Echo-Valley Ranch & Spa

We flew to echo-valley for a night at the ranch
April 19, 2019
David Black & Janine Cross

NOTE - This is not a paid review. We flew there on our own dime and paid the standard rate that everyone pays for our stay. The folks at Echo Valley didn't even know we were going to write a blog or review.

In April of, 2019 we flew to the Echo Valley Ranch & Spa - deep in the interior of BC. The ranch is located in the mountains, about an hour's drive from Clinton BC - with half that along a dirt road.

But getting there by light-plane is the way to go. They have a private paved runway there, and the flight from Vancouver takes about 90 minutes along the spectacular scenery of the Frazer Canyon.

Echo Valley is located in the interior of BC, on the edge of the Cariboo District

Just West of Chilliwack, the Tulip Festival was going on. This is one of two large Tulip producers in the area. Now I know what a Tulip Field looks like from the air.

Tulip Festival in Chilliwack

Lytton BC is half way up the Fraser Canyon on the way to Lillooet. In the picture below you can see the old Lytton Runway (now closed). We're looking East - down the Nicola Valley, which leads towards Merritt.

Lillooet BC, where the Fraser and Thompson Canyons meet

There is no fuel at Echo Valley, so we decided to stop in Lillooet to fill up. We wanted the option of flying home from the ranch without having to stop again. Lillooet has a very pretty airport.

We stopped for fuel at Lillooet BC - one of the prettiest airports in the province

We circled overhead Lillooet to gain altitude because there was a pretty high mountain ridge to the North that we needed to cross next.

To the West of Lillooet you can see Seton Lake. This route reaches all the way to Pemberton.

Below you can see the approach to the runway at Echo Valley Ranch. You can't tell in the picture,

On final approach to the Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

Echo Valley Ranch is beautiful! And quiet! It's 30 minutes by dirt road to the nearest community and there is no cell service.

The Main House is where they serve 3 meals every day

One of the many out-of-the-ordinary things that guests can do at the ranch is to take the pigs out for their daily walk. How many people do you know that have done that?

Guests at Echo Valley Ranch can take the pigs out for their daily walk.

While walking in the woods, on one of the many trails through this area, we came across a flock of wild turkeys. Later we found them (or another flock?) wandering around on the runway. Good to know.

We came across this flock of wild turkeys on one of the nearby trails

The many private cabins on the site offer spectacular accomodations! Below is one of the "Thai" themed rooms.

Thai-Themed cabin at Echo Valley Ranch

The price includes 3 meals a day, served in the common dining room and specially prepared by "Chef". The food was fabulous! Worth writing home about (which, I suppose, is what we're doing).

"Chef" prepared a fabulous lunch for our first day at the ranch.

Our stay included access a fishing and hunting guide. Our Nufi guide (with his thick Newfoundland accent) taught us how to fly cast at one of the on-site lakes.

Our fishing guide taught us how to fly cast
Of course it wouldn't be a proper ranche without horseback riding.

Norm (the owner) and his Thai wife originally purchased the Ranch as a place to live. Now it's a Thailand-themed mountain ranch.

"Norm" - the owner of Echo Valley Ranch - beside his snazzy Cessna 206.

The minimum stay at Echo Valley is 2 nights. And one needs it. There is a lot to see and do.