Size

430 square miles

Games Species

Moose, Black Bear, Caribou, Mule Deer, Wolf

WMU

5-12, 6-1

Area Data

Quesnel (Gold Pan City):

Built at the junction of the Fraser and Quesnel rivers, this settlement grew rapidly as a way station on the route to the goldfields. By the early 1860's Quesnel Mouth, as it was known then, had two hotels, two stores, the Hudson's Bay Post, a telegraph office, grist mill and lumber mill. Paddlewheel steamers stopped on their way up the Fraser River from Soda Creek to Fort George (now Prince George). Saddle trains packed goods between Quesnel and Barkerville. As in the past, Quesnel continues to attract adventurers on their way to the goldfields and the restored gold rush town of Barkerville.

Reminders of a colourful past survive. Visitors will enjoy stopping at the original Hudson Bay Store (a log structure built in 1859). Across the street is a Cornish Water Wheel and boilers and iron parts from the first Fraser River riverboat to travel to the city. Then stroll the old Fraser River Bridge to west Quesnel. Built in 1928 the old bridge now serves foot traffic only. Continue through Riverfront Park and the walking trail that winds past historic points of interest and along the banks of the Quesnel River. Flower displays on streets and bridges add a picturesque charm to this modern thriving city.

Blackwater River:

Starting high in the Ilgachuz Mountains, the Blackwater River flows several hundred miles eastward until it eventually empties into the Fraser River near Quesnel.

The water is stained a dark tea colour, hence giving it the name "Black Water". Much of this fine trout stream's gradient is gentle. With the exception of three waterfalls near Tsacha, Euchiniko and Kluscoil lakes, and rapids below Tsacha and in the final few miles to the Fraser, most of the river is navigable by canoe or raft. In the open pine/spruce forest, portages are easy and trails follow the river closely. It was through the Blackwater Valley that First Nation peoples travelled to the coast to trade in fish and furs. It was also the route Alexander Mackenzie took in 1793. He named it the West Road River, and it is now recognized by both names.

The whole system is rich in nutrients and full of life. Prolific insect hatches feed the many trout, whitefish and squawfish. A variety of stonefly, caddisfly and mayfly nymphs cling to every boulder. In slower sections, thick weedbeds provide a haven for other species. In late summer, Chinook salmon migrating from the ocean, spawn in the river. A few make it above Chinee Falls to lay their eggs upstream of Kluscoil Lake. Their dying carcasses provide more nutrients for the whole eco-system.

Fly fishing is excellent anywhere in the whole drainage and the river is noted for its superb dryfly action. Trout average 10 to 16 inches, but grow slightly larger in the lakes. It's not unusual for an experienced fisherman to catch more than 100 trout in one day. But, there are enough selective feeding trout to amuse the more sophisticated angler. A deer hair or elk hair caddis pattern is all any angler needs most of the time, but small mayfly imitations will fool the more selective feeding trout. Small, gold beadhead nymphs will catch dozens of trout during the few occasions when fish are not dining on the surface. The beadhead nymphs are especially deadly on whitefish.

Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park:

Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park comprises almost 112,000 hectares of unique landscape in the West Chilcotin Uplands. The landscape is diverse, and contains volcanic landforms, alpine environments, and forest sites scattered with wetlands.

The park was recommended for protection under the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land-Use Plan, and designated a Class A Park in 1995. Itcha Ilgachuz is a wilderness park set aside to protect alpine grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat, including the largest herd of woodland caribou in southern BC. The Itcha Range and Ilgachuz Range are examples of isolated shield volcanoes, rising up to 2400 meters above sea level. These ranges are situated in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains, and support a high diversity of plant and animal species.

Photos