Welcome to the Franklin Heritage Trail

Approximately 1 km past the Bluejoint Recreation Site, there is a kiosk marking the start of the Franklin Heritage Trail. The remaining 19 km of the 123-year-old trail, takes you along the historic wagon trail leading to the Franklin Camp and Union Mine. Along the trail, are samples of the amazing accomplishments of the time, such as hand-built rock walls that supported the wagon road. Sections are over 10m high and 200m in length. Several information kiosks, point of interest, and direction signs, bring you closer to this amazing historic trail.

In the early 1900’s,the BC Government knew the importance of the gold rich area, making improvements to the existing wagon road and maintained it until the bridge over the steep ravine at Franklin Creek was removed in 1989 . This was the road that would accommodate wagons with loads from Franklin Camp to the Rail head at Lynch Creek. Union Mine was the first to start shipping to the smelter in 1913, using the wagon trail. With the profit at more than double the cost, including transport, the rush was on. It was hoped the Kettle Valley Railway tracks would be laid all the way to Franklin, but it was not to be.