Seton Portage Historic Park

Highlights in this park

This historically significant site commemorates the location of the first railway in British Columbia. At 0.7 hectares, it is also the smallest provincial park in all of BC. The park offers opportunities for day-use picnicking and contains an old railway caboose maintained by the Seton Portage and Shalalth District Chamber of Commerce.

Know before you go

Advisories

Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.

Visit responsibly

Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:

Maps and location

Getting there

Located 70 km west of Lillooet on the south side of the Seton River. Access is via gravel road from Shalalth to Seton Portage. The park is located between BC Railway and the road connecting Shalalth to Seton Portage.

Things to do

Pets on leash

Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.

Facilities

Picnic areas

There are several tables around the caboose available for day-use picnicking.

Pit or flush toilets

There is a single pit toilet available near the caboose. There are no flush toilets in this park.

About this park

Cultural heritage

The historic site lies on an important route out of the lower mainland, used at the time of the Gold Rush and commemorates the first railway in the province.

The portage was created about 10,000 years ago when a large landslide occurred dividing the then existing lake into two separate lakes.

Alexander Anderson, a fur trader with the Hudson’s Bay Company, was one of the first explorers through this area. He was looking to establish a travel route from Kamloops to Harrison and back up the Fraser. He was responsible for naming the two lakes. One he named after himself. The second he named after his cousin Major Seton, who was a troop commander of the 74th Highlanders.

The 3 miles of railway was constructed in 1861 on wooden rails to facilitate the transport of goods and miners between the two lakes. In 1915 the line was completed to Lillooet and became a bustle of activity.

History

Established March 29, 1972. The land comprising the park was donated to the people of BC by the British Columbia Railway.

Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.

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