The Northern British Columbia Region
BC’s most northern region is a haven for recreational vehicle owners. Highway 16, better known as the Yellowhead Highway, links the west coast port of Prince Rupert with Terrace and Smithers. Located near Terrace is the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed, a sacred Aboriginal site. Further east is the delicate sub-alpine terrain of Bulkley valley, and the Babine Mountains Recreational Area, with 32,400ha (80,060 acres) of hiking, biking and horseback trails. The nearby Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park contains fossils dating back more than 10 million years. The northern route of Highway 97 intersects the Yellowhead Highway at Prince George, on the eastern side of the province. A ‘Mile 0’ Cairn marks the official beginning of the Alaska Highway at the Northern Alberta Railway Park in Dawson Creek, 406km (254 miles) north of Prince George. The Fort Nelson Heritage Museum in Fort Nelson offers a glimpse of what life was like 200 years ago on a northern fur-trading route.
Adjacent to the town of Prince Rupert, the Queen Charlotte Islands are inhabited by several Aboriginal communities. Many of the islands are only accessible by boat or floatplane. The coastal sanctuary of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve is home to more than one million seabirds and animals and includes a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Art stores and galleries featuring the carvings and paintings of the Haida First Nations dot the towns of Masset, Old Masset, Queen Charlotte City and Sandspit. Northern BC’s spectacular west coast is best appreciated by ferry, which links Prince Rupert with Vancouver Island’s Port Hardy. BC’s information centres can provide Visitor Information Centres can provide information on journey times and destinations.
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