Historic MacFarland Ranch—a rare, turnkey 320-acre off-grid wilderness estate west of Quesnel, BC. Featuring a handcrafted net-zero post-and-beam home, solar power, workshops and outbuildings, this sustainable homestead is fully equipped for off-grid living.
Foreign Buyer Ban does not apply to this property
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Welcome to a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a fully self-sufficient homestead nestled deep in the Cariboo wilderness, just south of Nazko and west of Quesnel, BC. The Historic MacFarland Ranch is more than just a property—it’s a lifestyle. This extraordinary, off-grid sanctuary spans a vast 320 acres of rolling meadows, new-growth forest, and pristine wilderness, bordered by MacFarland Lake and cut through by a clear-running creek.
At the heart of the property is a hand-crafted, post-and-beam home that blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge sustainability. Designed with off-grid living in mind, the home is net-zero and powered by a solar energy system with battery storage. Passive solar design, triple-pane windows, and thick double-wall insulation ensure cozy winter nights warmed by wood stoves—with minimal firewood needed thanks to the home’s incredible energy efficiency.
Every detail in the home reflects care, creativity, and character. You’ll find hidden passageways, a root-cellar disguised as an underfloor sandbox, and an indoor greenhouse for year-round growing. There’s also a charming summer kitchen, perfect for canning, preserving, or relaxing with family under the shelter of the main roof.
Beyond the main house, the property includes a large multi-bay garage with a fully equipped and well insulated workshop, metal-roofed wood storage, a Quonset outbuilding with high doors for large equipment, and a sea can for secure storage. There’s even a sawmill for your building projects. Two wood stoves in the workshop will keep you warm while you work on your projects year-round.
Nature lovers will appreciate the abundance of wildlife and the quiet solitude of this remote setting. Many species of birds flock here during migrations, deer and moose roam the meadows, and the forest is thriving with vibrant regrowth following the 2017 wildfire. Thanks to natural firebreaks and resilient construction materials, the property is now uniquely fire-hardened for the future.
Despite its remote feel, the home is well-connected with satellite Internet, television, and phone services. And with almost no monthly utility bills and extremely low property taxes, this is a sustainable investment in both land and lifestyle.
Offered as a turnkey package with all furnishings, tools, equipment, and even vehicles included, MacFarland Ranch is ready for its next steward. Whether you're seeking a family retreat, a working homestead, or an off-grid adventure, this is a rare chance to own a piece of British Columbia’s wild, beautiful, and resilient backcountry.
Contact the listing agent for a detailed list and valuation of all included items.
9397 Nazko Road - Nazko, BC
To drive from Vancouver to Nazko, BC, you’ll begin by heading east out of the city on Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway. At Hope, you’ll transition onto Highway 5—the Coquihalla Highway—which takes you north through the mountains toward Merritt. This stretch is a major mountain corridor, so expect dramatic scenery and changing road conditions during off-season months.
From Merritt, you’ll continue north on Highway 97 toward Quesnel. Once you reach Quesnel, you’ll leave the main highway behind and begin the rural portion of the journey. Head west out of Quesnel on Nazko Road (also known as the Blackwater Road). This road winds through forested terrain, farmland, and remote countryside as you travel deeper into the Chilcotin Plateau. Nazko is about 100 kilometres west of Quesnel, and depending on road conditions, this final stretch takes around 1.5 hours.
In total, the drive from Vancouver to Nazko takes approximately 10 to 11 hours and covers about 750 to 800 kilometres.
For further details on the backroad directions from Nazko to the MacFarland Ranch contact the listing agent.
Nazko sits roughly 100 km west of Quesnel, nestled on the sunny, rolling Chilcotin Plateau at the head of the Nazko River. This small ranching and forestry community rests in the traditional territory of the Carrier (Dakelh) people, and its name—Ndazkoh—means “river flowing from the south.” It’s a wonderfully remote place where the rhythm of everyday life still syncs with nature’s seasons.
