Stories of the Gold Rush

Williams Lake is situated on traditional territory of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) nation. Traditionally known as Columneetza, the meeting place, The T’exelcemc (Williams Lake First Nation people) have history here that extends over 6500 years ago. You will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of lakes and rivers, beautiful neighborhoods, great restaurants and a rich cultural history.
Once you’ve settled into your Wheelchair-accessible guest room, you might want to visit The Museum of the Cariboo Chicoltin, located at the Tourism Discovery Centre—a massive, log home-style Visitor Information Centre. The museum showcases the diverse history of the Cariboo Chilcotin region and is the only museum in BC that focuses on ranching, rodeos, and cowboys.

Spend the morning on Scout Island; the place for bird watching. In spring and fall, hundreds of species of migratory birds pass by the area’s marshland and lake. The nature house and some of the trails are wheelchair accessible but call-in advance for current trail conditions.
The Scout Island Nature House is alive with people and other animals and plants. The staff will help you get up close to aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, snakes, salamanders; or you can watch a bird in the marsh through the scope. At the right time of year, you can see swallows feeding their young on the web cam or watch the hummingbirds up close at the feeders. Staff will be pleased to answer questions and suggest which trails to walk.
When you’re ready for lunch, detour east to the small town of Horsefly, and you’ll find a community dedicated to accessibility. All Horsefly businesses are accessible, as are amenities such as the local campground, fishing dock, and the Horsefly River Spawning Channel Trail.

Explore the history of the Cariboo Gold Rush that unfolded in 1859. Here, the communities of Quesnelle Forks, Cedar City, Keithley Creek, and Likely sprung to life overnight.
First, stop at Big Lake Ranch, located on the shore of Big Lake. This was once a major stop for miners, and some buildings from the ranch are still standing. Make your way along the 500-m (1,640-ft) Big Lake Community Hall Low Mobility Trail, a packed gravel surface that loops from the Community Hall through the forest along the lakeshore and back.
The next stop is Gavin Lake Forest Education Centre, where the 305-m (1,000 ft) Gavin Lake Low Mobility Trail is adjacent to the Gavin Lake Forest Education Centre. Boardwalks cross over swampy areas of the lake and the forest, and two accessible bridges offer viewing platforms. The Forest Education Centre has accessible washrooms.

You can continue your explorations today with a stop at Cedar Point Provincial Park, where old-growth forest and Quesnel Lake—famed as the deepest inland fjord lake in the world—draw frequent visitors, as does the Cedar City Museum, which highlights the gold rush boom towns of Quesnelle Forks, Cedar City, and Keithley Creek. This area was a key stopover point for local Indigenous peoples and later a rendezvous spot for fur trappers and traders until gold was discovered in 1858. There are low-mobility trails here, and the museum and washroom beside the museum are accessible.
Nearby Quesnelle Forks, set at the confluence of the Quesnel and Cariboo rivers, was established in 1860, serving as a major supply hub for gold prospectors until the Cariboo Waggon Road was built in 1865. It fell into despair, but a small group of Chinese miners and merchants remained. More Chinese railway labourers arrived after the completion of Canadian Pacific Railway, and, at one time, the town had the third-largest Chinese population after Nanaimo and Victoria, before being abandoned completely in the 1950s.

Today you will relocate to your accessible guest room in Quesnel. The drive is a little over an hour, but there are many things to do and see along the way so make a day of it and savor every moment in this breathtaking beauty.
Head north from Williams Lake to Soda Creek, home of the Xat’sull First Nation. In 1909, Soda Creek played an important role in the construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway that transported passengers from Ashcroft to Fort George (now Prince George). Indigenous land was seized by European settlers (backed by the colonial government), and the local Indigenous community was relocated onto a small patch of reserve land between the highway and the Fraser River.
Today, the Xat’sull Nation operates the Xat’sull Heritage Village, which showcases the history of the Secwepemc Nation and their traditional way of life. Take a tour with a cultural guide to view the teepees and winter homes, or pit houses (also known as kikule houses), drying/tanning racks, a lean-to, a sweat house, and a summer hut.

Today’s journey has you heading out of Quesnel heading north, then you will turn right onto Barkerville Highway (Highway 26)—a scenic road where you’re likely to spot wildlife.
Continue east to Barkerville Historic Town, established in 1862. There are more than 125 heritage buildings on site, and miners, madams, and Chinese families (all local actors dressed in period costumes) go about their day in a town abuzz with business and drama. The St. Saviour’s Anglican Church at Barkerville Town is one of the oldest in BC and there is still a daily service.
Enjoy live performances, meals at historic restaurants, and more. The historic town is mostly wheelchair accessible, except for a couple of places where visitors may need to climb stairs to reach the second floor.

Head back to Williams Lake and Highway 97 to continue your journey