Experience Lytton, British Columbia

Canada's Summer Hot Spot and Rafting Destination

Jul 8, 2009

River rafting, back country hiking and sizzling summertime temperatures are what draw people to Lytton, British Columbia, Canada's river-rafting capital.

There was a time not long ago, when the name “Lytton” wasn’t synonymous with river rafting, as it is today. It was a name that people linked with quirky literary aspirations, not world-famous adventure tourism. The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest was, and still is, for many aspiring writers the penultimate test of one’s ability to craft tacky, clichéd fiction, and still be called a writer. It wasn’t a place or a destination, and few who knew the name Lytton associated it with awe-inspiring beauty.

Lytton is the River Rafting Capital of Canada

Today, the name Lytton symbolizes some of the best river rafting in North America. Dubbed Canada’s Hot Spot, the small town in the midst of British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon garners the reputation of also having some of the best back country hiking within commute of Vancouver’s Lower Mainland.

Named after the 19th-century novelist and British statesman, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the town of Lytton overlooks the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Fraser and the Thompson. Both rivers are considered giants when it comes to rough water river rafting and kayaking.

The Fraser’s and the Thompson’s invigorating Class III-V rapids combine to offer some of the best white water trips in BC. Names like "Hells Gate," “Jaws of Death,” “Devils Kitchen” and “Witch’s Cauldron” are landmarks that have put the Fraser and the Thompson on the adventure travel circuit. River rafting companies like Kumsheen Rafting Resort and Fraser River Raft Expeditions offer summer rafting trips on the Fraser and Thompson Rivers.

Historic Events in Lytton

Lytton has also served as a crossroads for numerous historic events. The explorer Simon Fraser visited these shores in 1808 when he mapped the river that is named in his honour. In 1858 pioneers en route to the Cariboo Gold Rush crossed through the area, prompting what would eventually become the Cariboo Wagon Trail. Lytton’s history is illustrated in exhibits at the Lytton Museum, as well as several local festivals throughout the year.

These days, visitors come to Lytton both to river raft and to experience its dramatic back country hiking areas. The Lytton area is home to the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Provincial Park, which is situated across the Fraser River from the town.

Governed jointly by the Nlaka’pamux First Nations and BC Parks, this 107,191-hectare (264,874.73-acre) park has been a destination for experienced wilderness hikers for many years. Its 150-kms/94-miles of trails snake through vast tracks of forest, valleys, and watersheds, and across mountain summits. Locations like Blowdown Pass, Stein Lake and Gott Peak provide breathtaking views and remote camping opportunities.

Bulwer-Lytton's Literary Fame

As to the town of Lytton’s shared moniker with the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, the two lay claim to two different landmarks in Sir Lytton’s life. Bulwer-Lytton was the Secretary of State for the Colony of British Columbia during the town’s most formative periods in the 1800s. He is also the author of the disparaged lines “It was a dark and stormy night …” which 21st-century writers take great glee in poking fun at each year during the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest.

Lord Lytton’s true mark as a writer however, can be found in his prolific writings, which include more than 20 books of poetry, fiction, history and plays, and numerous catchy sayings that are still used today. His expression “the pen is mightier than the sword” gives testimony to his own life, which was less known for his statesmanship and more for his creative writing. The town of Lytton, with its world-famous rivers, adds yet another distinction to the name: the claim to fame for some of Canada’s most enjoyable outdoor drama. It is a tribute Lord Lytton would probably have liked.

The copyright of the article Experience Lytton, British Columbia in British Columbia Travel is owned by Jan Lee. Permission to republish Experience Lytton, British Columbia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.