S ECT I O N 2 NO RT H W EST BR I T I SH COLUMBI A CANADA
Bulkley River near Smithers, B.C. – Clint Fraser
SMITHERS Just 14 km (9 mi) west of Telkwa on Highway 16, you’ll arrive at Smithers, pop. 5,400. Its red-bricked Main Street is graced by alpine-themed architecture and murals celebrating the Bulkley Valley landscape, and crowned by the monumental presence of Hudson Bay Mountain — all fitting in a town where people are crazy for mountains and the recreation possibilities they bring! Smithers’ friendly, active residents are employed in services, forestry, mining, agriculture and tourism. Meet them, and discover why this town is as easily identified with dynamism as it is year-round recreation opportunities. Smithereens value cooperation, entrepreneurial spirit and the arts. There’s a healthy local appetite for hosting, performing and learning diverse music styles, with numerous coffeehouses, house concerts, concerts, dances and instructional events. WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN SMITHERS
Hike the Valley’s inexhaustible trail network, which range from quick and easy jaunts to challenging, multiday excursions. Try the two-hour hike from the lift at Hudson Bay Mountain to Crater Lake — and take a bracing dip! Explore the Telkwa Range and Babine Mountain Provincial Park. Get great views of the valley, and the cooling spray of two towering waterfalls, at Glacier Gulch and Twin Falls, just 15 minutes’ drive from downtown. A two-hour hike up a rough, steep trail near the base of the falls ascends to the glacier above. (Note: it is dangerous to walk on any glacier without appropriate equipment and experience.) Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, like mountain goats!
56
NORTH E R N B R IT ISH CO LUM BI A T RAV E L GUI DE 20 14
Fish for coveted steelhead and four species of Pacific salmon. Tour the Bulkley Valley trails on horseback or mountain bike — on your own or with a tour. View 50 millionyear-old fossils at nearby Driftwood Canyon. Explore rivers, from serene to class four-plus whitewater, by boat, canoe, kayak or raft. Explore the life cycle of the precious salmon resource, at the Toboggan Creek Salmon Hatchery. Golf at two 18-hole golf courses. Hear high-quality music, including more than 70 local, regional and national bands, at the three-day Midsummer Music Festival. Attend any of Smithers’ frequent musical coffeehouses, concerts, dances or music-instruction camps. Find out more by asking at local bookstores. Uncover Smithers’ stories, at the Bulkley Valley Museum and the Smithers Art Gallery. Look for books and documentaries produced by local writers. Enjoy live entertainment, produce, home cooking and treats at the Bulkley Valley Farmers’ Market, Saturdays from May to October. Ski and board at Hudson Bay Mountain, only 30 minutes from downtown Smithers.
W W W. NORTHER NBCTOUR ISM.CO M