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AREA DATA:
This region encompasses the
corridor from Quesnel to Prince George, east to
the Alberta border. This area is about 665 to
788 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, and is
about a six to seven hour drive by car. While
Vanderhoof, just west of Prince George is
usually considered part of this area, it will be
the focus of an upcoming newsletter. |
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This area includes British
Columbia’s interior plateaus, with
spruce pine and birch forests dominating
the highlands and hills. Further convergence of the Nechako and
Fraser rivers tumble through the steep
cutbacks of the Nechako valley around
Prince George’s deep spruce forests.
Towards the B.C.-Alberta border, lush
cedar and hemlock forests fill the
landscape. Finally, the Cariboo
Mountains, with their snow-capped
mountaintops, tower over this region. |
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The climate in this region is
normally moderate and dry, although
snowfall increases in the northern
sections.
Temperatures can range from -16.5 degrees
Celsius in the winter to 20 degrees in the
summertime. While you will get a good snowfall
during the unpredictable winters, sunshine hours
are plentiful here, with Quesnel boasting over
2000 hours of sunshine per year.
British Columbia’s Northern Interior
is home to many animals. The lush forests of
this region provide a home to grizzly and black
bears, caribou, moose, elk, mountain goats, sheep, wolves and deer. This is a
bird-watchers paradise, as many species of birds
either pass through this area, or call it home.
Horseshoe Lake near McBride plays host to over
175 different species alone Species found in
this area include the pelican, great blue heron,
bald eagle, sandhill crane, and short eared owl. |
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ACCESS:
Access to this area is by paved highway. You can
access this area by taking Highway 97 from Cache
Creek. Highway 97 is this region’s major
lifeline, and most major communities are located
along it. Barkerville and Wells is located on
Highway 26, accessed from Quesnel. McBride is
located along Highway 16, and is accessed by
driving east from Prince George.
Distance between Vancouver and the
major cities are:
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Quesnel: 665 km
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Wells: 739 km
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Barkerville: 747 km
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Prince George: 788 km
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McBride: 756 km
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Air Service:
There are airports at Quesnel and Prince
George. Quesnel is serviced by Air Canada
and WestJet. The Prince George airport was
recently upgraded, with a new International
Customs area, which opened in December 2005.
Regular air service is provided by Air
Canada’s Jazz Airlines, Coastal Mountain
Air, and WestJet to Vancouver and other
points in British Columbia, western Canada,
and the world. |
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Why not travel by rail? |
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Rail Service:
If you have the
time, why not experience the area by rail?
You can see the amazing scenery without
having to concentrate on your driving. Rail
service is offered by Via Rail, which offers
regular service to Prince George. Rocky
Mountaineer Rail Tours stops in Quesnel on
their Jasper route. |
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MAJOR CITIES
This area is rapidly becoming a
red-hot market in British Columbia, with
ranching, mining, and logging gradually
regaining the ground lost in the previous
decade. This area is expected to grow with the
influx of transportation from Prince Rupert due
to planned upgrades to their port system. The Peace River region’s recent increase of coal
mining opportunities and natural gas
exploration will also cause this area's economy
to grow. Tourism is also expected to
maintain its important place in this region’s
economy.
The B.C. Real Estate Association reported that
the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board, with Prince
George at its centre, saw sales values rise 30
per cent higher than in 2004.
Major centers in the area include: |
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Prince George
This city is British Columbia’s northern
capital, and our third largest city. With
76.008 people, and access to all federal and
provincial government services, state of the art cultural and
recreational opportunities, and located at the
junction for the two major northern highways,
Prince George is one of the hottest areas in the
province for real estate and economic growth.
One sign of this is the creation of UNBC,
British Columbia's newest university. With a
state of the art medical school and some of the
best programs in the resource industries, Prince
George has positioned itself to play a key role
in the ongoing revitalization of Northern
British Columbia,
Recreation
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There are several golf
courses located in Prince George, including
Abderdeen Glen Golf Club, Aspen Grove Golf
Course, and Prince George Golf & Curling
Club. The Par for the Course Golf Centre
offers an indoor driving range with CPGA
golfing pros and 5 golfing simulators for an
indoor golf experience.
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With over 1600 lakes
and streams within an hour of Prince George,
you’ll have your pick of the many
opportunities to land the big one. Fish
found in these waters include different
species of trout, whitefish, Kokanee, and
Burbot.
