Quesnel offers endless opportunity for natural and cultural adventures.
Pristine wilderness provides an amazing setting for hiking and camping. Inviting city gardens transform urban areas into perfect picnic spots, and exciting agricultural tours let visitors see and taste the very freshest local farmers have to offer.
From the World's Longest Wooden Truss Footbridge, view the mighty Fraser River, once a main thoroughfare for fevered gold rush prospectors, or visit Pinnacles Provincial Park's ancient hoodoos, glacially formed geological wonders.
Quesnel's convenient location – easily accessible by car, rail, public transportation, or air – serves a perfect home base for exploring the beautiful Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.
Culture, History & Heritage
The Quesnel & District Museum, located beside the Visitor Centre, features a new First Nations exhibit and an extensive collection of Chinese artifacts. Explore the city following the museum's self-guided tour of historic downtown. Highlights include Heritage Corner, where the original 1862 Hudson Bay Company building is located.
The Heritage Rose Garden, adjacent to the Visitor Centre, is home to more than 200 Floribunda and Tea Roses. Quesnel Antique Machinery Park, on Highway 97 a few miles south of Quesnel, provides a history of forestry, mining and agriculture of the area. The park has a wonderful collection of historic equipment that children can climb and explore. View local art at the Quesnel Artrium on North Star Road, or participate in art classes with nationally recognized artists.
Summer Activities
In summer, visit an outdoor heritage museum and enjoy a wagon ride, pet a llama or alpaca, enjoy a nature walk or rose garden tour, stock up on fresh produce at the local farmers' market or check out produce that is judged at the Quesnel Agriculture Exhibition and Fair.
Golfing in Quesnel gets off to an early start at Richbar Nursery Golf & Gardens' 9-hole executive course and Quesnel Golf Course's 18-hole course with driving range. Quesnel also has one of the best carting tracks in North America, with regular cart-races taking place during the summer. Festivals and events, such as Billy Barker Days, the Prospectors' Club Show & Shine, rodeos and logger sports are also held each summer.
Water Activities
Looking for outdoor adventure on the water? There are 25 lakes and rivers with great fly-fishing opportunities all less than an hour and a half's drive from Quesnel, including Tzenzaicut Lake: Tzenzaicut means "fish" in Carrier language. There are also many flatwater and whitewater rafting opportunities in the area. The world famous Bowron Lakes canoe circuit is one hour east of Quesnel on Highway 26. Find whitewater prospects on the Blackwater River and the thundering Quesnel River Canyon, which is rated a level six for kayaking. Swimming and waterskiing is plentiful in various municipal and regional lakes and rivers.
Winter Activities
The annual Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run from Quesnel to Wells takes place each January. The mail run is officially sanctioned by Canada Post, and mushers are sworn in as letter carriers to deliver real mail along the route. International dog sled teams participate in this event, joined by cross-country skiers.
Snowmobiling is a great family activity, with local clubs providing grooming services, guides, and maps to local trails. Rent snowshoes and enjoy a day among snow-laden trees and winter songbirds. Cross-country ski at Hallis Lake, one of the best nordic ski areas in Western Canada, where skiers can enjoy trails suited to all skill levels. This same area is great for walking, hiking, and biking in the spring and summer.
Driving Routes
Explore Quesnel's summer and winter outdoor activities, culture and heritage, and many annual events along any of the scenic driving routes through Quesnel.
For more information and details on things to do in Quesnel, check out the Quesnel Visitor Centre.
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