The small community of McLeese Lake is a family vacation spot along the Cariboo Highway in the beautiful interior of British Columbia, between Williams Lake and Quesnel. McLeese Lake offers a neighbourhood pub, post office, general store, community recreation centre and rental hall, public boat launch, and lakefront rest area with picnic tables. Mcleese Lake Resort and Oasis Resort campground and motel are also located on the shorelines.

Formerly called Mud Lake, McLeese Lake is named in honour of Robert McLeese, a resident of Soda Creek from 1863 until his death in the 1880s. Robert McLeese was a hotel keeper, store owner, postmaster of Soda Creek for 25 years, owner of a sternwheel river boat, and member of the Legislative Assembly.

The tiny settlement of Soda Creek, located 10 kilometres south of McLeese Lake, is the head of the upper Fraser Canyon, and the beginning of 650 km of navigable river waters to the north. Sternwheelers were transported by road for assembly and launch at Soda Creek, which became the Gold Rush transfer point and terminus for sternwheelers transporting miners north to Quesnel and Barkerville until the railway pushed through in 1920. Soda Creek’s name originates from the carbonate of lime creek bed that bubble like soda water.

Population: Approx. 301 –  Welcome baby Jessie!!

Location: McLeese Lake is located on the Cariboo Highway 97, between Quesnel to the north and Williams Lake, 27 miles (44 km) to the south. The route from Williams Lake to Quesnel follows the Fraser River, passing points of interest including McLeese Lake, First Nations attractions at Soda Creek.