July 16, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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Upon a recent excursion into Northern BC and looking for relief from the wonderful summer heat we discouvered the Ancient Rain Forest 111km east of Prince George on the Yellowhead Highway. This little treasure is well known amongst the locals in Prince George and McBride; however, typically I am in a hurry to get to Jasper National Park and rarely take time out of my travels to explore this little gems.
Although the turn off to the Ancient Forest is a little hard to find (especially if your having philosophical debates with your buddies) keep your eyes peel to the right side of the road (the turn off to the parking lot is located just past the Driscoll Ridge turn off). The trail typically starts from the right hand side and the heavy moisture rich smell that is typically associated with the coastal forests will begin to invaded your olfactory senses. As you make your way up the trail, the smell of the rainforest will draw you in even more. Follow up the trail to find the Big Tree- this is the oldest and biggest tree within this rainforest; on the way there be sure to you stop for a photo at the massive cedar tree that you can `lift`with your bare hands.
From the Big Tree, you are taken into the cedar ciricle- be sure you look up to see the ciricle of trees as they tower up above you. We just had to take the panaoramic shot as we circled under neath the spiraling trees. From the cedar circle, we found ourselves at the water fall were we were able to forlick in the water for a little. The water fall lead us to the dead beard area and from dead beard we made our way back to the parking lot
The Ancient Rain Forest is truely ahidden gem of Prince George and northern BC and one that should be on everyone`s to do list- whether you are a resident or visitor.
July 06, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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An opportunity to be a prospector... well at least a prospector that excelled at finding nuggets along the Fraser River- this was me the other evening. It had been a while since I'd been on the Fort George Canyon Recreational trail when a friend and I decided to give it a go. The trail was 2.3 km's down to the river's edge which was fast moving and high due to the past month of rain; however, it provided us an opportunity to explore up river more. Once on the river's edge, we proceeded up river where we found rocks, rocks and more rocks. My friend is somewhat of geological fantantic and we went to work searching for nuggets! Boy... did we find nuggets! The colour variety was amazing and the shapes were wonderful. Although buggy this did not deter us from collecting a few for making jewellery and other creative stuff in the near future. I definetly recommended this trail (which is an easy identifiable and well marked trail) for families who are wanting to explore more of the Prince George area and who perhaps would like to find the hidden treasures of the Fraser River.
July 31, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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In the heart of Prince George, there are several hiking and leisure walking trails that are available for use. There are several starting points to the trail that can be accessed from main parking lots. The trail length is 12.5 kilometers in total and can be accessed from 2 parking lots off of Foothills Boulevard and one parking lot off Ospika Boulevard. There is one outhouse on the trail, at the main starting point on Foothills. The trail encircles a meadow that is often home to several species of wildlife including deer, moose and red foxes and coyotes. If you are an avid birdwatcher, Moore's Meadow is the best place that you could position yourself. On more than one occasion, I have seen a bald eagle and sparrows in and circling the area above the main path. I recommend the trail as a hiking path during summer, spring and fall. The colour changes are absolutely remarkable and the scenery is a treat to those looking to experience the wilderness in their own backyard. Although the trail is a most common use area for hikers and runners, it is also popular for mountain bikers looking for a leisurely ride. In some sections, there are off leash areas where you make take your dog for a walk and let it run free in the meadow. The trail is composed of packed earth and wood chips and in some sections there are tree routes sprouting from the ground!
The park is also a great spot for those interested in being a part of the history of Prince George!! The meadow is based from a ground upheaval sometime during the ice age thousands of years ago!
Pop into the Prince George Visitors information center to get more information on Moore's Meadows and several other trails in Prince George!!
June 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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At the beginning of last week, I hiked in the LC Gunn trail that overlooks Fort George Park and a bit of Prince George! The trails are in awesome condition and the sun was shining which made the hike so much more worth it! There is a steep section at one point, but once you get to the top of it, it makes you realize the climb is definitely worth it!! There is a parking lot in the area that is safe and fine to leave you vehicle and the trail is very accessible from there! Make sure you bring bug spray, the mosquitos are pretty bad!
