The Hurley River Wilderness Road connects the community of the Bridge River Valley with the Pemberton Valley. It is also the most direct route for property owners and recreational users to the Bridge River Valley. A 4 hour drive from Vancouver, 3hr from Whistler & 2hr from Pemberton at a leisurely pace. No services or cell range after Pemberton. The Hurley River Road is part of the Duffey Lake / Hurley River Scenic Loop and is a spectacular drive. Information about the Bridge River Valley can be found on www.BridgeRiverValley.ca
The Hurley River Road is open to vehicle traffic in the summer months only, usually from June – October. It is maintained to a wilderness standard that deters most 2wd vehicles. It’s a wild ride you will never forget and the scenery is breathtaking! The Hurley is a 74km rough dirt road which starts at the end of the Pemberton Meadows. After crossing the Lillooet River, the Hurley climbs over Railroad Pass (4, 500ft) and down to Gold Bridge or Bralorne. Expect mountain driving conditions. Drive with your headlights on and use caution. Watch for oncoming traffic and wildlife. Please use 4×4 when climbing to avoid washboards.
Winter driving conditions can be encountered all year long on the Hurley Road. A spare tire is essential! Pioneer Paul runs the tire repair shop in Gold Bridge 250-238-2584 and he is a busy guy because of the Hurley Road! Gas is available in Gold Bridge with a credit card only, no cash.
In the winter, ride your snowmobile over from the Pemberton Meadows to Bralorne or Gold Bridge. Road is groomed by Backcountry Snow Cats who operate a catski operation from Hope Creek which is located on the North side of the pass. Reg and Kathy groom the Hurley Road in the winter and build and maintain the parking spot at the end of the road on the Pemberton side. Please show your appreciation and respect by staying off their marked runs. If you find yourself in one of thier zones by mistake, please make your way to the marked road and follow it out. All runs and roads are marked with bamboo and signage.
To report Hurley Road conditions, please email info@bridgerivervalley.ca
This website is for information purposes only and we assume no liability for decisions made as a result of the information provided here.
We drove the Hurley early Oct 26. Nearly a foot of snow at the summit. Was definitely greasy in some spots.
Drove Gold Bridge to Pemberton in July 1985-86.
Don’t think it was called Hurley Rd back then ? Very narrow road. Scary drive.
Someone in Gold Bridge recommend it as a picturesque drive. That it was.
There are no firearm discharge areas around the residential communities. More information at this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=southchilcotin&set=a.10156275099542073
What are the restriction for firing a firearm in these areas? is it prohibited or are there some areas where it’s allowed?
It’s usually open for late May, it depends on how much snow is at the summit. Updates will be posted here as soon as we know
When is the earliest this road may be passable? Late May?
Hurley River Forest Service Road is a 74 km scenic wilderness road that connects the Bridge River valley with the Pemberton valley. This road is open during the summer months (June September), and requires a 4X4 capable vehicle. There are no services and cell coverage on this route.
Jason is talking crap. Nobby tires do more damage to the road: not all-seasons. Regardless of fwd or 4wd. By their action nobby tires “grip” the road and thereby gouge it, particularly when the 4wd folks go faster because they have the extra traction and stopping grip. In any case, most, if not all. of the damage to this and other gravel roads on the coast is caused by water runoff. If the Hurley had a camber the whole way and parallel upstream drainage slough with cross-drainage at regular intervals is would be less troublesome and easier to maintain. To get is to that condition, however costs considerable money, and the steep drop into the Pemberton Valley means is would not be used that much regardless of the actual surface condition, so it is not been done with taxpayer money. Now if some rich person wants to donate a $million then…………..
Aug 31, I drove from Pemberton to Gold Bridge with Toyota Corolla with stock low clearance base model tires. Overall average speed for the whole route was about 18-22km/hr. At odd sections went as fast as 30-35km/hr. Some uphill or washboard sections 10km or less/hr. No dangerous big dips or anything like that.
Just rugged base rocks sticks out of gravel road, plus gravel pebbles themselves are larger and sharper than other easer to drive gravel roads. Road got slightly better after going past the fork to Bralorne. I did go as fast as 40-45km a few times there.
On my way back drove to Lilooet. This latter road felt more like I really survived by looking at scary cliffs with rocks just about coming down majority of the way.
If you are considering driving any of these roads you should only drive with a 4 x 4 and have it turned on both up and down. If you are only in 2wd drive you are wrecking the road, slight skidding both up and down creates potholes and wrecks the road and is unsafe. Please do not drive these roads in 2wd ever.
After a great stay at the infamous Gold Dust Motel in Gold Bridge, we set out to the “Hurley”. Why not ? It rewarded us with a great drive, incredible views of glaciers, waterfalls and the occasional wild life. Never used the 4 wheel drive. logging trucks that we met were courteous and pulled over to let us pass. Its interesting that the road is not better maintained considering the amount of traffic. Perhaps that adds to the challenge. We took it slow and enjoyed the scenery. Worth the drive. The pavement that starts after the bridge over the Lillooet River was very much appreciated.
after a wrong turn and some misinformation we ladies did it without intending to on 3 sportbikes and 1 cruiser. oops – it took us a few hours b/c we were going pretty slow – 40kph and less!
Hi all, I travelled to Canada for a 3 week vacation and came back to the UK yesterday, I drove the Carpenter Lake road from Lillooet which on the day of some heavy rain… This was the worst driving conditions that I have driven large rocks rolled from the side of the mountains onto and across the tracks… Plus the hazard of the Logging Wagons not the type of driving for a Chrysler 300 Sport… I heard the road was bad but not this bad… The journey was well worth the 2.5 hour drive as I arrived at the Tyax Spa resort paradise at the end of the road… After much thought I decided to drive the Hurley road to Whistler to save 2 hours… Setting off early this was easy compared to the Carpenter Lake road… Pot holes and some rocks but nothing to the previous drive…. Proud to say that I survived both service roads without the need for a 4×4 SUV or Pickup Truck.
Keep trucking and safe driving….. I will be buying a t-shirt from the web site???????????? Tom from Lytham St Anne’s UK.
Hurley is the worset maintained Road in Bristish Columbia-
not accecable for any kind of Transportation Vehicle