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Hikes · Hixon & Quesnel · Quesnel

Quesnel River

This Quesnel River outing starts above the south bank and descends through a utility clearing before following an old riverside road. The described return climbs steeply through a gravel-pit area and uses an upper cycling trail to complete an approximately 6 km loop. Despite the source’s easy rating, a steep embankment and industrial-access uncertainty make it more involved than a maintained city riverside path.

Sources reviewed . This is a research date, not a trail inspection.

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The locations GPX contains sourced points with their recorded roles. It contains no trail track or connecting route.

Distance
6 kmLoop
Elevation gain
120 mPublished route measurement
Walking time
3 hrs
Difficulty
EasyLoop

Map & elevation

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Elevation profile

A full-route elevation profile is not available yet.

A reusable trail line has not yet been verified for this outing. Any location pin shows the published location described above; it does not draw the hike or establish a navigable approach.

Getting there & parking

From Highway 97 in Quesnel, turn east onto Racing Road and continue to Woodridge Road. Turn left and look for the gas-line clearing on the north side of Woodridge, roughly 500 m west of the Racing Road intersection. The older guide uses this clearing for parking and the walking start. Confirm current public access and a safe place to leave a vehicle without blocking utility or gravel-pit traffic; the historical description is not proof that every segment remains open.

Map position: 52.97056, -122.49778 · named river reference point (not a trailhead). BC Gazetteer: Quesnel River | River | 52 58 13 N | 122 29 52 W | WGS84 | mapsheet 93B/16 Official named-feature location, not parking or a verified route start. This point supports regional orientation and area forecasts; road directions and distance-to-trailhead must use a separately verified access point.

On the trail

  1. Descend north through the clearing toward the river bench.

  2. Turn east along the old riverside road and follow it to its end.

  3. The described loop climbs a steep 30 m embankment into a gravel pit, then follows another old road back toward the starting elevation.

  4. An upper cycling trail continues west and south to the original clearing.

Full route notes

Head north down the utility clearing from about 627 m elevation to the bench above the river, around 507 m. Turn east onto the old road and follow it alongside the river until it ends. The described loop then climbs a steep approximately 30 m embankment into a gravel pit, crosses that area and takes an old road back toward the starting elevation. An upper cycling trail leads west and then south to the start. If pit access, the embankment or the return connection is closed or unclear, do not improvise through working land; retrace the known riverside approach. Mud can affect parts of the route.

The way back

The source describes a 6 kmcircuit, but the embankment and gravel-pit connection require present access confirmation. If they are closed or unsafe, retrace the known approach.

Terrain: gravel.

Distance and elevation source notes

6 km

120 m

Conditions & seasons

Season-specific access has not been established in this guide. Read the dated notices and original land-manager information before choosing a departure date.

These are dated research notes. Open the trip planner for current available weather and advisory feeds; no alert found does not establish that a trail or road is open.

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Camping & overnight plans

On-route camping permission has not been established for this outing. Check the relevant land manager before planning an overnight stay; a mapped lake, cabin or previous tent location does not confirm permission.

Photos of Quesnel River

A photograph with confirmed reuse permission has not yet been added to this guide.

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Full trip packDirections, planning notes & available mapsTopographic mapPublished locations; no trail lineSave offline guideDownload a copy to your device
Sources, dates & research notes

Descriptions are written for this guide from the linked evidence. Source review dates, published reports and field observations can differ. Photographs and route lines retain their own attribution and reuse terms.

  1. https://caledoniaramblers.ca/trails/quesnel-river (opens original source)
  2. https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/bc-geographical-names (opens original source)
  3. https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/d92224ee-03ef-4904-be53-b677d8e01ac4/resource/69738aa8-2cc0-4975-aec6-4dc2e30990bf/download/bc-gazetteer-2026-08-12.csv (opens original source)
Details still being researched
  • dogs
  • accessibility
  • camping
  • seasonal

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