The city of Quesnel is a small part of British Columbia in Canada. Quesnel is close to Williams Lake, Shiraoi, the city of Prince George, Japan, and Quebec. Additionally, Quesnel is home to the world’s biggest gold pan which is in dispute with Nome in Alaska. Every year, in winter, Quesnel is visited by thousands of sports enthusiasts, who arrive in this city to enjoy British Columbia’s annual sports competition. But it’s not just sports that make Quesnel a great place to visit. It has a plethora of beautiful lakes, amazing attractions, and astounding parks that are sure to appeal to many different kinds of travelers. For those looking for lodgings, there are also several hotels in Quesnel. With so many great attractions and reasons to visit, check out this list of things to do in Quesnel, Canada.
1. Ceal Tingley Park
Built on the confluence of the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers and filled with flower gardens and cottonwood trees, Ceal Tingley Park offers a soothing place for people to simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful landscape. The park also has a walking trail where visitors can freely traverse and enjoy not only the beautiful landscape but also the various restored structures in the area.
Before becoming a park, Ceal Tingley used to be a sawmilling site and, today, the park showcases a restored antique steam shovel that was once used by gold miners.
Ceal Tingley Park
Address: st 2k1, 160 Front St, Quesnel, BC V2J 2K1, Canada
Website: Ceal Tingley Park
Opening hours: Open 24 hours (daily)
2. Cariboo Escape
From its name, Cariboo Escape sounds like something only a hunter would enjoy but that’s not the case here. Quite the opposite, actually, since Cariboo Escape is a wilderness-themed escape room experience where players have one hour to solve puzzles, search for clues, and find the way out.
If you’re looking for a family bonding or team building experience, then this Quesnel activity won’t disappoint as you’ll need to work together and trust each other’s judgment to be able to escape.
Cariboo Escape
Address: 1271 BC-97 Unit 104, Quesnel, BC V2J 2Y3, Canada
Website: Cariboo Escape
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
3. Richbar Golf Course
Richbar Golf Course is a nine-hole executive golf course that boasts a set of challenges that emulate the ones you’ll find in an official championship course. Decorated with numerous native timber, landscape plantings, and a couple of 100-foot (30-meter) tall fir trees, the golf course makes it challenging to arc your swings and have the golf ball land where you want it.
The challenge increases as you go through each hole especially with three of them having a water source. At the end of the ninth hole, there is a food and beverage area waiting for you.
Richbar Golf Course
Address: 3028 Red Bluff Rd, Quesnel, BC V2J 6C6, Canada
Website: Richbar Golf Course
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4. Carib Theatres
Located in downtown Quesnel, Carib Theatres is a historic, two-screen theatre that has been showcasing various Hollywood films for years. If you’re in the mood to watch some good movies, then this Quesnel tourist attraction is the place to visit.
There is also the option to view the movies in 3D, albeit at an additional cost. The seats are comfortable, the screen is clear, and the food is good, so you won’t be disappointed if you choose to go watch a movie in this theatre.
Carib Theatres
Address: 367 Reid St, Quesnel, BC V2J 2C7, Canada
Website: Carib Theatres
Price: 8 - 12 USD
5. Quesnel & District Museum & Archives
You can discover plenty at Quesnel Museum, popular for Mandy, the Haunted Doll. For such a small town, this museum is unbelievable. Here you can browse through interactive video installations that narrate the stories of First Nations Elders, Chinese and Sikh temples of India. The museum also features remarkable photographs of C.S. Wing and C.D. Hoy from the twentieth century. Children can participate in a scavenger hunt while adults can enjoy rare Chinese artifacts, and Footprints in Stone, dedicated to First Nations culture. The extensive collections appeal to all ages, making Quesnel one of the top 10 community museums. The museum is much larger than it appears from the outside.
Quesnel & District Museum & Archives
Address: 703 Carson Ave, Quesnel, BC V2J 2B6, Canada
Website: Quesnel & District Museum & Archives
6. Barkerville Brewing Co.
Once upon a time, Barkerville was the largest city of Chicago and San Francisco. Barkerville Brewing Co. opened in 2014 as the first craft brewery of the British Columbia and represents Billy Barker’s historic gold rush town from the 18th-century. Barkerville offers a wide variety of local craft beers, a selection of light meals, warm ambience and spectacular scenic views. Above all, this brewery offers take out cans, bottles and Growlers.
