Barkerville Historic Town & Park Information

Barkerville Historic Town & Park is the largest historic site in western North America. Barkerville is provincially, nationally and internationally recognized for its historic significance in western Canada’s gold rush era and the role the gold rush played in BC joining Canada. The historic town is also a significant contributor to the Cariboo regional economy and is widely regarded as a unique component of the regional identity. The Barkerville Heritage Trust, as Barkerville’s operating and managing partner, works in conjunction with the Province of British Columbia, the owner and statutory guardian of Barkerville’s heritage resources, to ensure that Barkerville is efficiently managed, entertaining and educational to visitors, and financially stable as the premier heritage resource and tourism attraction for the Cariboo. The ultimate aim is to maintain and enhance Barkerville’s position as a nationally significant heritage resource and tourism attraction for British Columbia and Canada. Barkerville is 80 km east of Quesnel, BC, close to Troll Mountain Ski Resort and Bowron Lake Provincial Park. The nearby community of Wells is the service and housing centre for the area and is itself a dynamic cultural community, home of Island Mountain Arts, the acclaimed Toni Only Artists’ Project, the International Celtic Harp School, the dynamic indie music festival ArtsWells, and the Sunset Theatre. Wells is also situated close to a wide variety of winter and summer outdoor activities.