Great Northern Circle Route

Start your journey in the vibrant, modern city of Prince George. This basecamp to The Great Wilderness has more than 120 parks and plenty of indoor attractions.

Visit the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum, a fun industrial heritage attraction in a spacious park-like setting on the shores of the Nechako River. An hour east on Highway 16, you’ll find the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, the only inland temperate rainforest in the world and home to western redcedars that are over 1,000 years old.

Forty kilometres north is the historic Huble Homestead, where you can travel back in time to the 1900s and learn about early prospectors, as well as the traditional practices of the Lheidli T’enneh people at the First Nations Fish Camp exhibit.

Huble Homestead near Prince George | Jongsun Park

PG is home to BC’s northernmost winery, Northern Lights Estate Winery, which offers tours and tastings with views of the river. Beer lovers will want to check out the aptly named CrossRoads Brewing as well as the popular Trench Brewing and the newcomer to the scene, Deadfall Brewing right in town.

If you love mountain biking, visit the Pidherny Mountain Bike trails. Prefer horses to bikes? Book a trail ride with El Shaddai Ranch and explore the Fraser River canyon.

Drive north on Highway 97 to scenic Pine Pass. Stop at breathtaking Bijoux Falls before heading to Chetwynd.

In Chetwynd, stop and admire the famous chainsaw carvings lining the streets, the product of the community’s annual International Chainsaw Carving Championship.

Wood carvings in Chetwynd, BC | Jason Hamborg

Nearby, book lakeside cabins at Azouzetta Lake Lodge and Moberly Lake Marina and Resort, (which also offers boat rentals). Moberly Lake is home to northern pike, lake trout, and ling cod. Azouzetta, Gwillim, Jackfish, and Moose lakes are also popular fishing spots. If fly-fishing is your thing, wet a line on any of the nearby rivers, like the Burnt or Sukunka.

For those travelling by RV, Wild Mare RV Park is only five kilometres (three miles) west of town, and Caron Creek RV Park and Riverview B&B are 10 minutes south.

In Hudson’s Hope, explore one or more of the 14 mapped trails in the community.

Learning about the dinosaurs at Tumbler Ridge Museum.

From Chetwynd, take a side trip to Tumbler Ridge, the only UNESCO Global Geopark in western Canada, and embark on a “Dinosaur Trackway Tour” to hike to dinosaur footprints at the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark or check the exhibits at the Tumbler Ridge Museum.

Kinuseo Falls with Wild River Adventure Tours | Mike Seehagel

There is no shortage of outdoor adventure in Tumbler Ridge. Spend the day hiking some of the area’s spectacular trails, or charter a boat tour to the towering Kinuseo Falls with Wild River Adventure Tours. Want to get above it all? Ridge Heli Adventures can get adventurers into some of the msot stunning, remote scenery in The Great Wilderness.

Overnight in Dawson Creek—”Mile 0″ of the historic Alaska Highway—and visit the Dawson Creek Visitor Centre and Art Gallery, , which are housed in a renovated grain elevator annex. History buffs must check out the Walter Wright Pioneer Village, conveniently located next to the Mile 0 RV Park. Continue north on Highway 97 to Fort St. John.

Mile Zero of the Alaska Highway, Dawson Creek | Northern BC Tourism/Matthew Littlewood

Just outside of Fort St. John, stop at the picturesque 13-km/8-mi long Charlie Lake, known for its fishing opportunities. Angle for trout, Arctic grayling, walleye and northern pike. Further north, stop to photograph the rich hues of Pink Mountain at sunrise.

Stop in at either of Fort St. John’s two breweries, Mighty Peace or Beard’s Brewing to stock up for the journey ahead. Be sure to stop in at Whole Wheat and Honey for something to eat.

Be sure to check out the North Peace Cultural Centre Gallery and The Indigenous Artist Market before continuing your journey. Continuing north, pass Sikanni Chief Falls, located in an ecological reserve. View the 30-metre falls from a scenic vantage point or take a hike through the park.

Whole Wheat and Honey in Fort St. John | Sarah Sovereign

Next stop, Fort Nelson. The gateway to the Northern Rockies is a friendly town initially founded during the fur trade. Don’t miss the superb Fort Nelson Heritage Museum, which showcases the construction era of the Alaska Highway. If traveling by RV, head to Triple G Hideaway for full-service hookups, gift shop, and cafe. Another great place for lunch is Down to Earth café, which has become a hot spot for visitors and locals alike.

Collection at the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum | Gabriel Munhoz

As you head north, look for Stone’s sheep, bison, and other wildlife. Camp at Stone Mountain Provincial Park or Muncho Lake Provincial Park; these beautiful jade green lakes are nestled in a valley surrounded by folded mountains and brilliant wildflowers. For the full lodge experience, with float plane tours, canoe and boat rentals, full service RV hook-ups, and exquisite dining, don’t miss Northern Rockies Lodge.

Northern Rockies Lodge in Muncho Lake Provincial Park | Andrew Strain

As you head north toward the BC/Yukon border, a soak in the renowned Liard River Hot Springs is a must. At any time of year, this popular natural hot spring pool surrounded by nature is an unforgettable experience.

A couple soaking in the Liard River Hot Springs | Andrew Strain

Stop at the famous sign post forest in Watson Lake, Yukon. More than 67,900 license plates, road shields, and homemade signs are mounted here. Make your mark, then head south on scenic Stewart-Cassiar (Highway 37) to swim in Tā Ch’ilā Park’s (Boya Lake Provincial Park) crystal clear waters.