The valley is defined by its natural beauty: gently sloping forests of lodgepole pine and spruce interspersed with wetlands and lakes. Nazko Lake Provincial Park offers a serene 20 km canoe circuit through interconnected lakes, rich with moose, waterfowl, and even endangered American white pelicans. Meanwhile, Marmot Lake serves as a popular fishing and camping spot, with family-friendly facilities maintained by the local band. This unspoiled landscape draws outdoor lovers year round, whether for fishing, canoeing, snowmobiling, or wildlife photography.
Despite its remoteness, Nazko is a functioning, close-knit community. The Three Nations Store & Lodge—run by the Nazko First Nation—is the only hub within 55 km, offering groceries, gas, a rustic restaurant, cabins, and a laundromat. Nazko also has deep indigenous history: it was a key stop on the Nuxalk–Carrier Grease Trail used by Alexander Mackenzie in 1793, and today the valley preserves homesteads, trading posts, a pioneer schoolhouse, and an old church. Near Nazko Cone—an ancient volcanic formation—there are indicators of geothermal activity and occasional earthquake swarms, adding another layer to the area’s rich natural context.
In essence, Nazko delivers genuine wilderness living enhanced by historical roots, indigenous presence, and community resilience. It’s a rare blend of solitude with purpose—perfect for those craving a life intertwined with nature, heritage, and off-grid possibility.
The vegetation around Nazko is characteristic of the sub-boreal spruce zone of central British Columbia, shaped by a combination of forest, wetland, and post-fire regrowth. This remote area on the Chilcotin Plateau features a diverse mix of ecosystems that reflect its elevation, soil type, and disturbance history—particularly wildfire.
The forests are dominated by lodgepole pine, which is especially common in areas that have experienced fire. These pines are fast-growing and well-adapted to fire-prone environments, often forming dense stands. Intermixed with them, particularly in cooler or wetter areas, are hybrid white spruce and subalpine fir, which add to the diversity of the canopy. You may also find patches of Douglas-fir on drier slopes and aspen or birch in disturbed or riparian zones.
Wetlands and meadows are frequent in the region, especially near lakes, creeks, and low-lying areas like those around the Nazko River and Marmot Lake. These wetlands support a rich understory of willows, sedges, grasses, and wildflowers, attracting a wide variety of birds and mammals. Mosses and lichens thrive on the forest floor, especially in shaded, moist areas.
Following the 2017 Plateau white Complex wildfire, large areas near Nazko went through a natural regeneration process. The post-fire landscape is now covered in young pine stands, shrubs, and early successional species like fireweed, which bloom in vibrant purples during the summer. This regrowth has created a dynamic mosaic of vegetation types and age classes across the area, offering both ecological richness and scenic beauty.
Overall, Nazko’s vegetation is a reflection of the region’s natural cycles—fire, forest succession, and wetland ecosystems—creating a rugged and ecologically complex landscape ideal for wildlife and wilderness living.
Nazko offers a rich variety of outdoor recreation opportunities rooted in its remote, wild setting on the Chilcotin Plateau. This is a place where nature dictates the pace, and recreational activities tend to be immersive, quiet, and deeply tied to the land.
One of the standout features of the area is Nazko Lake Provincial Park, which attracts paddlers with its scenic 20-kilometre canoe circuit. The loop winds through a chain of peaceful lakes, surrounded by forests and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Moose, beavers, loons, and a wide variety of waterfowl—including the occasional White Pelican—are common sights along the water. For canoeists, kayakers, or backcountry campers, the experience is serene and deeply connected to nature.
Anglers are also well served in the Nazko region, with lakes like Marmot Lake and others nearby offering fishing for rainbow trout and kokanee. These lakes often have rustic campsites or day-use areas maintained by local organizations or the Nazko First Nation, making them accessible for families or weekend retreats. Hunting is another long-standing tradition in the area, with ample opportunities to harvest deer and moose in the surrounding Crown land, especially in the fall.
