Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

Nestled away in the pristine wilderness of BC’s Cariboo Region awaits an experience unlike any other. Far away from the crowds of the city, all your senses come alive and you feel a sense of wonder you thought you’d lost.

A visit to Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is more than a vacation, it’s like coming home. Home to yourself and to the ancient connection between mankind and nature that leaves you with new perspectives and a renewed commitment to yourself.

There’s no other place like it. Located at the convergence of four distinct geographic locations, Echo Valley is your personal playground for experiencing nature, thrilling adventures, and real relaxation.

If you crave the connection to something meaningful, something real, you can find it here. From the deeply trenched gorges of the Fraser Canyon to the life-giving springs of the Marble Mountains, the spirit of this special place will leave you in awe.

Luxury in the WILDERNESS
All rooms and cabins at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa are unique with private bathrooms or ensuites, but that is not what’s so special about them.

Waking up refreshed, taking in that first breath of crisp mountain air, catching a glimpse of the majestic scenery right outside your window; the comfort of being at home, close to nature in our BC wilderness resort, makes every single room and cabin extra special. Our team will select the perfect room or cabin for you.

LOOKOUT LODGE
A short walk from the Dove Lodge next to the fish ponds and horse corral. Spacious rooms with amazing views can be enjoyed from this amazing lodge which is a work of art in itself, adorned with hand-carved indigenous art and home of the mystical Room 12.

LOG STUDIO
AKA – the Honeymoon Cabin – perfect for a romantic getaway or for a retreat to reconnect and nourish body and soul. Enjoy fantastic views of the valley and mountains beyond while you relax on your private deck secluded from the world. It feels like your own private wilderness resort in BC!

UNIQUE CABINS
Close to all the ranch action with a deck. They offer the perfect opportunity to head straight onto the trails or to just sit and enjoy the sight of our border collies playing nearby.

THE RANCH HOUSE
The fully restored ranch house features modern decor, lots of space, great views from the wrap-around deck, and a staircase out of a fairy tale.

BAAN THAI SUITE
Overlooking the whole ranch from its private rooftop terrace. The gracious elegance of the traditional Thai architecture creates a perfect accent to the Valley and is magical throughout.

100-METRE DIET
Farm Fresh Dining is experiencing a truly local and authentically Canadian menu. Prepared with a love for food, nature, and our culture of sustainability. We believe in the 100-Metre-Diet, using only the finest ingredients for what we cannot grow ourselves.

We are proud to raise our own cattle and grow our own produce in our ranch garden and greenhouse. We’ve restored the original root cellar of the Echo Valley homestead, where we keep produce over the winter and seeds from year to year. The ranch fruit trees supply delicious desserts like apple pie, and our berry patches are a favourite among guests and staff alike.

Along with our new curated eco-luxury experience, Our chef and his team create a new dining experience for every season. Flexible meal times, daily menu options, room service options, and private tables are a perfect complement to our new individualized all-inclusive package. Farm fresh cuisine, your way.

Restorative Energy of ECHO VALLEY
The indigenous ancestors recognized that this Valley, at the convergence of four distinct geographic locations was special, and were drawn here by the life-giving springs.

They were intimately connected to Mother Earth, able to feel the energy within the land, a sense many of us city dwellers have lost. But here in Echo Valley that connection is still strong and felt by all who visit this spiritual retreat in BC – an overall sense of wellness, peace and bliss – awakening wonder.

Center of the Energy ROOM 12
At the centre of the energy felt in Echo Valley lies Room 12 of our Lookout Lodge. Here the spirit is made visible through art created by our resident artist Michael Blackstock.

Room 12 is remarkable in more than one way, Michael’s art is only one aspect of it. The walls themselves carry the likeness of twelve indigenous people’s faces, which reveal themselves to us within the coating applied to the walls, by chance, randomly. Michael believes this is more than a coincidence, as Room 12 is also an Axis Mundi, a portal between worlds.

Fifteen years before the aboriginal faces were noticed within the random shapes, another Indigenous artist, Theo Mahood, created large wooden murals for the exterior North and West-facing walls.

The north-facing wall – where the mural depicts the creation of Mother Earth – shows a Shaman cradling Room 12; on the west-facing wall, a bird – part of an art piece that Theo called the “Circle of Life” – flies over Room 12.

Many of us in Echo Valley accept that what has come together at this spiritual retreat in the heart of BC cannot be attributed to coincidence, instead we see it as tangible evidence of other forces present.

