Quesnel
Around Quesnel
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · British Columbia · 23k people
Quesnel
Locals say Cariboo · “Gold Pan City”, “Hub of the Cariboo”
Where the rivers meet the pines
GoldForest GreenRiver Blue
Welcome to Quesnel, where the Fraser River runs through the heart of the Cariboo. Whether you're here for the fishing, the gold rush history, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly community and wide-open spaces.
Clubs for Quesnel
No clubs for Quesnel yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Quesnel. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Quesnel. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Barkerville Historic Town Restored 1860s gold rush town.
- Pinnacles Provincial Park Hoodoo rock formations.
- Cottonwood House Historic Site 19th-century wayside inn.
- Quesnel Museum Local history and artifacts.
- Riverfront Trail Scenic walk along the Fraser River.
- Fraser River Major salmon river.
- Outdoors Salmon fishing on the Fraser
- Outdoors Gold panning at Barkerville
- With kids Visit Barkerville Historic Town
- With kids Walk the Riverfront Trail
- Evenings Catch a show at the Quesnel Arts Centre
- Evenings Live music at local pubs
- Locals love fishing spots
- Locals love wilderness lodges
Through the year
- Billy Barker Days July Heritage festival with parade, music, and gold panning.
- Quesnel Fall Fair September Agricultural fair with livestock and exhibits.
- Quesnel Winter Carnival February Winter games and ice sculptures.
- Quesnel Farmers Market May to October Local produce and crafts every weekend.
- Barkerville Gold Rush Days August Living history event at the historic town.
Cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Best time to be out is June through September. Best: June through September for warm, dry days.
Getaways
- Williams Lake Rodeo town with the Stampede.
- Prince George Largest city in northern BC.
- Kamloops Desert-like hills and the Thompson River.
Local flavour
Rooting for Vancouver Canucks (NHL), BC Lions (CFL), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Wild salmon Fresh from the Fraser River
- Bannock
- Huckleberries Wild berries
- Cariboo beef Locally raised cattle
Where people go
- Wilderness lodges Remote accommodations in the Cariboo
- Fishing camps For salmon and trout
- Historic gold rush towns Remnants of the 1800s
- Riverfront parks Along the Fraser and Quesnel rivers
Heritage and traditions
The Cariboo region around Quesnel is proud of its gold rush heritage, with Barkerville as a living museum, and its deep connection to the land—rivers, forests, and wildlife—that sustains a lifestyle of fishing, hunting, and outdoor adventure.
This time of year in Quesnel
- Salmon spawning Fall Watch salmon spawn in the rivers and creeks.
- Quesnel Fall Fair Fall A traditional agricultural fair with exhibits and rides.
Say it like a local: “The Quesnel” — the town
Festivals
- Quesnel Lake Fishing Derby July A summer tradition where anglers compete for the biggest catch on Quesnel Lake.
- Quesnel Rodeo June A classic Cariboo rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and a small-town fair.
- Barkerville's Christmas in the Park December Historic Barkerville transforms into a Victorian Christmas with carolers and horse-drawn sleighs.
- Quesnel Multicultural Festival August A celebration of the area's diverse communities with food, music, and dance.
Landmarks with a story
- Quesnel Forks A well-preserved gold rush town with original buildings and a cemetery.
- Nuxalk totem poles in Bella Coola The Nuxalk Nation's totem poles and cultural sites in the Bella Coola Valley.
- Old Cariboo Wagon Road The original wagon road from the gold rush era, now a scenic drive.
- Burns Lake and District Museum A local museum showcasing the history of the Lakes District.
- Robson Valley Museum in McBride A small museum dedicated to the pioneer and railway history of the Robson Valley.
Food traditions
- Bannock over a campfire A staple of Indigenous and pioneer cooking, often cooked on a stick or in a pan.
- Smoked salmon First Nations tradition of smoking Fraser River salmon, a local delicacy.
- Huckleberry pie Wild huckleberries are picked in the hills and made into pies and jam.
- Gold rush sourdough bread Prospectors kept sourdough starters alive in their packs, a tradition still enjoyed.
- Wild game stew Moose, deer, or cariboo meat slow-cooked with root vegetables, a hearty winter meal.
Music and arts
- Cariboo country and western music A strong tradition of country and western music, with local bands and dances.
- Indigenous drumming and singing First Nations drum groups perform at ceremonies and festivals.
- Barkerville historical theatre Live performances and re-enactments of gold rush life.
- Quesnel Art Gallery A community gallery showcasing local and regional artists.
A little history
- 1808 Simon Fraser explores the Fraser River, giving the region its European name.
- 1862 Gold discovered at Barkerville, sparking the Cariboo Gold Rush.
- 1865 Quesnel becomes a supply town for the gold fields.
- 1914 Grand Trunk Pacific Railway reaches McBride, opening the region.
- 1950s Forestry becomes a major industry, with sawmills and logging camps.
- Game day Hockey games
- Game day Curling bonspiels
- Outdoors Paddling the Bowron Lake canoe circuit
- Outdoors Snowmobiling the Cariboo trails
- With kids Ice skating at the local rink
- With kids Swimming at the aquatic centre
Locals speak with a relaxed Canadian accent, often using 'eh' and dropping the 'g' in gerunds. They refer to the region as 'the Cariboo', the town as 'the Quesnel', and the river as 'the Fraser'.
Only here
- Barkerville is the largest living museum in Western Canada.
- The Quesnel Winter Carnival is one of the oldest winter carnivals in BC.
- The Fraser River is the longest river in BC and flows through Quesnel.
- The confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel rivers is a prime fishing spot.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the winters: they're cold and snowy, but that's when the community comes alive with winter sports and festivals.
- Learn to pronounce 'Quesnel' as 'kweh-NEL'—it's a common mistake to say 'kweh-nel' with a silent 's'.
- Get outdoors: fishing, hiking, and camping are the heart of local life.
- Be bear aware: store food properly and carry bear spray when exploring the backcountry.
- Try local foods: fresh salmon, bannock, and huckleberry pie are musts.
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Nearby
Every areaQuesnel. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.