Discover the best forest campgrounds near Quesnel, British Columbia

Quesnel is in the heart of BC's Cariboo region, an area known for its gold-mining past, rolling ranges, and huge tracts of untouched wilderness. There are four lakes within 20 kilometers of this small city (which was built along the banks of the converging Fraser and Quesnel rivers during the mid-1800s gold rush) and thousands more beyond that. Outdoor pursuits are endless on the 53rd Parallel North, be it horse riding in the backwoods, strolling along the peaceful Riverfront Trail system in town, or picking up a pan and hoping for your own personal gold strike.

Where to go

Barkerville

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to go back in time, Barkerville has the answer. Triggered by Billy Barker’s gold strike on Williams Creek, this amazingly preserved boomtown became the epicentre of the Cariboo gold rush: it was once the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco. Peek inside more than 125 heritage buildings with museum displays and live presentations, or talk to one of the onsite historical interpreters.

Wells

Five minutes before you arrive at Barkerville, make a pit stop (or find a pretty campsite) in Wells. While Barkerville is a time capsule, Wells is a living town, with its brightly painted historic buildings, small-but-lively artistic community, cute cafes and diners, and rows of little shops and galleries. The Wells Museum dives into the area’s second gold rush in the 1930s, when droves of men looking for work came to Wells, changing the area forever.

Bowron Lake Provincial Park

Put your canoeing skills to the test along the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit, a 116-km chain of lakes, rivers, waterways and connecting portages. This spectacular slice of wilderness butts up against the western slopes of Cariboo Mountain Range, where you can choose a route that takes two days or 10. If your canoeing skills are up to snuff, there’s also a drive-in camping option. No matter which option you take, the scenery remains stunningly beautiful.

When to go

Thanks to warm air flowing off the Pacific and inland to the Cariboo region, Quesnel’s climate is quite mild compared to the rest of Canada. It gets cool at night, even in the summer when daytime temperatures average above 24°C. May through to September is the prime time to enjoy those extra-long summer days outside. If winter camping is what you’re looking for, aim for March to get the snow but not the deep chill.

Know before you go

Quesnel is on the main route to the Yukon, located equidistant from Williams Lake to the south and Prince George to the north, on Highway 97.
It’s an 8-hour drive from Vancouver to Quesnel, making it the ideal spot to pull over and rest after a full day's drive. Quesnel also has a regional airport (as does Williams Lake).
While the summer months bring the balmy weather, they also bring out the bugs—be sure to pack appropriate insect repellent and long-sleeved clothes.
This is a remote part of BC, with long stretches of windy road without many services. Be prepared.