TRAILS IN THE CARIBOO
As a scenic wilderness region with a dense concentration of mountains, forests and waterways, the Cariboo is home to some of the best hiking trails in the province. From historic routes to mountains trails to popular lakefront paths, the breadth and diversity of the trail networks in the Cariboo is impressive.
Most trails throughout the region are able to accommodate a range of recreational activities. Hiking, biking, horseback riding and more are often permitted. This page breaks down some of the best trails by region in the Cariboo, including heights, difficulty, distances, trail usage rules and more.
TRAILS NEAR QUESNEL
Ten Mile Lake
Ten Mile Lake is a Provincial Park on Ten Mile Lake located off Highway 97, around 15 minutes from Quesnel. The park is a popular recreation site due to its sandy beaches, boat launch, and comfortable campgrounds with showers and toilets.
There is a small, forested trail in the park that leads hikers to a large beaver pond. It makes for an easier hike at just 2km, yet a rewarding one. Then if you come back in the winter, the trails in the park expand to over 10km for cross-country skiers.
Wonderland Trail Network
The Wonderland Trail network is found 10km from the town of Quesnel, just on the other side of Dragon Lake, accessed via Quesnel Hydraulic Road. Also a popular mountain biking spot with a range of difficulty levels, the trail network is popular among hikers and trail runners. As an extensive network, the times and distances of your hike will vary depending on the routes you choose, whether you combine several for a longer hike or choose one for a quick power hike.
Pinnacles Park
Pinnacles is another Provincial Park that can be reached from Quesnel in about 10 minutes from Pinnacle Road. The forested park spans 124 hectares filled with mostly pine trees, overlooking the town of Quesnel and Baker Creek for some pretty spectacular views. The main hike is a short 1km one, with a bit of a hike to access the trail and some steep cliffs to be wary of.
The main attraction of Pinnacles Park is the “hoodoos”. These are natural rock formations set to be millions of years old, having been formed by volcanic activity and erosion over many years.
Reckitt Cottonwood Rail Trail
The Reckitt Cottonwood Rail Trail is a popular hiking and biking spot located north of Quesnel along the Cottonwood River. The main hiking trails is roughly 4km look with minimal elevation gain. Low-lying vegetation and trickling creeks scatter the landscape, with minimal tree coverage welcoming more sunlight and better views of surroundings.
If you’re looking for a longer jaunt, the hike can also be extended into an 11km version. It’s still an easy hike with minimal elevation gain, but it’s a longer one with more forest trail than the shorter hike version.
TRAILS NEAR WILLIAMS LAKE
Fox Mountain Trail Network
Fox Mountain is a destination for mountain bikers, plus there’s plenty of fun to be had for hikers too. The mountain and trail network is located right next to Williams Lake, just across Highway 97. One of the more popular hiking routes is Fox Fire and Chicken Scratch. The hike is an easy 4.5km loop with very minimal elevation gain through peaceful forest. Dogs are welcome on leash, making it a popular trail for those looking for a quick 1 hour go around.Desous Mountain
Desous Mountain is located south of Williams Lake, with a network of trails on either side of the mountain. Access the trails by heading west on Highway 20 before turning left on Dog Creek Road. The front side of Desous Mountain is known to have easier trails through mature forested areas. The back side is near the Fraser River offering more advanced hiking with higher elevation. There’s also a new climbing line that allows hikers to traverse from one side to the other.Potato Range
Potato Range is a mountain trail near Tatlayoko Lake, which is located in the western region of the Cariboo. The hike is a relatively challenging one with an excellent viewpoint of the lake. The out-and-back route covers roughly 10km, which you can expect to spend north of 3 hours completing. It’s a popular hiking trail, so expect to see other hikers!McLeese Lake
McLeese Lake is located along Highway 97 next to the Fraser River, about a 30 minute drive north from Williams Lake. The lake is surrounded by a number of great trails for hiking and biking. One of the nicer trails is called Squiggly Bench, an easy hike roughly 3km longTRAILS NEAR 100 MILE HOUSE
99 Mile Trail Network
The 99 Mile Recreation Area is located – you guessed it, one mile south of 100 Mile House. The trail network is a popular one used in all seasons for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The main hiking trail is open from Spring through Fall, and covers roughly 5.5km. The loop takes a little under 2 hours to complete with 150m of elevation. You can also bring your dog if they remain leashed.Canim Falls and Mahood Falls
Canim Falls and Mahood Falls is one of the most scenic destination in the Cariboo, sandwiched between Canim Lake and Mahood Falls. The gushing waterfalls are a sight to behold, which can be accessed via Canim-Hendrix Lake Road from 100 Mile House. The main Canim Falls and Mahood Falls trail allows you to hit both waterfalls in a relatively short time. The hike is only 2.4km and can be completed in under an hour.Horse Lake Lookout
Horse Lake is a sizeable lake southeast of 100 Mile House, only 15 minutes away along Horse Lake Road. To access the Horse Lake Lookout, there’s a 6km hike that takes you up through the trees a little over 200m. It’s a moderately challenging climb that hikers should reserve 2 hours for.99 Mile Trail Network
The 99 Mile Recreation Area is located – you guessed it, one mile south of 100 Mile House. The trail network is a popular one used in all seasons for hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
The main hiking trail is open from Spring through Fall, and covers roughly 5.5km. The loop takes a little under 2 hours to complete with 150m of elevation. You can also bring your dog if they remain leashed.
TRAILS NEAR WELLS
Mount Agnes Trail
Mount Agnes is a mountain hiking trail east of Quesnel near Barkerville. There’s a big hike to Groundhog Lake and the mountain summit with incredible views of the Cariboo Mountains. This hike is long and challenging, taking anywhere from 6-9 hours while covering over 20km. It’s a steady uphill climb that gets pretty steep at the end, but the viewpoint is plenty rewarding.Van Winkle Trail
Van Winkle Trail is a long distance trail taking hikers from Groundhog Lake west and down towards the Cariboo Wagon Road. With a total of over 850m of elevation gain, this is an all day hike that many choose to complete in two days while camping somewhere along the route.Yellowhawk Trail
Yellowhawk Trail is found near Wells and south of Bowron Lake. The main trail takes you up and up to the summit of Mount Murray. Due to the elevation gain of over 750m, the hike is a challenging one that requires a good set of lungs. Yellowhawk trail is 10km long, which hikers can expect to spend at least 4 hours climbing.Sliding Mountain Trail
Sliding Mountain Trail is another challenging hike near Wells. The hike begins in a small park area on the side of Bowron Lake Road before gradually beginning the ascent. When it’s all said and done, hikers will be taken up nearly 700m of elevation in a hike that could take 3-4 hours. In total, the hike spans nearly 7km.MORE TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE CARIBOO REGIONAL DISTRICT
Big Timothy Mountain
Big Timothy Mountain is a towering sight located just west of Hendrix Lake, reaching 2,150m above the Cariboo Plateau. Over the course of 4-5 hours, this hike will take you 11km and up 680m. Beware this trail has a number of intersection routes making it easy to get turned around – be sure to have a map downloaded just in case.
Bowron Lake Park
Bowron Lake is a Provincial Park that is famous for its 116km Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit across a chain of lakes and waterways. The park has a beautiful range of vegetation and topography plus a drive in campground.
There are a couple of hiking trails in the park, besides the Canoe Circuit portages. The hikes are relatively short ones that lead hikers to nice viewpoints of Cariboo River Falls and Hunter Lake.