Once
called Harper's Camp, the small community of Horsefly, British
Columbia, is situated on the banks of the Horsefly River.
Horsefly is said to be the site of the first gold discovery
in BC's Cariboo region.
Peter
Dunlevy, an American, and four friends were led to the Horsefly
River by Long Baptiste, an Indian they had met at Lac La Hache.
They panned the first gold in June of 1859. Within the day,
another party of miners arrived and the Cariboo Gold Rush
was on. Dunlevy stayed in the area, building a roadhouse at
Beaver Valley. He later opened a hotel at Soda Creek.
An
important British Columbia salmon spawning stream, the Horsefly
River empties into Quesnel
Lake at Horsefly Bay where eagles, herons, sandpipers
and other wildlife may be observed. Bears are sometimes seen
along the river. Be sure to witness the Horsefly's spectacular
salmon run in late August & September. Salmon spawning
channels have been constructed and visitors enjoy easy access
for viewing. Be sure to ask locally for directions to Horsefly
River Falls. This picturesque spot is reached by a short hike
from the road over well marked trails.
Nearby
Horsefly Lake and the
South shores of Quesnel Lake offer excellent camping and fishing
opportunities. An abundance of smaller highly productive trout
lakes dot the landscape.
Plan
a circle tour that includes both Horsefly and Likely.
A good gravel road runs between them and provides excellent
river and lake views.
Accommodation/Adventure
Providers
Elysia Resort: Our full service getaway destination on Quesnel Lake offers fishing for Rainbow Trout, romantic getaways, great dining, and vacation packages in lakeview rental cabins & guest rooms. You'll be warmly greeted at our small, friendly and secluded piece of paradi... more
Northern Lights Lodge: A unique fly fishing lodge offering guided fly fishing on 4 wilderness rivers in the Cariboo Mountains. Wild native Rainbow Trout on the fly! more
Plato Island Resort: We offer excellent fishing on Quesnel lake, camping & comfortable cabin accommodation, a well protected marina, & delicious quality meals. See you soon! more
If you would like to have your business listed, please Click Here.
City
Information
Access:
59 km (37 mi) east of 150 Mile House, BC, off Highway
97 on the Horsefly Road.
Accommodations:
Motel rooms are available in the community, as well as several
nearby lakeshore cabins and resorts on Horsefly Lake and South
Quesnel Lake.
Campsites:
Horsefly Lake Provincial Park is open from May to October
with 23 sites. Most of the resorts on Horsefly Lake and South
Quesnel Lake also offer fully serviced campgrounds. The surrounding
smaller lakes offer many free British Columbia Forest Service
Campsites. These wilderness recreation areas are beautiful
and usually contain less than a dozen sites providing picnic
tables, firepits, boat launching access, outhouses and garbage
pickup.
For
Information:
Horsefly Board of Trade
Box 83, Horsefly, BC, V0L 1L0
Telephone: (250) 620-3440