An Interpretation of this SPECIAL PLACE
Michael is a renowned artist who developed the peer-reviewed theory of Blue Ecology, an indigenous water-first approach to the environment.

Michael has crafted the intangible feeling into something tangible, by creating several carved masks depicting the faces of Indigenous ancestors whose energy he felt in Room 12. One of Michael’s latest works of art is his interpretation of this special place.

The centre circle represents Room 12 in our Lookout Lodge, the centre of the energy felt at this spiritual BC retreat. The second circle represents the artwork of two other indigenous artists, consisting of wood carved murals on the North and West facing walls of the Lookout Lodge, the Shaman and the Circle of Life. They cradle Room 12 as if to protect it.

The third circle depicts the four geographic regions that converge upon Echo Valley Ranch. The borders of the three circles symbolize the active aquifer that flows beneath our land. Indigenous people believe that water is alive and is spiritual. Amazingly enough, there are five springs on the ranch alone!

Like no Place on EARTH
BC’s rugged Cariboo-Chilcotin area is home to the Secwepemc First Nations People and the historical “Gold Rush Trail”. Our 160 acre ranch sits as an oasis at the convergence of four distinct geographic regions: Marble Mountains, Mighty Fraser River and Canyon Desert, Cariboo Plateau Boreal Forest and Cariboo Grasslands.

Such iconic geography makes Echo Valley one of the best places to visit in British Columbia. It gifts us with diverse flora, fauna, and wildlife, along with easy access to a variety of soft adventure activities. As you explore the magic of Echo Valley, we invite you to reflect on the wonder of the world you encounter.

The MARBLE MOUNTAINS
These majestic peaks to the East provide a dramatic backdrop, showcasing fantastic views from almost anywhere on the ranch.

The Marble Mountains are truly remarkable, their karst topography allows them to hold significant water reserves within their intricate system of caves, forming clear mountain springs. Sunset often turns the pale peaks a deep orange, a spectacle best enjoyed with a leisurely stroll after a farm-fresh dinner.

The GRAND CANYON OF THE NORTH
To the South-West lies the mighty Fraser Canyon, a raw landscape of grassy benchlands along the longest river in BC, the Fraser River, intersected by deeply trenched gorges. This natural wonder is on the top of the list of places to visit in British Columbia for many; some call it the Grand Canyon of the North, and you’ll see why.

It offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Gold Rush. A 3,500-foot descent leads from boreal forests into the desert-like conditions of the canyon and it becomes clear that the brave souls navigating the river in search of gold in the 1850s were truly pioneers. Experience the mighty Fraser River and our Grand Canyon up close during our Canyon Connection Tour.

The THE CARIBOO PLATEAU
Bordering the ranch to the North-West is the boreal forest full of pines, spruce, fir, bushy ferns, and mossy tree stumps. A hike through the valley bottoms under the forested canopy will awaken your adventurous side.

There is a lot to explore and our Border Collies make for excellent hiking companions during your forest adventures. Exploring the forests is equally exhilarating with a mountain bike, and a slow-paced forest bathing stroll will give you a chance to fully take in the awe-inspiring beauty of the land.

The GRASSLANDS
Rolling hills and pastures – the grasslands to the South East of Echo Valley offer an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking nature near the ranch. Walk, bike or hike – the possibilities are as diverse as the landscape.

Here you can cross creeks, often filled with spawning fish, or catch a glimpse of Marsh Wrens, Yellow-Headed Blackbirds and Sandhill Cranes. The grasslands are also home to beautiful stands of aspens and a walk through the whispering trees is especially breathtaking in early fall.

SUSTAINABILITY
Echo Valley is a small, eco-luxury ranch thoughtfully designed to inspire connection with the restorative elements of our natural surroundings.

Discerning soft-adventure seekers are instinctively drawn to our respectful, sustainable, and comfortable lifestyle. Living in harmony with the land, we lovingly grow, raise, harvest, forage and preserve much of the cuisine served at the ranch, the balance of which is sourced within BC.

We have undergone a comprehensive assessment to achieve Sustainable Tourism Gold Certified. The process includes a one-on-one review of our business practices with an assessor to see how we’re doing against GreenStep’s Sustainable Tourism criteria, which is Global Sustainable Tourism Council – Recognized.

We have taken the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to improving the sustainability performance of our business between now and 2030.

Tourism has to take full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts to be sustainable, and we are committed to measuring and improving our sustainability performance.

