Covering a swatch of land roughly half the size of the entire province of British Columbia, Northern BC is home to countless small towns, each offering unique adventures for the intrepid traveller. There is plenty to see, and even more to do, as you make your way through a landscape which takes visitors from the Northern Rocky Mountains in the east to the Pacific Ocean and Coastal Mountains in the west. All the while, Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories beckon intrepid travellers to continue north.
From Prince George in the south, two main highways snake their way up the east and west sides of Northern BC. To the east, Highway 97 provides access to communities including Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John, Pink Mountain, Fort Nelson and Muncho Lake. Highway 16 and 37 to the west visit Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Stewart, Telegraph Creek and more. Add in routes south of the Alaska Highway to Atlin, Haines and Skagway as well as Haida Gwaii and it is easy to see how travellers have a rich abundance of destinations.
Included below is a sampling of the many small towns waiting to be explored in northern BC.
ATLIN
The 95 kilometre (59 mile) drive south on Highway 2 into Atlin begins in Yukon at Jake’s Corner with amazing scenery at every turn as you travel down the long narrow lake into the community. Although it is a popular fishing destination, it is a long way to haul a boat. There are also plenty of reminders of the Gold Rush era in and around the community with remnants including the Boulder dam, a powerhouse, the ghost town of Discovery and a dredge and flume site all reached by short hiking trails. To the south of town, one can explore the Llewellyn Glacier and soak in the Warm Bay Hot Springs at the end of the day.
DAAJING GIIDS
Those travelling in a vehicle can reach Haida Gwaii by ferry from Prince Rupert to Skidgate. Daajing Giids, formerly Queen Charlotte City, was the first registered townsite on the islands, dating back to 1891. The community is rich in heritage, the Skidgate Inlet is a great spot to explore by kayak and the Sleeping Beauty Trail offers a challenging trek for hikers. The main highway out of town leads north to Naikoon Provincial Park and Masset. Adding to the options, the surrounding backroads, which should only be attempted in a four-wheel drive vehicle, offer stunning mountain scenery and lead to some exceptional locations including Rennell Sound.
DAWSON CREEK
Dawson Creek sits at Mile 0 of the world-famous Alaska Highway, the 2,450 kilometre (1,523 mile) highway to Fairbanks, Alaska, built during the Second World War by the U.S. Military. North of town, check out the curving 163 metre (534 foot) long Kiskatinaw Bridge, one of the only trestle bridges built along the highway still in use. South of town, Bear Mountain is the go-to destination for hiking, mountain biking and ATVing while anglers will find a variety of fish species in the rivers and streams running out of the Rocky Mountains. Look for Arctic char, brook trout, northern pike and rainbow trout in the waters and bears, deer, elk and moose in the surrounding forests.
FORT ST. JOHN
The oldest non-native settlement on British Columbia’s mainland, Fort St. John is known for some of the best hunting and fishing in the province. Adding a bit of variety to the mix, it is possible to visit the North Peace Museum, explore the Mud Creek motorized trails or partake in recreational water activities at Charlie Lake.
HUDSON'S HOPE
This small community sits along the banks of the Peace River with the Rocky Mountains providing a stunning backdrop. There is no shortage of adventures with Williston Lake created by the W.A.C. Bennet Dam offering boating and fishing, ATV trails, dinosaur tracks and the Hudson’s Hope Steam Vents. Those looking for backcountry overland driving can head west off Highway 29 and follow backroads to Wright or Carbon Lake where primitive recreation sites offer a spot to spend the night. If you make it to Carbon Lake, climb the trail to the top of Battleship Mountain, one of over fourteen unique hiking trails in the area.
KITIMAT
Sitting at the helm of the Douglas Channel, water activities are popular, from fishing for halibut, salmon, cod and snapper to jumping in a kayak and exploring the many islands to the south where the Weewanie and Bishop Bay Hot Springs can be found. Around town, there are several easy-to-moderate hiking trails ranging from 400 metres to 4 km (2.5 miles) while just outside town, check out the more challenging routes to Robinson Lake or up Mount Elizabeth. Those looking for the ultimate adventure can drive as far as possible on the Kildala Forest Service Road, then hike along the power line over Powerline Pass and down to Kemano. From there, continue west to Kemano Beach on the Gardner Canal!
LIARD RIVER
Liard River is a well-known destination for its hot springs and many a weary traveller has stopped in to soothe tired bones from the long drive up the Alaska Highway. The second largest hot spring in Canada, there are two large pools in which to soak. Camping here also allows visitors to explore the Grand Canyon of the Liard, a 30 kilometre (18 mile) stretch of rapids where scenery and wildlife abound.
MUNCHO LAKE
Sitting within Muncho Lake Provincial Park, this area has spectacular scenery and wildlife that is readily seen from the Alaska Highway. The beautiful jade-coloured lake holds Arctic grayling, bull trout, lake trout and whitefish for anglers and is also a popular destination for canoeing, boating and swimming. Backcountry camping is possible and hiking trails lead up from the highway into areas that look more like Mars than Earth and there is a good chance to spot caribou, moose and stone sheep.
