 Stikine River
JF Bergeron photo For those of you fascinated by fossil remains, check out the dinosaur footprints and trackways in Tumbler Ridge as well as more fossils and dinosaur replicas at The Exploration Place Science Centre & Museum in Prince George.
Two natural destinations you won't want to miss are the blue-coloured Bear Glacier and the majestic Salmon Glacier - two sights that celebrate nature in all its glory.
Alcan Kitimat Works Aluminum Smelter
The Alcan Kitimat Works Aluminum Smelter is among the world's largest aluminum smelters and Kitimat's founding industry. Between 1950 and 1954, the town of Kitimat, the smelter, Kenny Dam in the Nechako River Canyon, and the Kemano Power House were carved out of the wilderness. Today, visitors can tour the smelter, where up to 272,000 tonnes (299,829 tons) of primary aluminum are produced each year. Through a brief video, you'll learn more of Alcan's arrival in BC over 50 years ago. You'll then take a guided bus tour of Kitimat Works' reduction, wharf and casting facilities.
The smelter is located off Highway 37 in Kitimat.
A word or two on your visit:
- No admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 1.5 hours
> Alcan Kitimat Works website
Bear and Salmon Glaciers
Not only will Bear glacier astonish you with its beauty and vivid blue colour, but it's one of the few blue glaciers in the world with such easy roadside access. Just look for the pullout, park your vehicle and gaze. The spectacular glacier descends into Strohn Lake, almost reaching the highway. There's even a picnic area.
Bear Glacier is located alongside Highway 37A, a 20-minute drive from Meziadin Junction, just before Stewart.
To reach Salmon Glacier - one of the largest glaciers in North America - you'll need to travel over 40 km (25 mi) from Stewart along the rugged Granduc mining road. The road winds through absolutely stunning scenery, passing the eastern edge of Salmon Glacier and Summit Lake. Guided tours to the site are available.
A word or two on your visit to Salmon Glacier:
- Approximate time required: 2-4 hours
- Part of this journey requires crossing the Canada/US border into Alaska; visitors must report to Canada Customs upon their return to Canada
- Large RVs are not recommended on the Granduc mining road
> Bear Glacier Park website
Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park
Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, 20-minute drive from Smithers, is home to one of the world's most significant fossil beds. A short walk along a trail brings you to a platform overlooking a cliff face. Here you can find interpretive information about these beds.
Learn about the area as it was 50 million years ago through the plant, animal and insect species embedded within the shale formations: this northern climate was once a series of sub-tropical-to-tropical freshwater swamps and lakes. The park is a delightful spot to eat lunch. Please don't remove any fossils during your exploration.
A word or two on your visit:
- Approximate time required: 30 minutes
> Driftwood Canyon Park website
The Exploration Place Science Centre & Museum
Everyone will find something of interest at The Exploration Place Science Centre & Museum in Prince George, Northern BC's largest science centre and museum. Of particular note are: the Paleontology Gallery, which includes two fleshed-out dinosaurs about 75 to 70 million years old; and the Explorations Gallery, which features over 30 different species of critters, plus an exhibit of the common tree species from across Canada.
Tumbler Ridge Dinosaur Footprints
In the last few years, Tumbler Ridge has become the site of some of BC's most important dinosaur fossil finds. To view an example of these fascinating discoveries, hike the short, 2-km (1.25-mi) Flatbed Pools Trail to Cabin Pool on Flatbed Creek just outside Tumbler Ridge. At Cabin Pool rock, you'll be able to see at least two dozen prints. Sign up for an evening lantern tour at the Tumbler Ridge Tourism Information Booth - the footprints are more visible under lantern light
Tumbler Ridge is accessed by either Highway 29 or Highway 52.
A word or two on your excursion:
- Approximate time required: 2 hours
W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Peace Canyon Dam
The W.A.C. Bennett Dam, completed in 1967, was a colossal project in its time and remains one of BC's most impressive to date. As one of the world's largest earth-filled structures, the dam impounds BC's largest reservoir - 1,761-sq km (680-sq mi) Williston Lake, which took five years to fill!
The W.A.C. Bennett Dam offers guided tours that are one hour in length, including a film presentation, scenic bus ride into the canyon and a walking tour of the underground powerhouse, which is located 152 m (500 ft) below the surface bedrock! The tour begins at the Visitor Centre, which offers hands-on electricity related scientific displays, as well as a café and small gift shop.
Twenty-three km (14 mi) downstream from the W.A.C. Bennett Dam is the Peace Canyon Dam. During its construction from 1975 to 1980, a fossilized partial skeleton of a plesiosaur was found - a giant marine reptile about 12 m (40 ft) long. Also discovered were footprints of hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs), horned dinosaurs and birds. Learn more about the building of the dam and the area's dinosaur discoveries at the onsite Visitor Centre.
A word or two on your visit:
- Fees apply for the underground tour
- Approximate time required: 1-3 hours
> W.A.C. Bennett Dam website
> Peace Canyon Dam website
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