FRASER CANYON
Echo Valley is the meeting place of four distinct geographic regions, and one of them is the Fraser Canyon. It lies to the South and West of the ranch, with the life-giving Fraser River hugging almost a quarter of our property. A fascinating landscape of grassy benchlands intersected by deep gorges. Some call it the Grand Canyon of the North, and you’ll see why.

Our Canyon Connection Tour is a journey into the aftermath of the last Ice Age. It takes you through the boreal forests into the desert-like conditions of the canyon for an up-close experience with this extreme force of nature.

On the way, you will have a chance to get close to the edge of the canyon, stopping at the Cougar Point Lookout in traditional Shuswap territory, where we are welcome guests. The view can take your breath away!

It is one that few have actually seen or experienced. It’s a sacred landscape– feel the Spirit as you begin the 3,500-foot descent into the canyon on an 23% grade. Take pictures and hold on!

Once in the canyon, you can relax and rest on the white sandy beach of the Fraser River and take it all in. The sound of the river, the aura of the canyon, the intricate ecosystem, the sheer force of nature. Spending time in solitude in a magnificent natural setting is a powerful catalyst for connection, to the Canyon and yourself.

Your guide is near but far enough away for an experience in silence and solitude. Time stands still here. Imagine the first ancestors to have witnessed this site. It’s Grand and you just may feel small. Take it all in and enjoy an equally memorable trip back to the ranch. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable wellness adventure.

FOREST BATHING
It’s hard to find a concise meaning for Forest Bathing. In Japan, it’s called Shirin-Yoku and the term captures both the activity and the feeling. in Echo Valley, the term does not matter as much as the feeling it evokes. Being at peace and feeling grounded are some of the words that have been used to describe it, and we invite you to explore your own connection.

Forest Bathing in Echo Valley is an immersive, solitary, and unique experience in the boreal forest surrounding the ranch. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. You won’t be covering much ground, but instead, you may feel grounded to the forest. Connect with the sounds and sights of the forest through stillness and touch.

Slow Down and LISTEN
It’s about listening to the sounds without and the feelings within, as you slow down. The sound of the wind in the branches of the Grandmother Tree and the feeling of her ancient wisdom to guide you. The soothing sounds of a nearby spring inspire you to move forward into the stillness. What will you find there?

HORSE HARMONY
The connection between horses and humans has long been the stuff of legends. In Echo Valley, we cherish that connection and want to share it with you. Our immersive Horse Harmony Experience will bring you closer to nature and to yourself, we’re proud that Echo Valley is so much more than a resort with horseback riding.

Distractions melt away as you forge a deep connection with your horse, leaving you with insightful moments and new perspectives. This close equine encounter will peel back the layers of stress and replace them with peace, calm, and well-being.

CONNECT WITH YOUR HORSE
The morning starts with bringing in the horses from the pasture to our corral. You’ll walk among our herd under the guidance of our wranglers. You’ll connect with your horse and build a relationship by brushing it, and walking alongside it around the ranch. Focusing your attention on your horse and on the moment makes time fly by, Before you know it, it’s time for lunch.

After lunch, it’s time to reconnect with your horse again, saddle it, and embark on a slow-paced ride to experience nature from horseback. It’s not about cantering across the pastures, it’s about a closer connection to nature through your horse, a powerful experience. Feel the movement of your horse and let it guide you.

Unsaddling your horse, caring for it, and grooming it after your ride is also part of your day until you see it off to pasture again to retire for the night.

We also invite you to visit our retired horses in their pasture. They receive the same care and attention as our working horses; we honour the work they have done for us as they complete their circle of life.

MINDFULNESS
When was the last time you were fully in the moment, mind empty, and not thinking of your to-do list? Learn to experience each moment as it happens during one of our guided meditation sessions.

Thai monk Luangphor Viriyang Sirintharo was invited to Echo Valley to bless our Baan Thai, and he discovered so much more. He told us that Echo Valley is very special and the perfect place to meditate because everything is in balance here.

Our twice-daily Thai yoga classes offer a gentle introduction to breathing techniques and finding stillness, and our once-daily guided group meditations provide a path to self-healing, well-being, and focussing the mind. If you wish to dive deeper into meditation and establish a practice for yourself, you can also book a one-on-one lesson.

While we offer meditation guidance during our group and one-on-one sessions, nature is the best meditation teacher. We have created a walking meditation path at Copper Drop Springs, to help you connect with nature and yourself during a contemplative walk to the soothing sound of the spring.

