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.

History

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.

Information/Emergency

Smithers Travel Info Center adjacent to, at the intersection of Highway 16 and Main Street, open year round, 847-5072 or toll free 1-800-542-6673. Box 2379, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0. Free water and a dump station are available here.

Emergency Police - 847- 3233; Fire - 847-2345; Ambulance 847 8808; Hospital 3950 8th Avenue, 847-2611.

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Accommodations
Hudson Bay Lodge 3251 E. Highway 16, Box 3636, Smithers, BC V0J 2N0; 1-800-663-5040 in Alberta and BC; 250 847-4581, fax 250 847-4878. Our 100-room hotel features  in room movies, a hot pool, the Alpine cafe, Twin Falls dining room, and the Fireside Pub. There is a whirlpool to help you relax after a day of hiking  or skiing on Hudson Bay Mountain or golfing on one of our two local golf courses.

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Camping
Riverside Municipal Park 847-1600. Picnic tables, firepits, cookhouse  with running water, large washing sink, cookstove, outdoor washrooms, hiking  trails. No hook-ups, pay phones, security gate. Turn west on Main Street in Smithers and follow Main Street until the Riverside Park sign.

Riverside Recreational Centre 847-3229. 1/2 mile east of Smithers.  Camp sites with electric and water connections. Dump station, washrooms and showers. Lounge  and dining facilities. Par 3 golf—club rental and driving range.

Transportation

Air Canada 1-888-247-2262

Central Mountain Air at the Airport, 250 847-4780

Hawkair provides flights to Masset with its partner airline TK Air starting May 12, 2003. Up to 3 flights daily connect Prince Rupert to Masset, QCI. Toll free in Canada 1-866-429-5247 or 1-800-487-1216.

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Things To Do

Bulkley Valley Museum has some fascinating railroad paraphernalia, including a hand-operated vehicle designed for carrying one person. The museum has also preserved historic area newspapers on microfiche. Open Mon. to Fri. - 10 to 5.

Community Forest. Offers an Interpretive Nature Trail that is approximately 3.5 km long. The trail is on Hudson Bay Mountain adjacent to the ski area.

Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park is a treasure hunters delight. But  don't bother looking for gold, silver or gems. Striking it rich along Driftwood Creek means uncovering Glytostrobus, Metasequoia or Cercopidae—the fossilized  remains of plants, animals and insects that died 48 million years ago. Driftwood  Creek fossil beds attract many enthusiastic visitors each year. The site has  a viewing platform, interpretive information, picnic area and a large talus  pile where visitors can hunt for fossils. Although visitors are encouraged  to enjoy the site, it is illegal to remove fossils from a provincial park.  Visitors who find fossils are encouraged to bring them to the parks office  for identification. Collectors will be allowed to keep common fossils. Rarer ones will be sent to the Royal Provincial Museum in Victoria. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park - day use only - is located 13.5 km/8.3 miles northeast of Smithers. There is an easy 300 meter trail to the fossil beds.

Kathlyn Glacier, a remnant from the ice age. A steep climb which takes about 3 hours will bring you fairly close to the glacier.

Twin Falls - Glacier Gulch. Many years ago, a mighty glacier crunched out a mile wide gulch into the mountains where Smithers lies today. It left a spectacular canyon graced with two beautiful waterfalls cascading down its walls.

Allow 30 min. to drive the 10 km from town and about 45 min. for hiking. Follow the 1/4 mile rocky path and you will reach a lookout platform where  you will view both falls as they descend from the glacier.

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