Likely is a small rural community in the Cariboo Region, nestled in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains. This area played a significant role in the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1859 when rough-edged boom towns like Quesnel Forks, Cedar City, and Keithley Creek had overnight populations in the thousands. The Cedar City Museum offers maps and information on day trips and attractions of the area. A helpful staff is ready and willing to offer advice during the peak season June to September.

This is a camping and day use area with beach, swimming, boat launch, dock, playground, bathrooms, sani-dump and baseball diamond. This scenic park is nestled in a tall stand of ancient cedar trees next to Quesnel Lake. The park offers a unique outdoor “mining museum” featuring mock shafts, adits and old machinery. In the 1850s, Cedar Point Park was a rendezvous point for the Hudson’s Bay Company fur brigade.

This two-and-a-half kilometer trail winds its way from the top of Mount Warren off the Winkley Creek Road and down through cedar and birch stands, coming out onto the LXCF “A” road. Along the first part of the trail you are awarded with a beautiful view of Quesnel Lake and then it descends into a lush forest of vegetation, unique to the area. Riders can go over or around several natural rock formations and five wooden stunt features built with dead dry standing cedar from the local forest. The rugged trail has a variety of terrain that can accommodate all skill levels.

Quesnel Lake is reported to be the deepest fiord lake in the world. Swim, camp, paddle, fish or just enjoy the view! The lake boasts a trophy fishing population of Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Dolly Varden, and Ling Cod. Be sure to study the fishing regulations for Quesnel Lake before you venture out. Mostly accessible by boat with a few campsites. 

This huge pit was formed by hydraulic mining between 1892 and 1942.  Visitors can take a side trip a little way down the hill to the right past the workshop.  Down the next road to the right, view the ditches and penstock where the water was directed down the hill to the monitors.  You can still see the remains of the ditches that brought the water to the mine through the forest.  Note: there is a handicapped accessible toilet near the parking lot.

Quesnel Forks was founded in 1860 and was a major supply center for the Cariboo Gold Rush. Between 1860 and 1862 it catered to 2,000 or more transient miners annually and a resident population of approximately 100. Today, visitors can explore the restored pioneer buildings and historic cemetery which restoration crews have cleared and secured and identified graves with headboards. The Chee Kung Tong house has also been stabilized with the assistance of local residents.

A side trip to the beautiful Cariboo River Falls is available 2 km’s past Kangaroo Creek Road at the 15 km marker. Parking and turn-around space at the ladders is very limited on this unmaintained road.  If you choose to walk, it is 2.2 km from the top.  In the Fall, Chinook and Sockeye salmon are jumping up the falls. Not suitable for large vehicles. Dangerous for small children and pets. Not suitable in very wet weather.

Keithley Creek was named after William R. Keithley, aka ‘Doc’, who came from the California gold fields in the 1860s. Veith and Borland set up a ranch and a town grew, supplying food and goods for the miners in the area. This side of the creek and bridge was the Chinese section of town. If you look to your right as you drive down the road, note the rocks piled by the Chinese miners.  The cemetery and library (smallest library in the Cariboo) are just ahead on the right, across the bridge.

Cariboo Lake is situated about 24 km (14.88 miles) north of Likely on the Keithley Creek Rd. A large lake with a mean depth of 18 meters (59 feet), it contains wild stock Rainbows, Lake Char, Kokanee and Dolly Varden. The word Lake is a misnomer for this body of water as it is actually a wide swollen part of the Cariboo River itself. Camping is available at Ladies Creek Rec Site above the eastern shore of the lake.

Short hiking trail that takes you to sub alpine areas South of Cariboo Lake. Heading north: from Keithley Creek Road turn right at the Barkerville sign, cross the Cariboo River and turn left onto the 8400 Road. Proceed 4.1 km on the 8400 Road to the C Road. Turn right and continue for 7.4 km to the trailhead. The road to the trailhead has grown in and may not be accessible by vehicle.