RANCH GARDENS
Our vegetable garden, greenhouses, berry patches, and root cellar have been part of our ranch operations since the very beginning. They are part of our food and sustainability philosophy of eating and serving food that’s fresh and homegrown.

In 2020 we doubled the size of our vegetable garden and restored the original root cellar of the Echo Valley homestead, giving us the option to preserve and store fresh food even during the winter months. The benefits of gardening for mental well-being have long been known and the 2020 Pandemic brought about a surge of interest in homesteading and gardening.

From the Farm TO YOUR TABLE
What we’ve been practicing all along has become mainstream, and we are more than happy to share our gardening tips and secrets with you.

A visit to the Echo Valley gardens is part of the tour we’ll take you on when you arrive, and we invite you to select your own favourites for your dinner salad (baskets provided). If you are as passionate about gardening as we are, you might want to dive in a bit deeper. Make an Echo Valley gardening chat part of your curated wellness itinerary.

Stimulate Your SENSES
Our two world-class spas proudly feature a variety of soothing and exclusive treatments. We celebrate our different origins and the blend of classic European and authentic Thai therapies creates a one-of-a-kind experience as a perfect addition to our natural wellness offerings.

Many of our treatments – such as Thai Massage – are widely practiced as the primary form of health care in Thailand. All treatments are manual and select ones incorporate specially blended Thai herbs and oils to stimulate your senses and soften your skin.

Of course, all spa therapies are provided by extensively trained, professional Thai therapists. They have helped make Echo Valley one of the best luxury spa resorts in British Columbia.

One-hour Samplers SPA TREATMENTS
Enjoy one of our signature spa treatments from a selection of one-hour samplers when you stay with us for three nights or two treatments for stays of four nights or more (during our Summer Season from June to September). Book additional treatments with our amazing spa director, Yalaporn, who is always happy to go over any details you may need.

THAI YOGA
If you’re an early riser, our morning yoga session is perfect to get your blood flowing for a day of adventuring. If stretching before breakfast is out of the question for you, then a gentle afternoon session might be what you need to re-energize.

LONG KNOWN FOR ITS HEALTH BENEFITS
At Echo Valley Ranch & Spa we practice Thai Yoga, also known as Ruesri Dat Ton, or “hermit’s yoga”, twice a day. Long known for its health benefits and practiced as a form of healthcare in Thailand, it’s origins are credited to Thai monks who were taught this style of yoga in preparation for meditating. With similar benefits to a Thai massage, it can be performed without the assistance of a spa therapist.

Better flow and FLEXIBILITY
Better blood flow, increased flexibility, and lower stress levels are some of the benefits of Ruesri Dat Ton. It’s commonly performed as a warm-up routine for sports, or to prepare for meditation. Needless to say, we think it’s perfect for whatever adventure or wellness activity you’re planning next during your stay.

ADVENTURES
Experience the best Beautiful British Columbia has to offer. Our iconic location at the convergence of four distinct geographic regions – the Grasslands, the Cariboo Plateau, the Marble Mountain range, and the Fraser Canyon with its legacy of the Cariboo Gold Rush – is a treasure box of possibilities.

Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is your destination for outdoor adventure, from the awe-inspiring views from the top of Mount Bowman to the thrill of getting close to the edge of the mighty Fraser River, Canada’s Grand Canyon. Feel the intense focus during target shooting or a refreshing ride on a mountain bike through the boreal forests – your perfect adventure awaits.

ARCHERY
Archery is said to have spread to the Americas around 6000 BC from Alaska. Passed down from generation to generation, being able to handle a bow and arrow is a time-honoured tradition.

It requires an inner stillness during high-adrenaline situations and an intense focus coupled with your body as the driving force. We can help you reconnect with this thrilling sport and artform.

Our Archery Adventure features recurve bows and instruction by an expert guide who will happily assist you based on your skill level and experience. You’ll be surprised how many muscles you’ll use – and you’ll get a chance to relax them again during a yoga class or spa treatment.

BIKING
Our iconic location at the convergence of four geographic regions is a mecca for mountain bike tours. Ride through the forests, across the pastures, and along gentle mountain ridges. Listen to the sounds of the forest, inhale the fresh mountain air, and catch a glimpse of a golden eagle.

Whether you’re a beginner or have more experience, our tours offer a way to experience nature up close. Slow-paced guided rides on power-assist mountain bikes provide both a thrill and comfort. If you’re seeking the adrenalin rush of some downhill, you can always choose a solo adventure, we’ll provide the maps, the bikes and helmets. You provide the courage.

