In the depths of a Cariboo winter, when snow blankets the backcountry and the landscape feels much as it did more than a century ago, the rhythmic sound of sled runners returns to the Gold Rush Trail. Each February, dog teams once again carry the mail across frozen terrain – reviving a tradition that helped connect some of British Columbia’s most remote communities during the Gold Rush era.
From Feb. 6 to 8, 2026, the 34th Annual Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run will see teams of skilled mushers sworn in as official mail carriers, transporting real Canada Post mail by dog sled from Quesnel to Barkerville Historic Town & Park. It’s a rare honour: this is one of the only mail run events in Canada where sled dogs still deliver officially stamped mail that enters the regular postal system for delivery anywhere in the world.
Photo provided by Travel MediaA Tradition Born Of Necessity
Long before highways and snowplows, dogsledding was a lifeline in northern and interior Canada. During the height of the Cariboo Gold Rush, dog teams hauled supplies, carried news, and delivered mail through unforgiving terrain – often in conditions that would stop modern travel in its tracks. The original mail routes between Quesnel and Barkerville were vital, linking booming goldfields with the outside world and helping isolated settlements survive long winters.
Today’s Sled Dog Mail Run honours that legacy. While the journey is no longer a matter of survival, the endurance, teamwork, and deep bond between musher and dogs remain unchanged. Along the trail, spectators are invited to cheer on teams as they navigate snowy forests and rolling hills, gaining a tangible sense of how dogsledding shaped both the economic and cultural development of the region.
Mail With A Story To Tell
One of the event’s most distinctive features is the mail itself. Letters carried by dog sled are marked with a special stamp reading “Carried by Dog Team,” commemorating their historic journey once they arrive in Barkerville. Even the envelopes tell a story: specially designed covers featuring artwork by local artists, available for purchase locally and online beginning Dec. 19.
For collectors, history buffs, and armchair adventurers alike, sending a letter via sled dog is a rare chance to participate in a living piece of Canadian heritage – one that quite literally travels by paw before heading out into the world.
Photo provided by Travel MediaWhere Community & Culture Meet The Trail
At its heart, the Sled Dog Mail Run is a community-led celebration. Locals, volunteers, mushers, and visitors come together over the three-day event to honour resilience, tradition, and the enduring relationship between people and working dogs in the North. The atmosphere is equal parts historical reenactment and winter festival, grounded in shared pride for the Cariboo’s past and present.
Visitors looking to immerse themselves fully in the experience can plan an overnight stay in Historic Barkerville. Accommodations range from the cozy Barkerville Cottages to the iconic Wells Hotel, offering front-row access as dog teams and mail sleds arrive in town.
Planning Your Visit
Because the event is organized at a grassroots level, the best and most up-to-date information – including schedules, route details, volunteer opportunities, and weather-related updates – can be found on the Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run Facebook page. For those planning to attend or participate, it’s the first place announcements and calls to action are shared.
In an age of instant communication, the Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run offers something increasingly rare: a slow, meaningful connection to place, history, and community. As sled dogs lean into their harnesses and mail once again travels the winter trail to Barkerville, the past doesn’t just come alive – it moves forward, one snowy mile at a time.
Photo provided by Travel Media
