Over the Edge + November 3, 2010

Stuff to do West of PG

The mountains and the ocean!

GRACE WADDELL
PHOTO EDITOR

This part three in the “Stuff to do near PG” series- this time
heading west around Highway 16. This is also a really
excellent train trip on Via Rail if you’re more interested in
seeing the sights than checking out the stops along the
way. The way west offers many small communities to visit
and wilderness to explore. This is a good combination

of scenery and lakes to check out and if you’re feeling
adventurous, the ocean at Prince Rupert is in this direction
as well.

West Lake 22km: This lake has a well maintained
provincial park and a swimming area that is well marked to
keep boats out. One concern about swimming is there is
usually swimmer’s itch which comes from such a small and
much used lake but there are convenient showers near the
beach for that reason. The park has fire pits, volleyball nets
and lots of options for hiking, waterskiing and picnicking. If
you don’t mind the crowds, it’s a nice short drive from PG,
turning south onto the Blackwater Road with good signs.
Bednesti 51km: This stop offers the Saik’uz Gateway Arts
and Cultural Exchange Centre which offers the general
public an opportunity to meet local First Nations artists and
be able to purchase their work. Also at Bednesti there is a

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store, licensed restaurant and campground. This is a great

chance to discover First Nations artists and enjoy the lake
which lacks the crowds of other nearby lakes.

Vanderhoof 109km: This is a small and very agricultural
community but does boast some cool things besides being
the real geographical centre of BC, such as the Nechako
Bird Sanctuary which is a haven for migratory birds. Another
attraction first seeing if the Vanderhoof Heritage museum
that has all kinds of information on northern BC history as
well as the OK Café which has excellent pie and guided
tours.

Fort St. James 161km: This town is accessible by taking
the Stewart Lake Highway for 50km after a right turn past
Vanderhoof. This is a great place to stay for any kind of

outdoor activities and is on one of the largest lakes in BC.

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The Fort St. James National Historic Site is

a reproduction of an HBC trading post and offers tours,
demonstrations and events. This is also an excellent area
for wildlife viewing.

Fort Fraser 150km: A very small unincorporated
community, Fort Fraser is a good place to stop and get gas
and if you’re in town on Labour Day weekend they have one
of the oldest fairs in BC.

Fraser Lake 158km: Another small town in the same area
as Fort Fraser, Fraser Lake boasts that it is the “Swan
Capital of the World” as it is a stopping ground for migratory
swans. The area also has Cheslatta Falls- 37km south and
First Nations pictographs along the Fraser River.

Burns Lake 223km: There are many places not to miss

in Burns Lake such as the natural foods store which in
many ways surpasses what is available in Prince George,
Mulvaney’s Pub which has excellent food and atmosphere,
Redfern’s Café which features locally grown food as

much as possible as well as awesome smoothies, and the
Woodland Bakery which is in the same complex as the
Overwaitea and has European bakery treats and great

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bread. The lake is easily accessible from the town and is
great for all kinds of water related activities. Burns Lake has
a great community feeling and generally friendly people.
The surrounding area has many lakes, one of the most
beautiful being Babine Lake which was formed by volcanic
activity and is the largest natural lake in BC.

Francois Lake 253km: This lake is accessible south

of Burns Lake 30km on the North Francois Hwy. It’s the
second largest lake in BC and is serviced by a ferry that
goes south towards Ootsa Lake. Omineca Alpaca Ranch is
located on the north side of Francois Lake and gives tours
of the property and introduces you to some of the friendlier
alpacas. The lake itself can be subject to heavy storms but
is otherwise a beautiful spot.

Houston 320km: Besides being known as the “Steelhead
Capital” and home of the world’s largest fishing rod,
Houston offers the Nanika-Kidprice Lakes Basin canoe
route which travels through glaciers and mountains and
extensive forestry tours that illustrate how trees in the area

are planted, harvested and used. There is also a farmers
market for most of the summer and autumn months.

Smithers 370km: Seemingly different than the rest of
northern BC, Smithers is an interesting town in that it has
relatively heavy support for the arts and environmental
activism. Residents of this town often work to help
environmental issues in the area. The town itself feels a bit
like Switzerland as it’s in the mountains and the downtown
is built in Alpine style. In June the Mid-Summer music
festival is worth checking out. Also, local residents are
referred to as “Smithereens.”

Terrace 573km: This area is technically a rainforest and

is located upon terraced rock. The city is located on the
confluence of two rivers much like PG but makes better
use of them for public access. One of the most interesting
attractions in this area is the Kermode bear which is the
white colour phase of the black bear. There are many
sightseeing tours that offer glimpses of these bears but one
may have just as much luck on their own.

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