Go Yellowhead 2016 | Page 7

Travelling the wide roads and gentle grades of the Yellowhead Highway takes you on a journey through the breathtaking wilderness, and the roughand-tumble history of Western Canada. Today it’s famous as the “Park-to-Park Highway” spanning half of Canada, traversing four provinces, five national parks, 90 provincial parks, and numerous fascinating national and provincial historic sites. There are never-ending spots to stop and take quick photos, viewing points with incredible vistas, mom-and-pop diners with the best burger you've ever had, and one-of-akind attractions that you would never see if you had just flown over them to get to your destination. Let your cares melt away, and enjoy the drive! Why is it called the “Yellowhead”? The Yellowhead Highway began as the secret trail of its namesake, the blonde Iroquois Métis guide Pierre Bostonais, known as “Tête Jaune” — which translates as Yellow Head. PHOTO CREDIT: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/ HALFPOINT STARTING POINT The Trans-Canada Highway begins in the west at Masset, B.C., on Haida Gwaii, and then heads south along Graham Island to Skidegate. It connects via a 172-km-long ferry route to Prince Rupert, and then passes southeastward to Prince George and through to Tête Jaune Cache. It enters Alberta through the Rocky Mountains near Jasper, and passes through Edmonton and Saskatoon before meeting the TransCanada Highway 1 near Portage la Prairie, Man. Officially, the eastern end of the Yellowhead Highway is at the corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street in Winnipeg. DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A SOUTHERN ROUTE? Near Mount Robson, the southern route follows the pass to Kamloops and on to Hope, the gateway to the Fraser Valley. LENGTH The total length of the Yellowhead Highway, including ferries, is 2,960 km. The southern leg in B.C. is 524 km for a combined total of 3,484 km! Adventure (n.) an exciting or v ery unusual experie nce goyellowhead.com 7