Note: Power-assist bikes are only available on our guided rides. Ask us about our favourite half-day tours, and we’ll create a custom itinerary for you.

FLY FISHING
If there is an activity that’s equally adventure and wellness, we’d have to say it’s fly fishing. Fly fishing at one of our ponds – only steps away from your accommodation – is both an exercise in mindfulness and focus.

The repetitive movement of casting the line is almost meditative, completely in the moment. Casting requires skill, and one of our experienced guides will make sure you know all the tricks.

Start with a lesson on dry land to practise technique and line control. Then head to the pond, make a perfect cast for a chance to hook a 10-pound rainbow trout. It’s catch and release but the thrill is undeniable. Rods and tackle are always available to you, and the best time to hook the biggest fish is at dawn and dusk.

Sacred Spires & Breathtaking VISTAS
For those who seek more, we have an extraordinary optional addition to our all-inclusive adventure and wellness packages. Imagine spectacular scenery, perhaps a picnic on top of the world in a pristine location, and memories to last a lifetime. Our Premium Helicopter Adventure is for the thrillseeker and dreamer in all of us.

Explore all four of the geographic regions that converge in Echo Valley from the air, including remote stops in places you can’t get to any other way, like the Sacred Spires of the Fraser Canyon and painted mountain ridges with views that will leave you breathless.

Our Premium Helicopter Adventures are private tours (at an additional cost) catered to your wishes – an unforgettable day in the wilderness. Ask us about it!

Half-day or Full-day HIKES
Our hiking adventures energize beginners and challenge the experienced. Half-day and full-day adventures, from mountain tops and valley bottoms to marshlands and wooded trails.

For a challenge, try the Mount Bowman Hike, it’s simply magical. This full-day adventure features a climb of approximately 2,700 feet to 7,460 feet. Experience wooded valley bottoms filled with wildflowers, rolling alpine, folded limestone ridges and castellated peaks.

Our guests also rave about our half-day and shorter hikes. The Marshlands Hike crosses through lake country, pristine creeks and waterways that are filled with Marsh Wrens, Yellow Headed Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes, and even beaver dams.

The Reinhart Hike, one of our favourites, takes you through wooded trails, wonderful vistas and a chance to explore the historic remains of the Reinhardt Shipping Company. Your curated hiking adventure awaits, with an itinerary created just for you. For self-guided hiking, we suggest our well-marked nature trails close to the ranch. We’ll provide the maps.

TARGET SHOOTING
Target shooting at our range is a solid adventure of about 1-2 hours, perfect to complete a morning or afternoon of exploring, or balance a soothing spa treatment. You’ll be able to shoot firearms of different calibres, under the guidance of a licensed and experienced guide.

But before you do it’s time for an introduction to shooting, because safety always comes first. Learning the correct handling procedures, shooting techniques and an overview of gun care. Then it’s time. Feel the rifle stock pushed against your shoulder, focus on the target and expertly pull the trigger. Bull’s eye! A truly thrilling experience.

The Real-Life Series of SURVIVOR
British Columbia’s wilderness is filled with breathtaking beauty, leaving all who visit in awe. But imagine being stranded in this wild place for a day or two? Getting lost in thousands of acres of untouched land can be unforgiving.

How does anyone survive the raw elements of nature on their own? Our special informative and creative half-day wilderness survival course – The Survival Spirit Experience, can show you how and answer any question you may have. It’s filled with a series of survival techniques that may come in handy one day, or night.

Our guides have extensive wilderness experience and an incredible story or two. But first up comes an introduction on how to safely navigate remote and wild places, even when you’re not lost. Encountering wild animals can be scary so we’ll share a few ground rules to help give you the confidence to keep safe.

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL COURSE
Then it’s off into the woods for this hands-on wilderness survival course. Finding a source of water is always a priority, even before scavenging for edibles. You’ll be surprised how many plants are edible in the wilds of British Columbia. Learn to identify the ones that are safe and those to stay away from.

Finding a suitable place to build a shelter is next, gathering the right materials, and then building it. Shelters can make the difference when it turns cool at night or it starts to rain. Then learn to build a fire with the use of natural kindling, It’s around the fire where you might hear a survival story or two from our guides.

The Survivor series is capped off with a lesson to find your way back home, using the sun for directions and looking for landmarks as a guide. Get into the spirit and enjoy the call of the wild with our Survival Spirit Experience!

Website: www.evranch.com

Rooms: 20

Price: from 184 EUR per night