In winter, the landscape transforms into a snowy wilderness that’s perfect for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The wide-open spaces, quiet trails, and deep snowpack make it a haven for those seeking solitude or backcountry exploration. Wildlife tracking and photography are particularly rewarding in these months, when fresh snow reveals the quiet movement of animals across the land.
For those who enjoy hiking or simply exploring, the Nazko Cone and other volcanic features west of the community offer striking geological sights and a reminder of the area’s turbulent natural history. The region’s remoteness means there are few marked trails, but experienced hikers and explorers will find ample opportunity to venture into true wilderness.
Altogether, Nazko’s recreation opportunities are defined by self-reliance, natural beauty, and a strong sense of place. Whether you're paddling on quiet lakes, trekking through recovering forest, casting a line, or simply sitting beneath a starlit sky, Nazko invites you to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the land.
The history of Nazko, BC, and the MacFarland Ranch is a story of deep Indigenous roots, pioneer resilience, and connection to the land that spans generations.
Long before settlers arrived, the Nazko region was—and remains—the traditional territory of the Nazko First Nation, part of the Dakelh (Carrier) people. For thousands of years, the Nazko River corridor and surrounding plateau supported a semi-nomadic way of life tied to hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering. The name "Nazko" itself translates to "river flowing from the south" in the Carrier language, reflecting both a geographic marker and a cultural legacy. Indigenous families moved seasonally across the region, harvesting resources and maintaining complex ecological relationships long before European influence arrived.
The arrival of settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s marked the beginning of ranching and fur trading in the area. One of the enduring legacies of this pioneer era is MacFarland Ranch, a remote and historic homestead southwest of Nazko. Established in the early 20th century, likely around the 1930s, the ranch was part of the broader movement of back-to-the-land settlement. Its early owners were among a rare breed of self-reliant families who carved out a life in British Columbia’s interior wilderness—far from towns, services, or even roads.
Over the years, the MacFarland Ranch functioned as a working homestead, supporting livestock and subsistence farming in a rugged and often unforgiving climate. Structures were hand-built using local timber, and everything from food preservation to heating relied on natural systems. The ranch embodied the independence and hardiness that came to define off-grid living in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and proudly continues to this day.
As times changed and many rural ranches were abandoned or consolidated, MacFarland Ranch endured—modernizing only modestly while preserving its original character. In recent decades, it evolved into a truly self-sufficient, off-grid estate with solar power, sustainable design, and handcrafted buildings that speak to both old-world craftsmanship and modern resilience.
Nearby, Nazko experienced its own transformations. Logging roads, small-scale mills, and resource development brought industry to the region in the mid-to-late 20th century, but never at the scale seen in more accessible parts of BC. The remoteness preserved much of Nazko’s wilderness character. In 2017, the Plateau Complex wildfire swept across the region—including areas around the ranch—marking one of the largest wildfires in BC history. Though devastating, it prompted renewed awareness of sustainable land use, fire-hardened construction, and ecological recovery.
Today, both Nazko and the MacFarland Ranch stand as testaments to endurance, adaptation, and the enduring relationship between people and place. The ranch, in particular, continues to represent a rare way of life—one that blends frontier spirit, self-sufficiency, and respect for the wild landscape that defines central British Columbia.
52°45'20.19"N and 123°39'8.51"W
For a full detailed list please contact the listing agent.
$1,006.76 (2025)
R/A
PART SE1/4, DISTRICT LOT 7613, CARIBOO LAND DISTRICT
PID 015-292-819
PART SW1/4, DISTRICT LOT 7613, CARIBOO LAND DISTRICT
PID 015-292-932
Multiple Listing Service®
+8 maps
Our property descriptions and geographical information are taken from the BC Assessment Authority, Land Titles Office, government maps and other sources. While LandQuest® does not guarantee the information, we believe it to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification. This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement.
Redstone
17℃
11℃