48 Hours in Prince George: An Accessible Getaway

By Destination British Columbia October 31, 2023

Northern Lights Estate Winery | Andrew Strain

A guide to Prince George for travellers with mobility challenges.

Prince George is the urban centre of Northern British Columbia, with a burgeoning dining scene, cultural attractions, craft breweries, and the most northerly winery in Canada. Set at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser rivers, PG, as it’s known locally, is surrounded by wilderness that is intrinsically linked to the city and its people.

Please Note: The information below is based on research and conversations with businesses at the time of writing. For current information—and to ensure that your particular needs can be met—we strongly recommend that you contact each business directly.

Getting Here & Getting Around:

The easiest way to reach Prince George is to fly into the Prince George Airport with Air Canada or WestJet and rent a car. With at least 48 hours’ notice, vehicles with hand controls, left-foot accelerators, spinner knobs, and pedal extenders are available through Hertz, National, and Enterprise rental agencies.

Another, ultra-scenic option is a train journey with VIA Rail, whose Jasper-Prince Rupert route makes an overnight stop in Prince George. There is also a reduced service from Vancouver. Anyone requiring the use of mobility devices can access trains at Jasper, Prince George, Terrace, and Prince Rupert.

Once in town, you can get out and about with Prince George Taxi; they have two taxis available for pre-booking that can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility devices. For larger groups, wheelchair-accessible transportation is offered by Diversified Transportation and Paxton Shuttle Service with a private booking.

A close up of a VIA Rail train. The sun is setting behind the train. A person loads a bag onto the train at the station.

VIA Rail | Andrew Strain

Accessible Prince George Accommodations Suggestions:

Prince George offers plenty of accommodation choices for those who require a range of accessibility options. The Coast Prince George Hotel by APA has one premium wheelchair-accessible junior suite, the Pomeroy Inn & Suites offers three wheelchair-accessible queen rooms, and the Courtyard by Marriott Prince George has six king wheelchair-accessible rooms as well as six rooms that are hearing accessible.

Four Points by Sheraton Prince George offers two wheelchair-accessible rooms, one queen and one king, with accessible bathtubs with shower chairs. The Travelodge by Wyndham Goldcap has one wheelchair-accessible room with a double and single bed, a bathtub, and a shower chair. And the Super 8 by Wyndham offers one queen wheelchair-accessible room with a hide-a-bed and a walk-in shower with a small lip (no shower chair).

Tourism Prince George has additional information about a wide range of accommodation providers.

Accessible Prince George Cultural Experiences:

Whether it’s the first thing you do when you arrive or the last before you leave, no trip to Prince George is complete without a souvenir photo of you posing with Mr. PG, an 8-m (27-ft) tall statue that represents the importance of the forestry industry to the local economy.

A statue depicting a giant man made of wood and holding a Canadian flag with the initials “PG” on his chest.

Mr. PG in Prince George. Photo: @rnchabot via Instagram.

The Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum looks at the role played by rail travel and forestry in the area. Explore historic buildings, locomotives and rolling stock, logging machinery, communication devices, fire-fighting equipment, and more. The massive collection of locomotives and railcars is particularly impressive.

Accessible Prince George Food & Drink Suggestions:

Notable accessible dining options here include Shogun Japanese Restaurant, North 54, and Oakroom Grill. And Zoe’s Java House is a local institution—thanks to their house-made pastries, soups, and sandwiches.

A bartender ours a glass of white wine for two women sitting at the bar at the Northern Estate Winery. They are dressed for winter and a snow covered field is seen in the windows.

Northern Lights Estate Winery | Andrew Strain

Want to imbibe like a Prince Georgian? Mingle with the locals in the tasting room at Northern Lights Estate Winery on the banks of Nechako River, the most northerly winery in the nation. Allow time for a meal at their on-site bistro.

Accessible Prince George Outdoor Activity Suggestions:

Approximately 90 minutes east on Highway 16 is the renowned Ancient Forest Trail/Chun T’oh Whudujut, where you can find towering old-growth trees that have stood there since time immemorial. Enjoy a bite in the covered gazebo before striking out along the 400-m (1300-ft) wheelchair-accessible boardwalk (other boardwalks in the park can accommodate various levels of mobility). Watch for interpretive signage to learn about the park’s ecology.

A wooden boardwalk through a forest with towering trees on both sides. The walkway is empty.

Ancient Forest Boardwalk | Jongsun Park

Other outdoor recreation options are located closer to the city. Try the Great West Life Mobility Nature Trail, accessed from the Dougherty Creek Recreation Site. It is a 500-m (1640-ft) wheelchair-accessible trail with picnic tables and accessible outhouses.

The 9-km (nearly 6-mi) Heritage River Trail System will take you from the Prince George Visitor Centre to the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum with minimal incline. These trails and more can be viewed at Access BC Virtual Tours.

Visiting in the winter months? Check out 55 kilometres (34 miles) of groomed trails at the Otway Nordic Ski Centre, just a short drive west of Prince George. They recently hosted the World Para Nordic Championships.

For more things to do in and around Prince George, visit Tourism Prince George.

Please Note: The information above is based on research and conversations with businesses at the time of writing. For current information—and to ensure that your particular needs can be met—we strongly recommend that you contact each business directly.