My husband and I are planning a daytrip to Lillooet from Vancouver during our Canadian vacation in September. We were thinking about taking the BC Rail Cariboo Prospector from North Vancouver and back, but we have heard that the Duffey Lake Road is spectacular, and also wonder if we should drive so we can spend a few hours at Whistler (the train only stops there for a few minutes). I have read that the drive is "torturous." Can anyone who has done either of these offer me some advice? Thanks!

The drive is spectacular for the passengers but for the driver it is somewhat tedious requiring lots of concentration for the turns, turns, turns. <BR>I've done it solo both ways in an ancient half-ton truck and I didn't have a heckuva lotta time to look at too much. <BR>I've taken the train as well there's no contest IMO if you're on holiday you want to relax/gawk not just 'crank that wheel'. <BR>A few hours in Whistler pales in comparison to the views along Andersen Lake from the train. <BR>From the train I've seen Deer, Eagles, Salmon spawning in creeks beside the track and Seals in Howe Sound,keep your eyes open you never know what will show itself.

Which part is supposed to be torturous? I didn't find the road to Whistler bad at all but I also thought Whistler was not very exciting for a short visit. It would probably be more interesting to spend some time hiking around there.

I agree that it's an exaggeration to call the road 'torturous' but it does require a lot more concentration than a multi lane expressway. However I still lean to saying that the train ride is wonderful for train buffs and for those wanting a quick, relaxing overview but definately not for those who want the independance of being able to stop and smell the roses so to speak. <BR> <BR>

I forgot to mention that I've also done the drive as passenger-both ways-and it was great! <BR>April-once you start to climb up the big hill past the reserve at Mount Currie that's when, as Gary says, you have to concentrate. <BR>There's no comparison between that stretch and the drive to Whistler.

I think Gazelle was talking about the Duffy Lake Road being spectacular and torturous, not the road between Vancouver and Whistler. <BR> <BR>Here's a travelogue about friends who travelled from Vancouver to Lillooet, the onto Whistler via the Duffy Lake Road. They posted a lot of pictures and explained a bit about each town. This should give you an idea of what the drive is like! <BR> <BR>http://www.ogopogo.com/ovcs/bck/duffy.htm <BR> <BR>Here are some more links which might help: <BR> <BR>http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure.../lillooet.html <BR> <BR>http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regio...&webregionid=2 <BR> <BR>http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regio...&webregionid=2 <BR> <BR>"In the past decade, the pace of tourism has accelerated. The 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver kick-started bus tours to Whistler and beyond; in subsequent years, the paving of the Duffey Lake Road made the corridor between Pemberton and Lillooet a breeze to explore. Until then, the standing joke was that this former logging road was always under two feet of mud and four feet of snow." <BR> <BR>

Carl Z, <BR>Oh, ok. I kind of wondered.

Gazelle - My husband and I took the Duffey Lake Road and it is spectacular. My brother and sister-in-law were with us and complained the whole time about it. You can't please everybody!!!