Park overview
Cariboo Mountains Park is true wilderness, dominated by high, serrated peaks and glaciers. The densely forested valleys feature attractive lakes and lush wetlands. This park is situated in the interior wet belt between Bowron Lake and Wells Gray Parks. These parks now create one continuous protected area in the Cariboo Mountains that is over 760,000 hectares in size.
The park incorporates a diverse landscape ranging from mountain peaks and tarn lakes in hanging alpine valleys, to extensive meadows, large wetland complexes, and ancient red-cedar and hemlock forests. These diverse habitats support an equally diverse array of wildlife species. Though current use levels are low, Cariboo Mountains Park offers extensive, though undeveloped, opportunities for backcountry adventures.
Vehicle access camping is available at the Ghost Lake Recreation Site. This small, remote site features views down the lake and up into the surrounding mountains, and is adjacent to the scenic Matthew River Falls.
Advisories
Safety info
- There are few facilities at Cariboo Mountains Park. Visitors should be self-sufficient and experienced in wilderness travel. Drive on gravel access roads at your own risk. They are active logging roads.
- Bring your own water, as potable water is not available in the park. Boil or treat any surface water before consuming.
- Although in the past horses were used to access hunting in this park, this is not horse country. Horseback riding is still permitted, but the park is very wet, routes have become overgrown and many routes have become impassable to horses.
Camping
Recreation Sites and Trails BC manages the recreation site at Ghost Lake. There are four small sites, which are fairly open. The sites are open year-round when accessible extra vehicles can park in the parking lot. Its attractive location near Matthew River Falls makes it worth a visit. The closest stores are in Likely or Wells. There is no fee to stay in this recreation site.
Wilderness camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided.
Facilities
Activities
Canoeing and kayaking are possible at Ghost Lake. The trail to the lake is fairly rough, though not long. Please wear your PFD at all times. This is a remote mountain lake and bad weather can come in with little warning.
Canoeing and kayaking are possible at Ghost Lake. The trail to the lake is fairly rough, though not long. Please wear your PFD at all times. This is a remote mountain lake and bad weather can come in with little warning.
Fish for sockeye, coho, chinook, kokanee, bull trout or rainbow trout. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
The park is open to hunting. Please refer to the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Sysnopsis for more information.
The park is located northeast of Likely and east of Quesnel. The Ghost Lake recreation site can be accessed by travelling to Barkerville from Quesnel via Highway 26, and then taking the 3100 Forestry Road (gravel) from Barkerville. The park is located approximately 70km (allow 1.5 hours) from Barkerville on the 3100 road. This is an active logging road: please drive cautiously with headlights on. Turn left onto a sign-posted 4km access road, which leads to the recreation site.
Another route to Ghost Lake is via Likely (about 90km). The 8400 Road (Cariboo Lake Road) from Likely leads north past Cariboo Lake, and eventually connects up with the 3100 Road. Follow this to the Ghost Lake turnoff (signed), turn right and drive another 4km to the recreation site. The park can also be accessed from the McBride Valley via the Castle Creek Forest Service Road, which leads up Castle Creek and ends about 5km from the park boundary.
Cariboo Mountains Park can also be accessed from Quesnel Lake by boat or along logging roads. However, no trails link Bowron Lake and Wells Gray Parks to Cariboo Mountains Park.
Please refer to the Cariboo Forest Region Recreation Map (East) published by the Ministry of Forests for more information. For map information, refer to topographic map numbers: 1:50, 000 92A/16, 92A/15, and 92A/9.
Park and activity maps
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: July 12, 1995
- Size: 113,470 hectares
Nature and culture
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.