Fraser Canyon

Fraser Canyon is a steep-sided river gorge carved by the Fraser River in British Columbia and is a prominent geographic feature of the province’s interior. The canyon is characterized by narrow river narrows, steep rock walls and dramatic scenery.

Key locations within the canyon include Hell’s Gate, where the river squeezes through a narrow gap and visitors use platforms and an aerial tram to view the turbulent water. The corridor is also notable for historic crossings and bridges and for carrying major transport routes including highways and railways.

The area was used for millennia by Indigenous peoples and became central to non-Indigenous settlement and transport during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858. Over time the canyon has remained an important natural barrier and scenic corridor.

Fraser Canyon runs through southern interior British Columbia and is accessed from communities along the Fraser River valley; its best-known stretches lie between the Interior Plateau and the lower Fraser Valley.

• Key viewpoint: The canyon contains several well-known viewpoints and facilities at Hell's Gate where the river is dramatically constricted, and commercial viewing infrastructure is available.
• Historic importance: The Fraser Canyon corridor has long been a transportation route and played a central role during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858, shaping regional development.

What to See #

• Hell's Gate: Hell's Gate, a narrow, turbulent section of the Fraser River with viewing platforms and an airtram for tourists.
• Bridges and viewpoints: Historic bridges and river-crossing points such as Alexandra Bridge, which provide viewpoints and access to the canyon corridor.
• Transport corridors: Trans-Canada Highway and major Canadian rail routes that run through or alongside the canyon and provide scenic transport corridors.