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Two different ski
hills offers some of the best skiing and
snowboarding in the province. Tabor Mountain
Ski Resort offers 800 ft and 240 m vertical
trails just 15 minutes east of Prince
George. Purden Ski Village, located between
Prince George and McBride, includes over
1200 vertical feet of dry powder for skiers
and snowboarders alike.
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Golfing in Prince George |
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Quesnel:
This city of 10,044 is the service hub to the
North Cariboo, supporting the nearby ranches and
smaller towns in the area. Providing all
services to the area, Quesnel provides an urban
lifestyle in a traditional rural setting.
Recreation:
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Quesnel offers three golf courses to
challenge the golf pro, Dragon Lake Golf
Course, Quesnel Golf Course, and
Richbar Nursery & Gardens.
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There are literally thousands of fishing
spots found in the Quesnel area. Try your
luck against the monster size rainbow trout
in Dragon Lake, or head west to their source
in the Blackwater River, famous for its fly
fishing. Salmon runs in the Quesnel and
Cariboo Rivers are also very productive.
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Cross Country Skiers will appreciate the
kilometers of maintained track found at
Hallis Lake, which double as popular hiking
and mountain biking trails in the
summertime.
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As a nod to the area’s gold rush history,
the Billy Barker Casino Hotel offers you the
opportunity to test your gaming skills, as
well as your luck.
Wells:
This
small community of 235 is the gateway to the
nearby provincial park systems and the popular
historic tourist town of Barkerville. This
community offers choice recreational
opportunities, while maintaining a link to the
past.
Recreation:
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Nearby Barkerville provides tourists a
chance to step back in time to the wild
pioneer days of the area. A painstakingly
restored heritage site, Barkerville offers
you a chance to explore an authentic town
from the 1800’s with shops, entertainment,
and reenactments of past events found around
every corner.
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Wells is the nearest community to Bowron
Lake Provincial Park, protecting nine major
lakes and their connecting waterways. Noted
as one of the most beautiful canoing trips
in North America, the circuit of the lakes
will take you five to seven days to
complete. World class fishing and camping
opportunities are also located in this park.
While this area is closed for hunting, avid
wildlife watchers may catch glimpses of
moose, grizzly bears, mountain goat ,and
deer.
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The soft powder in the northern Cariboo area
makes this a great area for snowmobiling and
cross-country skiing. Wells is known mainly
for its snowmobiling opportunities, with
several groomed snowmobiling corridors
maintained by the local snowmobiling club in
the area. There are some fees involved, so
check before you go.
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Barkerville |
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McBride:
One of the last stops before the Albertan
border, this village of 711 people supports the
even tinier communities along the Yellowhead
Highway, and offers all the tourist services to
this remote section of British Columbia.
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Fishing spots can be found along the rivers
in this area. Try your rod against the
salmon run in Beaver River, Fraser River and
the other rivers and streams found in this
area.
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Hikers of all levels will appreciate the
over 150 kilometres of maintained trails
found throughout the Robson Valley. From
lesurily strolls to challenging day hikes to
multi-day heli-hikes, there is something for
everyone.
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Nearby Kakwa Provincial Recreational Area
offers backwoods camping and hiking through
old guide trails. It is recommended that
only experienced campers attempt these
trails, or to find a guiding outfit in
McBride. Wildlife lovers will want to watch
for grizzly and black bear, as well as
caribou and moose.
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Robson Valley is internationally recognized
as having some of the best heli-skiing in
the world. The winters also bring
opportunities for snowmobiling and cross
country skiing at the trails at Belle and
Lucille Mountains.
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Bowron Provincial Park |
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PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL PARKS
There are no federal parks located
in this area. There are several provincial
parks, some large, some small. Very few parks
are open to camping in this region, but are
meant to protect the abundance of wildlife found
in this area.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sports & the Arts maintain recreational
camping sites in this area,
Explore Prince George & Area- a section of the
wild west in our beautiful BC. |
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For More Information:
BC Parks- Prince George & Area
City of
Prince George
Tourism Prince George
City of Quesnel
North
Cariboo Tourism Information
Wells-Barkerville Snowmobile Club
Village of McBride
Forest Recreation Site Locator
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