10 Day Itinerary - Road Trippin’ Through BC Lodge Country — The Safe Way
- She Dares to Travel
- Jul 21
- 5 min read
By: Rachela | Risk Advisor, Podcast Host, Cooler Battery Drainer
She Dares to Travel: Real Risks. Real Stories. Smarter Moves.
British Columbia’s lodge country is more than a vacation spot; it’s a patchwork of family-run businesses, backroad gems, and stories of resilience.
After the 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire, many of these lodges were devastated. Then came 2020. Today, they’re still rebuilding both emotionally & financially.
As a risk advisor and host of the She Dares to Travel podcast, this road trip wasn’t just for fun (though we had plenty of that) — it was about supporting BC tourism, connecting with lodge owners, and educating travelers on how to stay safe in remote places.
Before You Hit the Road: Smarter Moves Start Here
What I learned the hard way:
✅ Check your oil (before you’re 100 km from the next town)
✅ Fill up your gas tank — remote areas = no 24-hour pumps
❌ Unplug your cooler (yes, I drained the battery)
❌ Bring jumper cables (don't assume you'll run into a Canadian Tire, because there isn't one)
✅ Download your podcasts, playlists, and books
✅ Tested the iPhone satellite text feature — it worked with zero service
Pack Smart:
Dress in layers — it’s BC, not the Bahamas
Snacks + easy meals (like mac & cheese... with wieners. Yup, that happened)
Headlamp or flashlight — power can be spotty
Portable battery packs
Offline maps — because “recalculating” is cute until there’s no signal
What Makes a Lodge “Safe” to Stay At?
As a risk management specialist, I wasn’t just staying at these lodges — I was assessing them. Not formally, not critically — just with the lens of how well would this place handle an emergency, like a wildfire?
Here’s what we look for:
Fire Readiness:
Defensible space: Is the brush cleared around buildings?
Evacuation plans: Are they printed and easy to follow?
Firefighting tools: Do they have pumps, hoses, or tanks nearby?
Smoke/CO detectors: Up-to-date and working?
Trained staff: Do they know what to do if a fire breaks out?
General Risk Readiness:
Water sources: Is it safe to drink? Backup filtration?
First aid & comms: Kits available? Radio or satellite communication?
Activity waivers: Are guests informed and protected?
Footing & trails: Are paths marked, docks stable, and signage clear?
These aren’t things travelers are always trained to notice — but on the She Dares to Travel podcast, we’re changing that. Because travel should be bold and smart.
Itinerary: 10 Days Through the Best of BC’s Lodge Country
Days 1–4: Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort
Luxury in the wild. Horseback rides, guided nature walks, fresh food, and views for days. The owners nearly lost it all in 2017 — now it's a beacon of resilience, sustainability, and high-end wilderness hospitality. An award-winning lodge for exceptional experiences and sustainability; it's a once in a lifetime experience that requires a minimum four-night stay.
Day 5: Cache Creek Detour (for tacos + pie)
We rolled through Cache Creek, where we hit:
🌮 Desert Hills Taco Stand - more than just a stand...it's Mexico in the middle of nowhere (get the tacos - trust me)
🥧 Horstings Farm Market — sandwiches, fruit pies, local produce, and even a llama
We also passed through or visited several optional lodge stops:
Flying U Ranch
Little Horse Lodge
Watch Lake Lodge
Tall Timbers Resort
These are rustic, remote, and run by some of the kindest, most hard-working families you’ll meet.
Day 6: Evergreen Fishing Resort – Loon Lake
Llimited Wi-Fi. Boats rocking in the breeze to take out fishing. A road that leads to peace and quiet. And yes — we ate mac & cheese with wieners here because we forgot proper groceries. It was perfect. They keep updating and rebuilding cabins annually after losing a few in a wildfire - the firehall is nearby and surrounding trees are slowly re-growing.
Day 7: Lac Le Jeune Resort
Charming, with cozy lakefront cabins. You can fish, paddle, or just sit in a chair and listen to nothing but loons. Family run location and capacity of 60-80 people where you can rent out the entire location for weddings or groups with plenty of hiking trails and surrounding lakes to explore. They're continuing to update and improve cabins from what it was before; a place only open for large bus tour guests to stay at - now it's open to anyone and only 20min from Kamloops you can dine at their restaurant on a Sunday afternoon to check it out before booking a stay.
Day 8: Mile High Resort
Private cabins in the woods, a small lake, hiking trails, and family-style hospitality. It’s peaceful and low-key, with just enough modern comforts to keep it cozy — but still wild enough to feel like an escape. Zero cell service (unless you are a Rogers client oddly enough a tower is close by). The risk management around fire safety here is exceptional with 160 sprinklers ready to be turned; this family means business when it comes to protecting their legacy and their guests.
Day 9: Logan Lake + ATVBC Poker Ride
Our last big stop was Logan Lake, where we joined the ATVBC event and met other adventure lovers riding BC’s backroads. These events are well-organized and community-focused, with safety top of mind.
👉 If you're an off-road enthusiast, check out ATVBC and consider joining their annual Poker Ride next year. Great people, great trails, and great support for BC tourism.
Day 10: The Long Way Home
We didn’t want to leave. The drive back was quiet and full of reflection — on all the stories we heard, the land we saw, and the resilience behind every fire pit and cabin porch. With a great pit-stop near Merritt at Left Field Cidery for a snack and some souvenirs of another great local spot.
Why This Trip Was More Than a Vacation
As host of the She Dares to Travel podcast, I explore the real risks behind travel and how to move smarter through them. This road trip was full of funny moments & wrong turns, but also serious conversations about wildfire survival, remote preparedness, and what it means to rebuild.
If you’re traveling rural this summer:
Ask about evacuation plans
Look for fire safety gear
Stay somewhere that values guest safety as much as guest experience
Because being brave doesn’t have to mean you're reckless. It means being prepared, even when you're just trying to relax.
✨ Want to hear more? or need help making your rural property safer?
Reach out. I live for this stuff. And don’t forget to subscribe to She Dares to Travel ; where we turn real risks into smarter moves.
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