Seton Portage Historic Park

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

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.