Tweedsmuir Park is located in west central British Columbia on the western limit of the Cariboo-Chilcotin cattle country. It is truly a wilderness park with virtually no development of any kind. Within the park is a large portion of the Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail - the traditional Nuxalk-Carrier trade route through the colourful Rainbow Mountains and the peaks of the Coast Range.
The Rainbow Range, the result of ancient volcanic activity, butts up against the granite peaks and glaciers of the ice-worn Coast Range. Warm red, orange, yellow and lavender contrast with brilliant whites and blues in a photographer's paradise of peaks, ridges and rock formations. Here the influence of the coast has created an abundance and variety of alpine wild flowers beyond compare, for photographer, botanist and nature lover. The hiker or horseback rider might see caribou, mountain goat, black and grizzly bear, marmot, wolf, wolverine, moose, deer, ptarmigan, hawks and eagles.
David and Joyce and Leslie Dorsey operate Rainbow Mountain Outfitting, a family guiding business now in its 23rd year of continued exclusive horse guiding in the Rainbow Mountains of Tweedsmuir Park. The Dorseys specialize in multi-day, personalized small group adventures. These are truly one-of-a-kind trips that allow guests to travel in the traditional Chilcotin style to places not visited by the general public, with guides and horses who have generations of experience behind them. These trips bring to life the rich First Nations history of the area as well the early explorations of Alexander Mackenzie and the later non-native pioneers of the Chilcotin. The volcanic geology of the park is fascinating and the vistas breathtaking. A basic familiarity with horses or the ability to hike five to six hours over uneven terrain is all that is required.
Numerous camps throughout the Rainbow mountains provide bases for exploring the surrounding valleys, ridges and peaks and routes are varied to highlight the interests of the group and the number of days available.
The Dorseys have been raising horses for generations and make every attempt to match horse and rider according to ability. Riding experience and feeling comfortable around horses is recommended.
Hikers travel with Paul, the hiking guide or Ferdl, the geologist with a day pack, while the horses transport camp and gear between base camps. The elevation changes are not dramatic, but we are often hiking over alpine without established trails.
