Quesnel

Gold pan - The Quesnel Gold pan

Quesnel (pronounced kwinnel) ) is a city of about 12,000 people (2023) 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.

Quesnel Halal Travel Guide

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

Quesnel Visitor Centre - 703 Carson Ave ☎ +1 250-992-8716 +1-800-992-4922 Opening Hours: Late May-early September: daily 9AM Monday - 6PM; otherwise Tuesday - Saturday 9AM Monday - 4PM; closed statutory holidays - Free wireless; visitor computer; accommodation bookings; attractions, trails and adventure information.

History

Long before the arrival of prospectors during the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1862 and 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 kilometers (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 and 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.

Travel to Quesnel

Quesnel is on provincial Highway 97 320km north of Cache Creek and 110 kilometers 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.

There is a small airport which has daily Flights to and from Vancouver, operated by Central Mountain Air.

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

Get Around

BC Transit provides three local transit bus routes Monday to Saturday, adults $1.75, seniors $1.50, day passes $3.50/$3.00.

What to See

Quesnel & District Museum & Archives - 705 Carson Avenue on Cariboo Gold Rush Trail (Highway 97) in LeBourdais Park at the south entrance to Quesnel's downtown, across from the BC Rail Station ☎ +1 250-992-9580 Opening Hours: Early to late May and early September - late September: Tu–Sa 9:30AM Monday - 5PM; late May-early Sep; daily 9:30AM Monday - 5PM; October - early May: closed Adults $5, seniors (60+) $4, youth (6-18) $2, children (5 and under) free, family $10 - 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.

Quesnel Art Gallery - 500 North Star Road in the Arts and Recreation Centre ☎ +1 250-992-8255 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10AM Monday - 4PM - Volunteer-run gallery displays the work of local artists. Has a gift shop.

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.

Quesnel's Little People Painted Fire Hydrants - Fire hydrants turned into historical figures. For example, one is painted as a hairstylist 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.

Things to Do

Quesnel and District Arts & Recreation Centre 500 North Star Road ☎ +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.

Shopping in Quesnel

Halal Restaurants in Quesnel

Bliss The Ultimate Grill - 462B Anderson Drive ☎ +1 250-992-7066 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8AM Monday - 7PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 7PM - Burgers ($8-10), Indian dishes ($12-30), Pizzas (from $12). Freshly baked naan bread. Gluten-free options.

Carlos Place 2222 Maple Dr Unit 1680 ☎ +1 778-466-3474 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 8PM, Sunday 11AM Monday - 7PM - Seafood, fish and chips.

Quesnel Bakery 468 Reid Street ☎ +1 250-992-9604 Opening Hours: 6:30AM Monday - 6PM Bakery cafe serving soup & sandwiches. - Barkerville Brewing Co - 185 Davie Street ☎ +1-778-414-2739 + 1-855-922-7537 Opening Hours: Monday - West noon-8PM, Thursday Saturday noon-9PM, Friday 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 and cider. Accompanied children and well-behaved pets are welcome.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Billy Barker Casino Hotel - 308 McLean St. ☎ +1 250-992-5533 - From $106 . 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.

Caravan Motel - 214 Juniper Street From $85 - 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.

Airport Inn Motel and RV Park - 3101 Highway 97 North ☎ +1 250-992-5942 +1-855-567-5942 Rooms from $70, RVs $25-45, tent sites $20-25 - 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.

Telecommunications in Quesnel

Nearby

Barkerville

Barkerville - Barkerville ghost town A ghost town 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Quesnel on BC 26 and the Barkerville Highway. Established soon after Billy Barker first struck Gold at the location in 1861, this was once a boom town with more than 5000 people. By the turn of the century and the town was dying as the Gold rush was over.