Paddlers at Tā Ch’ilā Park (Boya Lake Provincial park) | Andrew Strain

Take a side trip to the ghost town of Cassiar, then head south to Jade City before making your way to Dease Lake.

From the town of Dease Lake, known for its excellent fishing opportunities, book a flightseeing tour with BC Yukon Air for a bird’s eye view of some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country, including the volcanic plateau of Mount Edziza littered with craters and lava fields, and the rugged, snow-capped mountains of the Coast Range.

Cold Fish Lake Camp in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

From Dease Lake, head south down Highway 37 and paddle the Iskut Lake Chain. Be sure to make the trip to Cascade Falls. Stay at Red Goat Lodge on the shores of Eddontenajon Lake, where you’ll find cozy cabins and canoe rentals. From Tattoga Lake, fly with Alpine Lakes Air into into the Spatsizi Wilderness Plateau, or tour the geologically unique Mount Edziza.

Detour an hour west at Meziadin Junction on Highway 37A to the rustic town of Stewart, on the BC/Alaska border. Along the way, you’ll pass Bear Glacier—one of the few roadside blue glaciers in the world.

Hiking above the Salmon Glacier near Stewart | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain

Visit the Stewart Historical Museum, which is housed in a 1910 fire hall, to learn about the town’s colourful mining past. Stroll along the boardwalk for spectacular views of the Portland Canal, or stay the night at the renowned Ripley Creek Inn and borrow free cruiser bikes to explore town. Check in the Stewart Visitors’ Centre for road conditions, then grab your passport and head through Alaska to the Salmon Glacier, the largest vehicle accessible glacier in the world.

Don’t forget to visit Toastworks, a museum dedicated to—you guessed it—toasters. (It also happens to serve some of the best coffee and breakfast in town.) Before heading out, be sure to pick up a gooey cinnamon bun at Trudy’s Temptations Bakery and Deli.

From Stewart, travel south and relive history on an interpretive walking trail at at Battle Hill National Historic Site at the junction to the Stewart-Cassiar Highway and Highway 16.

Drive an hour east on Highway 16 to the Hazeltons and visit the renowned ‘Ksan Historical Village. Learn about Gitxsan history and culture, see traditional totem carvers at work, and stroll the shore where the Bulkley and Skeena rivers meet.

Visit the village of Witset where, in summer, you can watch skilled Witsuwit’en fishers catch salmon using traditional gaff poles and dip nets. The Widzin Kwah Diyik Be Yikh (Widzin Kwah Canyon House Museum) offers cultural tours and houses artifacts dating back up to 6,000 years.

Continue south to Smithers.

‘Ksan Historical Village in Northern BC | Andrew Strain

Near Smithers, stop alongside the highway to view the raging rapids of Moricetown Canyon. Further along the highway, venture near the thunder of cascading Twin Falls, which are fed by the Hudson Bay Mountain glaciers. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park features one of the world’s most significant fossil beds. Explore the plant, animal, and insect species that inhabited the area 50 million years ago and remain preserved in the shale formations.

Twin Falls Recreational Site near Smithers | 6ix Sigma

Northeast of Smithers are the rugged peaks and abundant wildlife of Babine Mountains Provincial Park. To the south, in the community of Houston, see the world’s largest fly-fishing rod and then try your hand in local lakes and rivers for trout, salmon, and steelhead. Houston is also a growing hub for mountain bikers.

Smithers in the fall | Northern BC Tourism/Marty Clemens

Explore over 300 lakes and almost 5,000 kilometers of shoreline from Houston to Fraser Lake. While a road trip through the region offers scenic views at every turn, the area is best seen from the air. Book a flightseeing tour with Lakes District Air or Nechako Lodge and Aviation.

Hiking via Lakes District Air floatplane | Taylor Burk

Burns Lake, while renown for its mountain bike trails, also lays claim to the smallest provincial park in BC— at just 1-hectare (2.4 acre), Deadman’s Island can only be visited via canoe or kayak (you can rent both from Lakeside Multiplex). Burns Lake is also the gateway to North Tweedsmuir Provincial Park with its remarkable fishing, and wilderness lodges like Tesla Lake Lodge and Pondosy Bay Wilderness Resort.

Tesla Lake Lodge cabin | Taylor Burk

Need to restock camping and outdoor supplies? You’ll find it at Woods N’ Water. For overnight options, you’ll find lake-side resorts with full-service RV-accessible sites and local campgrounds that have well-maintained and serviced sites.

Further east, in Vanderhoof, visit the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre to learn about their efforts toward white sturgeon recovery.

Detour north to Fort St. James National Historic Site to learn more about the history of Canada’s fur trade.

Fort St. James was established by explorer Simon Fraser in 1806 for the North West Company, and the site was dubbed “the Siberia of the Fur Trade” because of its harsh winters. Today, Fort St. James National Historic Site is reconstructed to the year 1896, and it includes a recreated Hudson’s Bay trading post. Original log buildings have been restored to form the largest grouping of wooden buildings representing the fur trade in Canada.

Fort St. James

Fort St. James is also the gateway to excellent fishing on numerous lakes, including Stuart Lake. An hour’s drive along a gravel road, you’ll find exceptional canoeing on the Nation Lakes Chain, a 5-to-10 day, 120-kilometre (75-mile) route on four wilderness lakes.

Ancient Forest near Prince George | Jongsun Park

To complete the circle route, return to Prince George via Highway 16 east.

Last updated: Feb. 28, 2024