Smithers

Situated in the scenic Bulkley Valley, and surrounded by majestic mountains  ranges, Smithers is a perfect settling for visitors to enjoy the splendors of BC’s Northern Interior. Located between Prince George and Prince Rupert on Highway 16, it offers modern accommodation, great shopping, airport and  heliport, and recreational facilities including 2 golf courses, an indoor  pool, ice arena and curling rink. Within a radius of a few kilometres is every conceivable outdoor activity, including excellent hiking, rock hounding, bird watching, water sports, and  hunting. Fishing is fabulous in the area, whether enjoying the world class steelhead fishing in our rivers, or fishing in one of the numerous lakes. Winter recreation includes cross country and downhill skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, skating, and curling.

Visitor Info Centre at the intersection of Highway 16 and Main Street, open year round. 250-847-5072 or 800-542-6673

Europeans didn’t arrive in this area until lured by the fur trade in the early 1800’s. The gold rush brought the next influx of treasure-hunters to the valley, and in an attempt to connect the northern gold fields with Seattle and San Francisco, a telegraph was constructed through the region in mid-century.

Although construction was abandoned in Hazelton in 1866, the telegraph remained  in use here until the 1930’s. The Bulkley Valley takes its name from the superintendent of the construction project, Charles S. Bulkley.

The city of Smithers was created by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad in an attempt to thwart land speculators. Realizing the company needed to build  a stop midway between Prince George and Prince Rupert, speculators purchased property around Telkwa and Hazelton, and the railway retaliated by building  the city of Smithers in the meadows below Hudson Bay Mountain.

It wasn’t until the arrival of the railroad that the farming, ranching, and  logging potential of the valley could be realized.

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