North Cariboo Chilcotin British Columbia
Welcome to the North Cariboo Chilcotin...Pure...Gold!
Named after the woodland caribou that once populated the area in abundance, the Cariboo-Chilcotin was the first region of the interior north to be settled by Europeans.
In fact, at one point, this area, delineated by the forks of the Quesnel River and the Cariboo Mountains, was a thriving centre and an important part of British Columbia's colonialism. Today, the famous Gold Rush that breathed life into the region is long over. The area is under-populated and, for the most part, wild - which gives it an untamed charm you won't find anywhere else in the province.
The North Cariboo-Chilcotin provides the alluring combination of historical charm, wild-west atmosphere and endless recreational possibilities. Quesnel, the Gateway to the North Cariboo-Chilcotin, is a centre for excellent fly fishing as well as many other water sports including swimming, river-rafting and canoeing. But by far the most exhilarating way to enjoy the waters of this region are by jet boat. Depending upon the season, different rivers provide different experiences all year round. Guides will take you roaring across the water, providing a unique perspective of local wildlife, Gold Rush-era relics and above all else, the towering Hoodoo Formations - 12 million year-old monoliths that dot the landscape. Other activities available in the area include biking, golfing, horseback riding and even downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the long winter months. For the avid hiker, Pinnacles Provincial Park offers astonishing panoramic views just moments from town. Like your vacations a tad more educational? Quesnel is home to one of the top ten community museums in the entire province as well as numerous heritage buildings and an Antique Machine Park. The shopping doesn't suffer here either, with 2 malls and plenty of shops. But by far the visual highlight of this town is the Billy Barker Casino Hotel with its Mississippi paddlewheel boat exterior.
While you're here, why not sample the bounty of the farms and ranches north of McLeese Lake? The Quesnel Old Time Farmers Market is an outdoor produce extravaganza that runs Saturdays from May to October and includes all the requisite fruits and veggies as well as herbs, fruit preserves, baking, crafts and even live-entertainment.
However, it's not Quesnel with its casino, shopping and museum that draw the largest crowds to the Cariboo-Chilcotin. It's the town of Barkerville. Once the epicenter of the biggest Gold Rush in history, this British Columbia landmark is now a museum town. Not because it has museums; because it is a museum. Everything here is accurately 1800's, right down to the actors who, staying in role and costume, make this the most surreal time-travel trip you'll ever take. Whether you're meandering along the roughsawn boardwalks, taking a quiet moment in St. Saviour's Church, watching the blacksmith at work, riding in a stagecoach or panning for gold yourself, this is one family experience not to be missed!
An ideal place to begin your trip back in time is at the historic location of Cottonwood House, a nineteenth century roadhouse situated on the old Cariboo Waggon Road. Pristinely preserved, this living museum features an original root cellar and double barn and includes a café plus a gift shop so you can take away something to remember it by. Be sure to enjoy the original recipes that are immortalized on the menu of the general store's restaurant.
Looking for a one-on-one with the great outdoors? Visit nearby Bowron Lake Provincial Park in the heart of the Cariboo Mountains. Only 28 kilometers away, this 120 thousand hectare paradise is made up of mountains, forests and a system of 9 lakes all connected by waterways for a combined total distance of 116 kilometers. Now that's a canoe trip! Just give yourself 5-7 days if you plan on tackling it. If time doesn't permit, the west side of the chain from Bowron Lake to Spectacle Lake make for a fabulous couple of days, as does the excursion down to Lake Unna, home of the breathtaking 80-foot Cariboo River Falls.
But some visitors have different plans… Always dreamed of tracking deer, mountain goats, moose and even Grizzly bears through some of Canada's wildest terrain? Local outfitters and guides have everything you need to make this fantasy come true. Of course, many of you don't visit for the big game hunting. That's why the North Cariboo-Chilcotin has a calendar of fantastic festivals that provide fun for the whole family. June's Highland Games feature Scottish games, pipe bands and dancing as the area celebrates its local Scottish heritage. In August, the Quesnel Fall Fair brings logger sports, agriculture and 4H together while Billy Barker Days, one of the top 3 family festivals in BC, showcases music, dancing, carnival rides and the province's largest amateur rodeo.
Check out the North Cariboo-Chilcotin. It's solid gold!
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