June 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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A friend and I went hiking in Fort George Canyon last week and the hike was great! The hiking trails are a little bit damp in some areas, but not enough to ruin the hike. On just the drive out there, we saw a mother bear and 3 cubs and 2 deer. It was definitely worth going out there! We found it a bit tricky to find when we first went out, but once found it, there was no problem getting back out. For hiking on this trail, bug spray is a must!
June 01, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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I went hiking at Teapot Mountain on Monday May 30 and the hike was great. There were no damp, muddy or snowy spots on the hike that would make it hard to climb. It was a steep one from the beginning and about 1 km up. The top of the mountain has an awesome view of the surrounding lakes and great variety of dense forest. There is no places that supply water along the hike so make sure you are prepared with that and bug spray!
July 26, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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I could see Teapot Mountain long before I arrived there. Being a volcanic plug (it's been around for a while!!), it sticks out like a sore thumb from the otherwise gently rolling landscape, and it doesn't require too much imagination to actually see the teapot shape.
When I got there with the dogs we started up the hill and were surprised by the steepness - while the trail may not be very long, it does pack a punch in some places as far as elevation gain goes. However, once on top we were rewarded with beautiful 360 degree vistas from the four viewpoints and saw some waterfowl on the lake below.
I enjoyed hiking at Teapot Mountain, and it's special in that it is one of only two volcanic plugs in the area.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Editor's note: Learn more about hiking around Prince George here.
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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I can't recall how many times I've hiked in the Forests for the World (FFTW), but it's likely you'll see something a little different each and every time you go.
FFTW is located just behind the University of Northern British Columbia, and it can be accessed via its own parking lot, via a walking trail from UNBC, and via the Cranbrook Hill Greenway. Most of the times I've hiked there I went in on the Cranbrook Hill Greenway, which meanders through the forests until it officially enters FFTW. Most of the trails there are loops (adding up to about 25km of hiking trails), with an assortment of gradients and difficulty levels.
Shane Lake, located in the center of FFTW, is a popular hiking destination, and is pictured in the accompanying photo. My personal favourite however is the large wooden viewing platform that visitors can climb onto and enjoy a sweeping view over Prince George and all the way to the Rocky Mountains on a clear day.
I've hiked in the FFTW both in the summer and the winter, and especially during fall and winter I've seen a fair few moose along the trails.
If you're looking for a great hiking opportunity not far from downtown Prince George, the Forests for the World are one of your best options.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: Shutter Logix
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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Here I was, on a warm late-summer day in Prince George, looking for a nice hike to take my dogs on. I had heard about Fort George Canyon, and finally decided to give it a go. It’s about 15 minutes off Highway 16, and the road gradually narrows as one approaches the park, but remains in good driving condition.
The trail begins at a tiny parking lot, and gently winds its way through the woods. The scenery then changes to somewhat of a mud bog, and I was thankful for the boardwalks to keep me dry and clean (the dogs, on the other hand, decided that going through the mud was much preferable).
After about 45 minutes we reached a lookout point that opens up to a great view facing east, and I got some nice landscape photos. From then on we descended steadily down a sometimes rather steep hill, skirted the cutbanks, and eventually arrived on the shores of the Fraser River. What bliss for the dogs, who took the opportunity to jump right into the river, cool off, and have a drink. After a bit of a rest there, we made our way back up the hill and back towards the parking lot, arriving at the truck about three hours after we had left.
Fort George Canyon is a moderate hike, and because of its beautiful, varying scenery and excellent trail conditions, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: Panoramio
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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When the leaves start to turn colour, Eskers Provincial Park, about 20 minutes northwest of Prince George, is a beautiful place to be. I took my three dogs on the hike, and from the parking lot we first walked to the lake and marsh, enjoying the serene environment. From there we followed one of the many well-marked hiking loops up on a ridge, which revealed a lovely overview of the area. When we made it back to the truck after about two hours of hiking, I had three tuckered dogs and was glad I went.
One great thing about Eskers is that you can customize your hike both in regards to how far you want to go, and how strenuous you want it to be. Either way, you'll be rewarded with beautiful scenery and a good chance of seeing moose and bears. Eskers is also very popular for cross-country skiing because of its sloping hills and wide terrain, making it a great year-round destination
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: BC Parks
Editor's note: Learn more about hiking in Prince George here.