The Quesnel gold pan

Quesnel (pronounced kwinnel) is a city of about 12,000 people (2016) in the Cariboo region of British Columbia on the bank of the Fraser River. The town got its start via its location on the Cariboo Wagon Road which transported thousands of prospectors seeking their fortunes during the Cariboo Gold Rush. Today the city is supported by the forestry industry.

Understand

Quesnel is at the confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers.

• Quesnel Visitor Centre, 703 Carson Ave, ☏ +1 250-992-8716, toll-free: +1-800-992-4922, qvisitor@quesnelbc.com. Late May-early Sep: daily 9AM-6PM; otherwise Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM; closed statutory holidays. Free wireless; visitor computer; accommodation bookings; attractions, trails and adventure information. (updated Jun 2018)

History

Long before the arrival of prospectors during the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1862, the Southern Carrier (Dakelh) people lived off the land around Quesnel, occupying the area from the Bowron Lakes in the east to the upper Blackwater and Dean Rivers in the west. The Southern Carrier Nation were known among themselves as ‘Uda Ukelh’, meaning ‘people who travel by boat on water early in the morning’. The name "Quesnel" is derived from Jules Maurice Quesnel, who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean. Quesnel came to be called 'Quesnellemouth' to distinguish it from 'Quesnel Forks', 97 km (60 mi) up river. In 1870 it had been shortened to Quesnelle and by 1900 it was spelled the way it is now.

Quesnel is along the gold mining trail known as the Cariboo Wagon Road and was the commercial centre of the Cariboo Gold Rush. It also marks one end of the Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail. Because of its location on the Fraser River it was also an important landing for sternwheelers during 1862 until 1886 and then from 1909 until 1921. The last sternwheeler on the upper Fraser was Quesnel's own namesake craft, and home town product, the Quesnel.

Climate

Quesnel's humid continental climate is very mild by Canadian standards, being subject to marine airflows from the Pacific. Overnight lows are still cool even in summer, but daytime temperatures average above 24 °C (75 °F) in that season.

Get in

By car

Quesnel is on provincial Highway 97 320 km north of Cache Creek and 110 km south of Prince George.

It is nearly equidistant between the cities of Prince George and Williams Lake, on the main route to northern British Columbia and Yukon.

By bus

• Adventure Charters, ☏ +1 250-305-2251. 4 buses a week from Prince George ($35-45, 1 hr 37 min) and Williams Lake ($35-45, 1 hr 40 min). (updated Nov 2019)

By plane

• 1 Quesnel Airport (YQZ  ^IATA). Small airport which has daily flights to and from Vancouver, operated by Central Mountain Air. (updated Nov 2019)

By train

The Rocky Mountaineer train travels through and stops overnight in Quesnel.

Get around

BC Transit provides three local transit bus routes M-Sa, adults $1.75, seniors $1.50, day passes $3.50/$3.00.

See

• Quesnel & District Museum & Archives, 705 Carson Ave (on Cariboo Gold Rush Trail (Highway 97) in LeBourdais Park at the south entrance to Quesnel's city centre, across from the BC Rail Station), ☏ +1 250-992-9580. Early to late May and early Sep-late Sep: Tu–Sa 9:30AM-5PM; late May-early Sep; daily 9:30AM-5PM; Oct-early May: closed. Listen to the stories of Chinese and First Nations Elders or visit a Sikh temple through interactive video installations. Meet the residents of early twentieth century Quesnel through the remarkable photographs. Dress up in the children's activity centre or participate in a scavenger hunt. Favourite exhibits include the Titanic, Footprints in Stone, dedicated to local First Nations culture, and vignettes recreating Quesnel's pioneer homes and businesses. From rare Chinese artifacts used during the gold rush era, to ephemera that will evoke childhood memories. Adults $5, seniors (60+) $4, youth (6-18) $2, children (5 and under) free, family $10. (updated Jun 2018)
• Quesnel Art Gallery, 500 North Star Rd (in the Arts and Recreation Centre), ☏ +1 250-992-8255. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Volunteer-run gallery displays the work of local artists. Has a gift shop. (updated Jun 2018)
• Quesnel's Historic Fraser River Foot Bridge, Front Street. The footbridge is the centrepiece of the Riverfront Trail system and recognized as the longest wood truss walking bridge in the world. (updated Jun 2018)

Painted fire hydrant

• Quesnel's Little People Painted Fire Hydrants. Fire hydrants turned into historical figures. For example, one is painted as a hairdresser for the first female barber in Quesnel when the local barber left to serve his country during the war. There is a carpenter, paperboy, and a hockey player. Maps are available. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

• Quesnel and District Arts & Recreation Centre, 500 North Star Rd, ☏ +1 250-992-8200. Arts centre with performing and visual arts programs and exhibits. The Quesnel Art Gallery exhibits the work of regional artists. Pottery room, dance studios, aquatic centre and pool. 

Eat

• Bliss The Ultimate Grill, 462B Anderson Drive, ☏ +1 250-992-7066. M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-7PM. Burgers ($8-10), Indian dishes ($12-30), pizzas (from $12). Freshly baked naan bread. Gluten-free options. (updated Jun 2018)
• Carlos Place, 2222 Maple Dr Unit 1680, ☏ +1 778-466-3474. M-Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM-7PM. Seafood, fish and chips. (updated Jun 2018)
• Quesnel Bakery, 468 Reid St, ☏ +1 250-992-9604. 6:30AM-6PM. Bakery cafe serving soup & sandwiches. (updated Jun 2018)

Drink

• Barkerville Brewing Co, 185 Davie Street, ☏ +1-778-414-2739, toll-free: +1-855-922-7537, info@barkervillebeer.com. M-W noon-8PM, Th Sa noon-9PM, F noon-11PM. The tasting room is fully licensed and serves locally-sourced artisanal pizza ($15) and other snacks ($2-14) to go with a rotating assortment of their brews. They also serve wine and cider. Accompanied children and well-behaved pets are welcome. (updated Jun 2018)

Sleep

• Billy Barker Casino Hotel, 308 McLean St., ☏ +1 250-992-5533. Modeled after the paddlewheelers that plied the Fraser River during the gold rush of the late 1800s. Casino, poker room, restaurant. Suites with Jacuzzi tub or four-poster bed available. From $106. (updated Jun 2018)
• Caravan Motel, 214 Juniper St. A non-smoking motel whose large, bright rooms all have two Queen size beds, coffee maker, fridge, microwave, flat screen TV, air-conditioner and heater. Free Wi-Fi and 64 TV channels (including two in French) are provided. Kitchenette rooms and pet-friendly rooms available. Free shuttle to the airport is available at request. From $85. (updated Jun 2018)
• Airport Inn Motel and RV Park, 3101 Hwy 97 N, ☏ +1 250-992-5942, toll-free: +1-855-567-5942, airportinn@shaw.ca. Free wireless internet, playground, walking trail, laundry, 20 rooms on ground floor, 50 pull-through sites, free continental breakfast for rooms, free Wi-fi, free airport shuttle. Rooms from $70, RVs $25-45, tent sites $20-25. (updated Jun 2018)

Go next

Routes through Quesnel

Dawson Creek ← Prince George ←	N  S	→ Williams Lake → Kamloops
END ←	W  E	→ Wells-Barkerville → END