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Northern BC
Northern British Columbia is where you'll truly feel that you've crossed that ethereal border into some place different. Nowhere else are the rich cultures of Canada's indigenous people so keenly felt, from the Haida on Haida Gwaii to the Tsimshian on the mainland. Nowhere else does land so exude mystery, whether it's the storm-shrouded coast and islands or the silent majesty of glaciers carving passages through entire mountain ranges. And nowhere else is so alive with fabled fauna, from orcas to moose to grizzlies.
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Experience the real Northern BC. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.
Attractions
Must-see attractions.
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve & Haida Heritage Site
Haida Gwaii
This huge Unesco World Heritage site encompasses Moresby and 137 smaller islands at its southern end. It combines a time-capsule look at abandoned Haida…
Haida Heritage Centre at Kay Llnagaay
One of the top attractions in the north is this marvelous cultural center. With exhibits on history, wildlife and culture, it would be enough reason to…
Northern Lights Estate Winery
On the northern banks of the Nechako River, this is BC's northernmost winery, specializing in wines made from fruit produced on-site, including blueberry,…
Mt Robson Provincial Park
Northern BC's major mountain attraction abuts Jasper National Park, but on the BC side of the border. Uncrowded Mt Robson Provincial Park has steep…
North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site
Prince Rupert
Explore the history of fishing and canning along the Skeena River. This fascinating all-wood complex was used from 1889 to 1968; exhibits document the…
Ancient Forest / Chun T’oh Whudujut Park
About 113km east of Prince George is the site of BC's newest park, established in 2016. The Ancient Forest features two trails – a 900m boardwalk (return)…
Museum of Northern BC
Residing in a building styled after an indigenous longhouse, this museum is a must-see. It shows how local civilizations enjoyed sustainable cultures that…
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park
A provincial park with a steamy ecosystem that allows a whopping 250 species of plants to thrive. After a long day in the car on Hwy 97, you'll thrive too…
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Sep 12, 2017 • 5 min read
A luxury rail journey combined with a coastal cruise is the hottest way to see western Canada and southeast Alaska. Each summer, thousands take a gourmet…
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Northern BC Travel Guide
British Columbia’s north is a vast wilderness full of wildlife, pristine glaciers, ancient totem poles and raw rugged splendour.
Epic Highways In Northern BC
Road-tripping in Northern BC is like being in another world. The population decreases and wild animal sightings increase the further north you travel. It gets quieter and more adventurous as the roads get rougher.
Nass Valley AutoTour
Stewart-Cassiar #37
Top Posts BC
Featured towns in northern bc.
Stewart BC / Hyder Alaska
The Hazeltons
25 Best Small BC Towns
Northern british columbia travel guide.
Northern BC Facts
Table of Contents
Northern BC is roughly the top half of British Columbia . It has a size of 500,000 square km and is home to fewer than 500,000 residents. This makes Northern BC one of the least densely populated places in North America. Prince George is northern BC’s largest city.
People who live in northern BC are passionate about their large outdoor playground, its culture and colourful past and are eager to share it with you.
Northern BC has lots of open spaces, long stretches of lonely roads and plenty of hidden treasures for you to discover. You will come across an abundance of Canadian wildlife . What an amazing sight to see a herd of buffalo on the side of the road or a female moose with her baby or stone sheep making their way across cliffs.
It happens to many of us. We travel to far-away places and we don’t know our own country, (or province in my case). I spent many years in the Okanagan Valley and didn’t have a clue what Northern BC was like. For me, northern BC was a place where people went to find work and made a big buck, just like in northern Alberta .
Little did I know until I travelled through the northern part of the province on my way to the Yukon for the first time. I soon realized that this was unspoiled land and as beautiful as it can get. It’s a land made for wilderness adventures of any kind, just the way I like it.
Northern BC – Why You Should Go
If you’re looking for fast wilderness and raw rugged beauty, rich history, interesting aboriginal culture and authentic people, you’ve come to the right place. Follow the historic trails of the First Nation people, explorers, fur traders, gold seekers, pioneers, railroaders, and lumberjacks. This region of British Columbia has it all.
Once you escape to Northern BC, you might find yourself coming back again and again.
Getting There and Around
Four main highways give access to Northern BC:
- Yellowhead Highway 16 from the Alberta border in the east to Prince Rupert on the Pacific coast. At Kitwanga you can head north on Highway 37 to Stewart, Yukon and Alaska.
- Alaska Highway 97 north from Prince George to Dawson Creek and to the Peace River Country. From there Highway 97 continues north to the Yukon and Alaska.