PINK MOUNTAIN
The small roadside hamlet of Pink Mountain sits in the Rocky Mountain Foothills along the Alaska Highway northwest of Fort St. John. A popular hunting destination in the fall. the area is also known for high populations of the rare Arctic butterfly which are attracted to the region’s blossoms. Exiting the highway at Mile 147 of the Alaska Highway leads west for 16 km (10 miles) to a fork where taking the north fork follows a series of switchbacks to the top of Pink Mountain. The views along the way and from the top are wonderful.
PRINCE GEORGE
As all travel from the south filters through Prince George, it is considered the “Basecamp of the North”. Set on the traditional lands of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Prince George is surrounded by glacial-formed landscapes, wildlife and the world’s only inland temperate rain forest. Visit 2000-year-old giants in the Ancient forest of Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum, or climb to the top of Teapot Mountain for some impressive 360-degree views. Being the largest urban centre in Northern BC, Prince George certainly offers plenty to see and do before venturing further north.
PRINCE RUPERT
Prince Rupert sits on the northern reaches of BC’s coast, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Great Bear Rainforest on the other. The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Sanctuary is one of the world’s richest grizzly bear habitats and home to the elusive White Spirit bear. A boat ride into the sanctuary often finds these majestic animals feeding along the shore. In addition to ocean fishing, whale watching is also a big draw to the community and local charters are the best way to discover both. Other adventure options in Prince Rupert include ocean kayaking among the many islands off the coast, a visit to the North Pacific Cannery, or taking a boat ride to hike the Metlakatla Wilderness Trail, a 21 km (13 mile) out-and-back trek along the shoreline of the Tsimshain Peninsula.
STEWART
Heading west on Highway 37A from Meziadan Junction leads to the laidback community of Stewart on the Alaska border. Be sure to have your passport with you because you will want to cross into the United States to explore the equally charming community of Hyder which lies just over the border. Continuing south through Hyder and then north along the inlet for 37 kilometres (23 miles), the Granduc (Salmon Glacier) Road leads up to an elevation of 1,220 metres (4,000 feet) as it makes its way through forest and majestic mountains and past old mine sites to the summit viewpoint of the Salmon Glacier. Plan to stop at the Visitor Centre in Stewart and pick up a self-guided Auto Tour Brochure which features fourteen points of interest along the route including the Tongass National Forest, Moose Pond, a migratory flyway, Fish Creek, the Titan and Riverside Mines, and the Indian Mines Viewpoint. Just taking in the glacier views makes this detour well worthwhile.
TELEGRAPH CREEK
From Dease Lake on Highway 37, a 112 km (70 mile) dirt road leads west to the small community of Telegraph Creek. Like many adventures, the journey, not the destination is the highlight. The road, steep (some hills have a 20% gradient) and narrow in places, winds along the Grand Canyon of the Stikine, with dramatic views of the sheer walls cut by the river through layers of volcanic lava. The canyon runs nearly 80 kilometres (50 miles) and is best viewed |off the south side of the road between Highway 37 and the Telegraph Creek townsite. Once in the community of Telegraph Creek be sure to explore the Tahltan First Nation which features several old buildings dating back to the gold rush years. Also, be on the watch for mountain goats while absorbing the spectacular scenery.
TERRACE
Found halfway between Hazelton and Kitimat, which is home to some of the best saltwater fishing on the West Coast, Terrace is surrounded by towering mountains and glacial rivers. The town is a mountain biker mecca with awesome technical trails at Terrace Mountain, Copper Mountain and Spring Creek. The Nass Valley sits to the north with the Nisga’a Highway (Highway 113) leading to the Gitlaxt’aamiks and as far west as Gingolx on Portland Inlet. The area has amazing lava beds, waterfalls and some excellent fishing.
TUMBLER RIDGE
Found at the intersection of Highways 29 and 52, Tumbler Ridge is the dinosaur capital of Northern BC. In addition to the Tumbler Ridge Global Geo-Park, home to dinosaur exhibits and trackway tours, there are over fifty hiking trails spread over this landscape dating back to prehistoric times. Trails lead to alpine meadows, mountain peaks, otherworldly rock formations, deep canyons and stunning waterfalls, including the 60 metre (197 ft) Kinuseo Falls which is higher than the World Famous Niagara Falls by a few metres! This is just one of almost thirty waterfalls found in and around the community, making Tumbler Ridge an adventurer’s dream.
It really does not matter where you travel in Northern BC, each community is unique and offers the traveller plenty of adventure opportunities. If you are ready to get out and discover any or all of these small towns, plan to pick up our new 7th Edition of the Northern BC Mapbook or add the BRMB Maps app for Apple or Android to your phone or tablet. Both offer a host of details for each Adventure we highlight to help create the ultimate road trip. While you are out there, be sure to add your photos and reviews on the BRMB Maps app or tag us on social media with #BRMBLIFE.