Barkerville Brewing Co.
Address: 185 Davie St, Quesnel, BC V2J, Canada
Website: Barkerville Brewing Co.
7. Pinnacles Provincial Park
Pinnacles Provincial Park is built on the pine forest, facing Baker Creek. A short drive and a short walk along the Fraser River and nature trails will lead you to previous volcanic activity and erosions. The park is easily accessible from Quesnel and visitors come here to enjoy the unique formation of the fragile Hoodoos, and a picturesque view of the city and Baker Creek. Also, this Quesnel attraction is open for sightseeing but does not allow camping or horseback riding. Pinnacles Provincial Park is situated at an hour drive from Quesnel.
Pinnacles Provincial Park
Address: Cariboo B, BC, Canada
Website: Pinnacles Provincial Park
8. Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park
Ten Mile Lake is a famous recreational destination for visitors and residents. It offers 3 sandy beaches, a large picnic area, boat launch, campsites, fishing, showers and flush toilets. Take the nature trail to the beaver pond, through the forest, and along an abandoned rail road. During winter, the trails get transformed into cross country ski trails.
Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park
Address: BC-97, Quesnel, BC, Canada
Website: Ten Mile Lake Provincial Park
9. Quesnel's Historic Fraser River Foot Bridge
The foot bridge of Quesnel is the longest in North America, with a unique gigantic design. This beautiful bridge is situated above Fraser River, which flows high because of the snow melt. The foot bridge is also the best place in Quesnel to enjoy spectacular sunsets. The bridge is beautifully preserved with signage and pictures that tell of its long history. For years, canoeing was the only way to cross the river, thereafter, the government decided to finance the operations.
Quesnel's Historic Fraser River Foot Bridge
Address: Front Street, Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
10. Quesnel Farmers' Market
The Quesnel Farmers’ Market is organized by “Harvest,” a group of agricultural producers, and it benefits both the consumers and the producers. The market is an inexpensive setup for farmers to directly sell to the consumers. The market offers a convenient place for consumers to buy fresh, local products of good quality at economical rates. The Farmers’ Market is organized every Saturday from 8:30 am to 1 pm, from May until October. The market is located in downtown Quesnel, by the corner of Kinchant Street and Carson Avenue on the Helen Dixon Centre grounds.
Quesnel Farmers' Market
Address: 500 North Star Rd, Quesnel, Canada
Website: Quesnel Farmers’ Market
11. LeBourdais Park
If you’re wondering what to do in Quesnel, check out LeBourdais Park. It is the city’s main park featuring a children’s playground, swings, picnic tables, ball field, band stand, water spray park and a baseball diamond league. Furthermore, LeBourdais Park houses the Quesnel Museum, Visitor Information Centre, Heritage Rose Garden, and the Billy Barker days society building. This park is named after Louis LeBourdais who curated its concept. The park is located downtown and is an amazing green space with a well-maintained flower garden.
LeBourdais Park
Address: Carson Avenue, Quesnel, British Columbia V2J 2B6, Canada
Website: LeBourdais Park
12. Quesnel Art Gallery
The Quesnel Art Gallery is an interactive project led by local artists who organize various workshops. The Art Gallery began as the arts society in the 19th-century and has promoted local artists ever since. The gallery and shop are staffed by supporters and profits generated are donated towards the arts in Quesnel. The Art Gallery is open to the public and is situated within the Quesnel Recreation Centre. The gift shop in the gallery features artwork for sale by Canadian and Quesnel artists.
Quesnel Art Gallery
Address: 500 North Star Rd, Quesnel, BC V2J 5P6, Canada
Website: Quesnel Art Gallery
Tour the artistic Quesnel in Canada
In Quesnel, take the overnight Rocky Mountaineer train to experience Canada’s landscape wonders. Thereafter, visit the Barkerville, Quesnel Wells and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, popular for canoeing in the mountains of Cariboo. In addition to the above-listed places, you can explore the wonderful restaurants in the vicinity to relish authentic Canadian flavors.