Quesnel Lake Lake

Quesnel Lake is a large glacial lake in central British Columbia, Canada, noted for its deep waters and steep-sided basins. It is a significant inland waterbody in the Cariboo region.

The lake supports recreational fishing, boating and wilderness access, with the small community of Likely at the southern end serving as the main point of entry. Scenery is dominated by forested shorelines and narrow fjord-like channels carved by glacial action.

Formed by glacial processes, the lake has long been used by local communities for fishing and transport. It figures in regional natural-resource and recreation planning for the Cariboo area.

Situated in the Cariboo region of central British Columbia, Quesnel Lake lies southeast of the city of Quesnel and is accessed via road from regional highways and the community of Likely.

• Recreation access: Home to extensive recreational fishing and boating opportunities and accessed from the small community of Likely at the lake’s southern end.
• Depth and character: Known regionally for very deep glacial waters and steep-sided basins, making it distinctive among British Columbia lakes.

• Plan visits in summer and early fall for the most reliable road access and calmer weather on the lake; many of the lake's best bays and fishing/boating spots are only practical outside the freeze or shoulder seasons.
• Use the community of Likely on the eastern shore as the primary road-access point and launch area for recreational boats; for more remote arms of the lake consider booking a local guide, charter boat or floatplane to reach quieter coves.
• If you want solitude or better fishing, head up the less-visited northern and western arms of the lake rather than the shoreline closest to the town - those areas see far fewer day visitors.