History
The town of Likely emerged on British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush
Trail in 1858. The economy has revolved mainly around mining and forestry,
when you travel through the area you can see evidence of past mining activities,
particularly at Cedar Point Provincial Park where a display of relic mining
equipment exists. Only 9 km (5.6 mi) from Likely is Quesnel Forks, the
oldest mining camp in the Cariboo Region. Today Quesnel Forks is BC’s
last remaining ghost town, dating back to 1858. By the early 1860's, gold
fever was rampant at the forks of the Quesnel and Cariboo Rivers and "The
Forks" quickly became a rowdy gold camp attracting close to 5,000
people. Even after prospectors moved further north, the Forks remained
a busy centre until bypassed by the Cariboo Wagon Road. By 1875, it became
a thriving Chinese community with over 200 merchants and miners. The site
had several revivals, but during the 1920's most of the area mines closed
and by 1956, it was abandoned. Today, the Likely Cemetery Society lovingly
cares for Quesnel Forks.
In 1898 the Quesnel River was dammed near Likely to enable down river
areas to be explored for gold. During the last week of October in 1922,
more than 697 ounces of gold were recovered at the Cedar Creek Mine. In
1935 the Bullion Pit became the site of the largest hydraulic monitors
ever installed in North America. It operated from 1892 to 1942, constructing
over 64 kilometres of canals to draw water from nearby lakes and creeks
to feed the hydraulic nozzles. In fact, Morehead Lake was created to supply
water to the Bullion mine. Today, the Bullion Pit stands as an astonishing
man-made canyon, which can be viewed, from the trail above
Location
Likely is a small community situated where the west arm of Quesnel Lake
empties into the Quesnel River, near the southern end of the Matthew River
Road leading to Barkerville. Likely is located 150 km (94 mi) northeast
of 150 Mile House. There are two main routes to Likely; taking the junction
at 150 Mile House only 14 km (9 mi) south of Williams Lake, or by taking
the backcountry road from McLeese Lake, which is 50 km (31 mi) north of
Williams Lake.
Places to See
- Cedar Point Provincial Park
Cedar Point Park was once
a rendezvous point for the Hudson’s Bay
Fur Brigade in the 1850’s; today it is a Provincial Park and campground.
Situated only 6km (3.75 mi) from Likely the Cedar Point Provincial Park
is located on the shores of the Quesnel River and is named after the abundance
of ‘old growth’ cedar trees, which are found there. Outdoor
enthusiasts can enjoy camping, hiking the many historic forest service
roads or fishing on the Quesnel Lake.
- Quesnel Lake
The Quesnel Lake is the largest lake in
the Cariboo region at 157 km (100 mi) long. It is also renowned for being
the world’s deepest fjord
lake, 1,800 feet (549 m) and was formed during the last glaciation
period. There are many activities for visitors to do at Quesnel Lake,
including
boating and fishing as well as experiencing some beautiful waterfalls,
which are tumbling down from the mountains of the Cariboo.
- Yanks Peak
Yanks Peak was named after Bill Luce, a well-known American Miner. For
the adventurous traveller a trip to Yanks Peak is well worth the time and
effort, accessible only by four-wheel vehicles or on foot. Enjoy the fantastic,
awe inspiring scenery, of old mines, wildlife and rolling hills, which
lead to the historic mining town of Barkerville.
- Quesnel Forks
A visit to Quesnel Forks is a must see
when visiting Likely and the surrounding area. As mentioned above, Quesnel
Forks is BC’s last remaining ghost
town. Take a stroll through this historic mining town and feel as if you’ve
gone back in time.
Things To Do
- Hiking
The Likely area boasts endless miles of forest service roads and historic
mining trails, which are popular hiking trails. The Cedar Point Provincial
Park is an excellent place to embark on a hike.
- Fishing
Fishing is an extremely popular activity in Likely, anglers can fish for
10-16 pound rainbow trout, lake trout and kokanee on the Quesnel Lake.
The Quesnel River, which flows west out of the Quesnel Lake, also offers
excellent fishing conditions. There is an angling closure covering 50 meters
on either side of the Likely Bridge.
- Whitewater Rafting
For those who enjoy the challenge
of rapids, the Quesnel River is a great place to enjoy some whitewater
rafting. There are a number of rapids along
the river, for those unfamiliar with the area; there are experienced
guides in Likely to help find the best location to embark from.
- Quesnel River Hatchery
Plan a visit to Likely in late August and watch thousands of salmon migrate
up the Quesnel River to their spawning grounds in the Horsefly and Mitchell
Rivers. The Quesnel River Hatchery produces over 2 million Chinook salmon
every year, view adult salmon from August 1st until late September and
between November and April the fry can be observed during different stages
of development. The hatchery is open seven days a week, from 8am to 4pm.
- Winter Activities
During the winter months, visitors to Likely can enjoy a variety
of outdoor activities. Snowmobiling is very popular at Yanks Peak
between November
and May. Outdoor enthusiasts can also go cross-county skiing and
ice fishing in the area surrounding Likely.
Events
- Quesnel Forks Gold Nugget Music Festival
This annual event takes places in July and features music, including
folk, country and bluegrass. Come on down to Quesnel Forks and celebrate
the
era of times past, learn about the history of the region and enjoy
the various events, including a pie eating contest!
- Annual Likely Victoria Day Celebrations
Come on down
to Likely during the Victoria Day long weekend in May and join in the
festivities! Experience the wild and crazy parade, with traditional
floats and the ‘not to be missed’ Saturday night dance.
Contact Information
Likely Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 29
Likely, British Columbia
Canada, V0L 1N0
(250)790-2398 ph/fax
Website: www.likely-bc.ca