The Cameron Ridge hiking trail is breathtakingly beautiful. The trail embraces the wildlife-rich watershed of the Penfold Valley, with ancient cedar and spruce forests. The Cariboo Mountains Wilderness Coalition built this trail as part of their efforts to protect the area. The main hike is the 14 km Cameron Ridge Trail, which climbs along Cameron Ridge to the Cariboo Mountains Lookout. It is an easy hike through stunning sub-alpine meadows ringed by snow-capped peaks that lead to a stunning overlook of the north arm of Quesnel Lake. The trailhead is located about halfway (70 km) between Barkerville and the town of Likely.

Matthew River Falls has access from right behind one of the campsites near the parking lot. To view the waterfall, there is an unmarked trail that leads you toward the falls. The area is very steep and could prove fatal to young children, or non-experienced hikers if you approach too closely or in wet, dangerous conditions or are not wearing the proper footwear. Bears and cougars are also present in the park so be prepared for wildlife encounters.

At Ghost Lake you will find a small vehicle-accessible user maintained campground with five campsites, a parking lot, an information kiosk and a pit toilet. There is an unmarked trail that goes from the campground to the lake shore where you can carry a canoe or kayak and launch to by hand. Once boating in the lake you’ll find some incredible views of the Cariboo Mountains including some of sheer rock formations. With the correct fishing licence, Ghost Lake offers some excellent angling opportunities for Coho, Chinook and Sockeye Salmon plus Rainbow, Kokanee and Bull Trout.

Ghost Lake Falls is near the entrance to the campground just before the turnoff for the Cunningham-Matthew FSR while you go across a bridge on the Ghost Main. Be very cautious and do not approach closely. Bears and cougars are also present in the park so be prepared for wildlife encounters.

Comet Creek Falls is located at the 3156 marker. Food and lodging are not currently available but you can still view the stone yurts of the (closed) Comet Creek Resort on your way to the waterfall.

This linear park protects a large portion of the upper Cariboo River and surrounding wetlands, from Kimball Lake downstream to where the river enters Cariboo Lake. It is critical habitat for wildlife, especially moose and waterfowl. The waterfalls, old-growth and estuaries at this park can be accessed via canoe or power boat. The park provides opportunities for water-based recreation: canoeing, rafting and power boating. This park is a wilderness area that is not regularly serviced or patrolled.

Whisky Flats was the site of a large early-century dredge operation. When standing on the shore you can see the remains of the Kafue Dredge boat, a floating bucket dredge owned by the Kafue Copper Development Company, a Service Corporation of London England, which operated in the 1920’s close to Barkerville. This small three-unit rec site may serve as a perfect base for those wishing to explore the back roads of Barkerville and Yanks Peak.

Billy Barker’s legendary gold strike on Williams Creek triggered a multi-billion dollar industrial revolution that literally built a province. Today, the extraordinary town of Barkerville (named in Billy’s honour) still stands as testament to BC’s golden beginnings. With a unique streetscape of 125+ heritage buildings, authentic displays, satellite museums, restaurants, shops and accommodations there is still so much to explore. Declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1924 and a Provincial Heritage Property in 1958, Barkerville is now the largest living-history museum in western North America, where exciting seasonal events and fun-filled daily activities await.

Wells is a small but diverse town nestled in the mountains and is a centre for artists and outdoors enthusiasts. It began as a mining town during the area’s second gold rush in the 1930s, and reached a population of over 4000 people in the 1940s. Stroll through the art galleries in the summer (or by appointment in the winter) and maybe stay a few days to take a course at Island Mountain Arts.  If you are the festival type, then join us here for ArtsWells: The Festival of All Things Art.  Come up in the summer and there will be something going on, whether it’s a performance at the Sunset Theatre, a community coffee house or a performance at one of the restaurants/pubs.

Cottonwood House is one of the last remaining roadhouses in British Columbia. It was built in the 1860s to offer accommodation, meals and provisions to miners and travellers on their journey along the Cariboo ‘Waggon’ Road to Barkerville or Quesnel. The heritage site offers heritage interpretation, accommodation and food to those wanting to explore and experience the Cariboo and its rich history.