First blazed in 1849 to connect Fort Kamloops with Fort Hope, the road was used by Hudson Bay Company to run between the two outposts. In the 1970s, the path was re-designated a recreation area and the legend of the Whipsaw Trail overland route was born.
Although the trail is only 68 miles and can be done in 12 hours, if you really put the hammer down, the best way to tackle Whipsaw is at a leisurely pace. There are mud bogs, water crossings, steep hill climbs, and rock walls along the trail. Many overlanders will repeat obstacles multiple times in order to get the most thrills out of their voyage. In doing this, you can add a lot of time to the trip. Two days is a reasonable time allotment for Whipsaw.
With a skilled driver behind the wheel, a nearly stock Wrangler can easily handle most anything the Whipsaw has to offer. However, it’s wise to carry a spare tire, extra fuel, and recovery gear. Remember, cutting-edge vehicle engineering can only go so far. At some point, your driving skill will have to take charge.
