire area is rich in displays of its ranching
heritage but also provides a number of opportunities to outdoor
enthusiasts; Merritt is specially famous for its fishing lakes.
| Accommodation/Adventure
Providers |
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Douglas Lake Ranch:
Canada's largest working cattle ranch, between Merritt and Kamloops, is the perfect vacation getaway. Enjoy the finest resort accommodations, some of the most exclusive stillwater fly fishing anywhere, superb hiking & mountain biking, ranch tours & more. more |
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Accommodations:
Guest ranches, many of
them actual working ranches, are a popular destination for visitors.
For those not interested in the "ranching life", there are
a number of motels and campsites/RV parks in the area.
Access:
Merritt, British Columbia, is easily accessed from the south via the
Coquihalla Highway or by turning east of Highway 1 at Spences Bridge.
From the north, it is 87km (52 mi.) south of Kamloops, BC, on the Coquihalla
Highway. From either direction you pass through vast differences in
scenery; from towering, craggy mountain peaks, heavily forested hillsides
to rolling, grassy or desert like areas. A haven for the avid photographer
or sightseer.
Recreation
Facilities & Activities: Fishing; working guest ranches; Merritt
golf course; wildlife watching.
Local
Attractions: Historic courthouse (in Nicola); Douglas Lake Ranch
(one of the largest working cattle ranches in North America); craft
stores; Merritt rodeo; Merritt Mountain Music Festival (July); Quintette
Tunnels (carved from rock for the railway); Harmon Lake Demonstration
Forest; Nicola Valley Archives Heritage Museum; Spius Creek Fish Hatchery;
Valley Copper and Lornex Mine tours
Population:
6,253.
Elevation:
595 meters (1,950 ft.)
Main
Industries: forestry; mining; ranching.
For
Information:
Visitor
Information Centre
Phone: (250) 378-0349
Email: bailliehouse@shaw.ca
Thompson
Okanagan Tourism
2280-D Leckie Road, Kelowna, BC V1X 6G6
Phone: (250) 860-5999, Fax: (250) 860-9993
Merritt
& District Chamber of Commerce
Business Service Centre
2185B
Voght St.
Box 1649, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8
Phone: (250) 378-5634
Fax: (250) 378-6561
Email: manager@merrittchamber.com
Website: www.merrittchamber.com
Open year round Monday - Friday 9am-4pm
