Upana Caves lie outside Gold River on forest roads, so the realistic way to get there is to drive yourself in a vehicle suited to gravel. Look up the current directions and road condition before you leave town.
Planning the drive out of Gold River
The route leaves the village on logging roads rather than a paved highway. Distances and turns on this kind of road depend on the current road layout and on active logging, so rely on the official directions from the Village of Gold River, the local visitor centre or the current BC Parks and provincial recreation listings, and compare them with a map app that works offline. Signs on forest roads can be missing or damaged.
Save an offline map before you go. Cell service on forest roads is often poor, and a live signal is not something to count on.
Gravel road habits
- Drive slowly on corners where loose gravel collects.
- Expect the surface to be rougher and slicker after rain.
- Industrial traffic can use these roads. Ask locally whether logging trucks are running that day, and give them the road.
- Check your spare tire and carry water before leaving.
- Fill the tank in Gold River.
At the caves
Upana Caves are a limestone cave system, and the ground in and around them is uneven and wet. Wear shoes with real grip. Carry more than one light source, because a phone torch is a poor backup when it also has to serve as the camera. Cave entrances can have loose rock, so move carefully and do not go in alone. Check the current rules for visiting and any closures with the visitor centre or the provincial parks and recreation pages before you commit to the trip.
Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back. If the weather turns, or the road looks worse than expected, turning around is the right call.
Without a vehicle
No public transit option to the caves was found, and an ordinary taxi is unlikely to be practical on a gravel forest road. Ask in Gold River about local guides or shuttle options before you count on getting out there and back, and settle the return trip before you set off.