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| Come along with us - we'll tell you about the
sights and attractions, the little-known facts and history of
our region... |
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We are travelling from East
to West
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 Smithers
to Kitwanga - 110 km, 68 miles or
68 minutes
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We'll start in Smithers at the intersection of
Highway 16 and Main St.
Please set your odometer to 0 |
| More information about Smithers
- Supplies and Services are here
- Accommodations are here |
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KM 1.8
MILE 1.1
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Ski Area to the west  |
| In the Town of Smithers, you can see the ski runs
cut on the south end of Hudson Bay Mountain. It's a 24 km drive
on gravel road to the ski area parking lot. From there, you
can hike up the ski runs to the alpine area and a view of the
town and valley. The trails to Crater
Lake and the South Peak start
from the ski area. Follow the ski hill signs at the south end
of Smithers. |
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Lake Kathlyn |
| The lake is the perfect spot for photographing
Hudson Bay Mountain. You can pull into the Airport parking lot
to stop away from highway traffic. Best time of day is early
in the morning. |
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KM 5.2
MILE 3.3
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Glacier Gulch turnoff |
| It's a short drive from the highway to Glacier
Gulch and Twin Falls, one of the
most spectacular sights within easy drive of town. Follow the
signs. The gravel road is not recommended for large motorhomes
pulling vehicles or boats. |
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KM 6.8
MILE 4.3
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Rest stop |
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Southern glacier |
| From here, you can see the main glacier on Hudson
Bay Mountain. There are exploratory mining tunnels under part
of the glacier from a venture years ago to mine molybdenum.
No mine was built. You can hike to the glacier on the Glacier
Gulch Trail. There are mountain goats on the slopes you
see and if you use a spotting scope during early or late daylight
hours, you may see groups of goats feeding. |
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KM 10
MILE 6.3
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Toboggan Lake, with geese |
| In the Summer, there are several pairs of Canada
Goose who nest within sight of the Highway along the shore of
the lake. You will see the young feeding or swimming on this
most picturesque lake. |
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KM 12
MILE 8.3
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Northern glacier |
| At the northen end of Hudson Bay Mountain (to
the west), you can see one of two remnant glaciers high in the
large alpine valley. |
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Babine Mountains |
| In the distance to the east, you can see the Babine
Mountain Recreational Area. There are numerous alpine trails
and pristine meadows to explore. |
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Kitseguecla Valley turnoff |
| Note that this is the same name as the Kitseguecla
village we wil pass later, near Kitwanga. We are at the eastern
end of the same valley although the back roads do not yet connect. |
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Moricetown Falls |
| Be sure to stop in the months of July to September
to watch the native fishers gaff or net salmon. The entire flow
of the Bulkley River narrows to fit the Moricetown Falls. The
concrete tubes to either side of the river are fish ladders
to help the spawning fish to swim around the strong current
mid-channel. If you sit and watch, you will see salmon jump
high to get over the Falls. If you stand on the road bridge
and look into the water, you will see many fish waiting and
resting before trying to swim and jump through the Falls to
their spawning beds on waterways upstream. |
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KM 37.7
MILE 23.5
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Distant peak ahead |
| You can catch glimpses of Seaton Mountain on the
east side of the Bulkley Valley. |
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Rock cut |
| The Bulkley River is an important waterway for
spawning salmon and steelhead. Before Europeans arrived, there
were numerous native villages on rivers and lakes of BC and
a population that is estimated at a minimum of 25,000. Early
European explorers depended on the natives for food and guiding. |
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KM 62.4
MILE 38.8
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Seaton Mountain Range ahead |
| We are now following the Bulkley River, a tributary
of the Skeena. On the opposite (east) side of the river is the
Seaton Mountain Range. Highest point is at 2036 metres. |
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New Hazelton, at the turnoff to Old Hazelton
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| Turn north on the Old Hazelton Road to visit Ksan,
a re-created native village of long houses and totem poles.
For more information about Hazelton,
- Supplies and Services are here |
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KM 70.4
MILE 43.8
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Thomlinson Mountain |
| If you look to the north, you will catch a glimpse
of Thomlinson Mountain, along the Skeena River as it heads north.
At the Hazeltons, we will drive away from the Skeena River and
follow a tributary, the Bulkley River, to the south.. |
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Roche de Boule Mountain, Seeley
Lake Provincial Park |
| As you near the Hazeltons, Roche de Boule peak
will form a dramatic backdrop for the towns. The peak is very
impressive but there are many unseen peaks behind it that are
taller. |
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KM 79.1
MILE 49.2
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Tramway (to the east) t
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| In 1911, the longest gravity-powered single-cable
tram system in the world was built to haul ore from a mine on
the ridge to the south (left) down to a loading dock on the
river, a distance of about 7 km (4.3 miles). You can see the
straight-line trail down the slope where pylons stood to support
the cable system. |
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KM 85.5
MILE 53.2
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Carnaby sawmill |
| This sawmill is the largest in the Hazelton area.
The mill has been shut down often for years. The economy of
the Hazeltons depends on this mill for many jobs for local residents. |
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KM 89.1
MILE 55.4
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Layers of rock |
| Our local mountains are like layer cakes. The
bottom layer is Pacific Ocean sea floor pushed up against the
North American Plate. Next are layers of volcanic ash and freshwater
lake deposits. The top layer in the valley bottoms is a deep
layer of sand and gravel from centuries of glaciers that scrapped
and pushed rock for miles. You can see the layers of rock formed
at the bottom of an ancient inland lake on the cliffs to the
south (left). |
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Kitseguecla Village and Reserve |
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Skeena River |
| Before the railroad was built in 1911, flat-bottom
river sternwheelers brought supplies and people from Prince
Rupert as far as Hazelton. The current at some of the rapids
on the Skeena River was so strong that the crews had to winch
the boat up the river. A man would jump ashore and hook a line
to a permanent ring embedded in rock. A larger line was pulled
out and the steam-powered deck winch pulled the boat through
the current. Cords of wood where loaded aboard at shore stations
to fire the boilers on board. |
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KM 97.2
MILE 60.4
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Cut blocks on slopes on south (left) side of the
highway |
| Pine, Spruce, Balsam Fir and Hemlock are the main
tree species logged in this area. A unique species, Western
Red Cedar, is prized for decay-resistant lumber and shingles.
The eastern limit of Cedar, a coastal species, is on the east
side of the Hazelton Mountains. |
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Andimaul Mountain |
| We are following the Skeena River and across the
river is Andimaul Mountain. There was a fire lookout tower there
in years past but most manned fire watch towers were replaced
by sensors mounted on poles that scan the forest and detect
fires automatically and relay the information through a computer
network. |
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Kitwanga Mountain ahead |
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KM 110
MILE 68.4
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You are at the gas station at the junction of
Highway 37 (to Kitwanga) and Highway 16. |
| Highway 37 heads north to the Alaska highway near
Watson Lake. it's the ideal scenic route for the Alaska Loop
that includes the Alaska Highway. Highway 37 winds through the
Coastal Mountains and some of the most pristine wilderness in
the world. |
We're at the end of our journey, best of luck and enjoy
the rest of British Columbia...
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| Local BCNorth Group members who provide automotive
parts and service include: |
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