Down in the Bullion Pit

Join me as I explore the remains of the historic Bullion Pit gold mine in British Columbia’s legendary Cariboo region. In this video, I travel deep into one of the province’s old mining areas to document what is left behind from the era of hydraulic gold mining. I begin by taking a close look at the old water monitors that were once used to blast away entire hillsides in search of gold-bearing gravel. These massive hydraulic nozzles were a powerful tool during the height of placer mining in the Cariboo, capable of moving enormous amounts of earth using high-pressure water supplied through long ditch and trench systems. From there, I follow the hand-dug trenches and water channels that miners carved into the landscape to transport water to the monitors. These old works are a reminder of the incredible amount of labour that went into operating remote mining sites in the mountains of British Columbia long before modern equipment and roads existed. The video then heads down into the Bullion Pit itself, where you can still see the scale of the old mining operation. Walking through the pit gives a sense of just how much material miners stripped away in their search for gold during the Cariboo gold rush era and the decades that followed. Along the way I discuss the history of hydraulic mining in the Cariboo, the harsh conditions miners faced, and how these forgotten industrial sites are slowly being reclaimed by the wilderness. If you enjoy abandoned places, Canadian history, gold rush history, old mining technology, and backcountry exploration, this video will give you a firsthand look at a fascinating piece of British Columbia’s past. The Cariboo region played a major role in shaping British Columbia after gold discoveries in the 1860s drew thousands of miners and helped establish many of the province’s early communities and transportation routes. Sites like the Bullion Pit are a surviving link to that era and offer a rare glimpse into the scale and ingenuity of historic placer mining operations. Thanks for watching and coming along on another exploration into the hidden history of British Columbia. If you enjoy Canadian mining history, abandoned historical sites, and backcountry adventures, be sure to subscribe for more videos from across Western Canada.