Quesnel Panning Reserve: Rockhounding in Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County

Cariboo Regional District

Province

British Columbia

Nearest road

Carry Street

Postal code

V2J 2B2

Coordinates

52.97111, -122.50063

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground and access before you head out.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots in Canada sit on Crown land or public foreshore where casual hand collecting is generally allowed in reasonable amounts for personal use. Confirm posted rules and local bylaws before you dig.

Access note: Provincial panning reserve of 141 ha covering the Fraser and Quesnel river channels where they meet in Quesnel. You do not need a Free Miner Certificate. Use a hand pan and hand shovel only: no metal detectors, sluices or dredges. The Quesnel Visitor Centre lends gold pans free of charge for a refundable deposit.

Collecting rules in Canada are set provincially and by land owner. Crown land and many public beaches allow casual hand collecting, while provincial and national parks are off-limits. Confirm the rules for this site before you dig.