Smithers, British Columbia, Canada is one of the best places in the world to view mountain goats. You can watch mountain goats from several roads and campsites. Many more goats are seen along local hiking trails. The viewing season lasts from June 1 to October 1.
Viewing sites to drive to:
Main Street
Use binoculars or a spotting scope to view goats on the slopes of Hudson Bay Mountain to the west from Main Street or or any other open location in downtown Smithers.
Mount McKendrick
Drive south on Highway 16 for 4 km to the Babine Lake Road (Eckman Road) turnoff. Turn left (east) and proceed to the 26 km sign and look for a stretch of old roadbed on the right (east) side. Pull off the main road onto the old roadbed and use binoculars or a spotting scope to see goats in the steep cliffs to the east. This is a very good all-weather gravel road. Watch for logging trucks and avoid parking on the shoulder of the main road.
Morice Mountain
Drive west from Houston BC on Highway 16 for 4 km and turn left (south) on the Morice River Forest Service road. Proceed 17 km to the Aspen Forest Recreation Site. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to view goats on the cliffs of Morice Mountain to the east. This is a very good all-weather gravel logging road. Watch for logging trucks.
Rocky Ridge
Drive north from Smithers on Highway 16 and turn left on the Kitseguekla Lake road. Drive to to the end of the main road and use binoculars or a spotting scope to view goats on the ridge to the north. This road starts as a very good all-weather gravel road but changes to an unused logging road. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are best suited.
Glacier Gulch/Twin Falls
Park at the parking lot and walk to the observation deck. Mountain goats can be anywhere in the surrounding cliffs.
Hiking trails for goat watching:
This is bear country. Always carry bear spray when you hike. The following trails are listed in the order of importance for goat watching.
Open July 15 to September 30
Open July 15 to September 30
Open July 15 to September 30
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Wildlife Watching Ethics
Observe from a distance that's safe for you and for wildlife.
Move slowly and quietly.
Learn to recognize and respect wildlife alarm signals.
Allow wildlife to behave naturally.
Feeding animals can put you and the animals in danger.
Help others to become responsible wildlife watchers
Close encounters
You can encounter a herd or group of goats anywhere you hike in our local alpine areas. If you happen on mountain goats at less than 200 m distance, there are some things you can do to make the goats less anxious and to make your experience more memorable.
- Stop walking directly at the goats. Move slowly and quietly but keep moving.
- Take off your sunglasses. They make your eyes appear very large, dark and unblinking like the eyes of a stalking predator.
- Take off any large floppy hat. It makes you look alien.
- Speak in a low calm voice. Goats are fascinated by a soft human voice. Remember that predators on the stalk are silent.
- Look away occasionally. Predators stare.
- Travel at right angles to the goats if you can. Make room for the goats to get by. They will want to move upslope or sideways to reach escape terrain nearby.
- Mountain goats are usually very tolerant of visitors but remember that if you get too close to mountain goats or corner them, they will charge. That is the way they defend themselves against wolves and grizzlies. Use a telephoto lens on your camera to keep your distance.
- Never take dogs into the alpine – goats may tolerate you but they may see your dog as a predator. If your dog gets too close, they may attack just as they would defend themselves from a wolf.
- Human encounters with mountain goats should always be benign and non-threatening.
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