- Steward Cassiar Highway 37 originates in Kitimat. This north/south route follows Highway 16 for a small stretch before turning north at Kitwanga. From here it continues to its terminus near Watson Lake in the Yukon. Highway 37 A leads to Stewart BC and Hyder Alaska .
- Atlin Highway 7
Prince George is northern BC’s busiest airport and offers frequent scheduled flights to major cities. Smaller regional airports are in Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Smithers, Terrance/Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Sandspit, and Masset. Services are provided by Air Canada, WestJet, Central Mountain Air, Hawkair, Northern Thunderbird Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Harbour Air and many charter companies.
Via Rail’s Skeena line roughly parallels Highway 16 and connects Prince Rupert to Jasper, Alberta. If you decide to take this scenic route you will have to stay over in Prince George. The train stops here overnight and re-board the next morning.
BC Bus North is a new long-haul coach service offering connections between Prince Rupert, Prince George, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Valemount. This service has a fixed route and schedule.
Greyhound is not operating in Canada anymore.
Prince Rupert is the southern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway System and a frequent stop for Vancouver and Alaska-bound cruise ships. It’s also the terminus of BC Ferries routes up the Inside Passage from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and across the Hecate Strait from Haida Gwaii. For BC Ferries information visit www.bcferries.com
Top Activities and Adventure Destinations
Northern BC offers limitless outdoor adventure recreation. The countless lakes, rivers, and streams are ideal for water sports like canoeing, kayaking, sailing, and fishing. Other popular activities during the summer months are horseback riding, golfing hiking, birding, and wildlife viewing.
- Venture out on an ocean kayaking tour along Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), known for its rainforests and First Nations history.
- Join a whale-watching trip from Prince Rupert
- Go grizzly bear viewing at Belarko on the road to Bella Coola.
- Visit Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park for an unforgettable soak in the natural hot pools.
- Find history at Fort St. James National Historic Site
- Kinuseo Falls at Tumbler Ridge
- For the adventure seeker, there is the gravel road to Telegraph Creek.
- Don’t miss a visit to the border towns of Stewart Canada and Hyder (the friendliest little ghost town in Alaska), and take a self-guided tour up to the Salmon Glacier, Canada’s largest glacier accessible by road.
- The Hazeltons and the Kasan First Nation Village
- Drive the Auto Tour from Terrace to Nass Valley and Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Park
- 25 Best BC Towns to Visit – check out the selection of unique small towns in British Columbia
Communities In Northern BC
The main communities to visit in northern BC include Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers, The Hazeltons , Stewart , Houston, Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge, and Fort Nelson. Read more: Alaska Highway .
Read more: 25 Best Towns in British Columbia to Visit
RELATED LINKS
Thompson Okanagan Travel Guide
Kootenay Rockies Travel Guide
Cariboo Chilcotin Travel Guide
Alaska Highway Travel Guide
TOP POSTS about British Columbia
Hiking Secrets
How to get around Canada
Backcountry Accommodation
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The beautiful province of British Columbia offers an extensive amount of activities, sites, and landscapes to enjoy throughout the year. While the southern part of the province boasts the more urban areas, the northern area of British Columbia lets visitors enjoy a variety of historical, natural and cultural sites and more remote regions.
Larger than California, Northern British Columbia extends up to the Yukon/Alaska border with sweeping glaciated valleys, volcanic rock formations, towering mountain ranges and mist-shrouded coast. Carvings in the Laxgalts'ap Carving Shed. Some highlights include Monkman Provincial Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial ...
Northern BC. Southeast of downtown (follow 20th Ave east of Gorse St), Exploration Place has various kid-friendly galleries devoted to science, and natural and…. Discover the best attractions in Northern BC including Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve & Haida Heritage Site, Haida Heritage Centre at ...
Canada, North America. Northern British Columbia is where you'll truly feel that you've crossed that ethereal border into some place different. Nowhere else are the rich cultures of Canada's indigenous people so keenly felt, from the Haida on Haida Gwaii to the Tsimshian on the mainland. Nowhere else does land so exude mystery, whether it's the ...
Northern BC is roughly the top half of British Columbia. It has a size of 500,000 square km and is home to fewer than 500,000 residents. This makes Northern BC one of the least densely populated places in North America. Prince George is northern BC’s largest city. People who live in northern BC are passionate about their large outdoor ...
Finding Nature in Northern British Columbia. 7 to 10 days, 1200 km (745.65 mi) Follow this road trip through some of the most scenic and remote areas of British Columbia. Destination British Columbia. FacebookTwitter.