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Chetwynd offers easy access to outdoor recreation. Hiking and mountain-biking trails abound, both in town and in the many provincial parks nearby. This is also camping country, with numerous vehicle-accessible sites as well as backcountry camping opportunities for the more adventurously inclined. Don’t miss Chetwynd’s notable collection of chainsaw carvings, on display throughout the town.
Take advantage of Chetwynd’s wonderful in-town hiking and biking trail system along Centurian Creek. Routes range in length from 200 m (656 ft) to 4 km (2.4 mi). The Chetwynd community forest, just outside of town, is home to many more terrific hikes, such as Baldy Mountain Trail. This breezy, 2-km (1.2 mi) route opens to an awe-inspiring view of Chetwynd and the surrounding area. Continue another 2 km (1.2 mi) to reach lovely Windham Falls. Mountain bikers can head to Moberly Lake and Gwillam Lake provincial parks for some memorable trail riding. While the two parks offer vehicle-accessible camping, more adventurous souls can try backcountry camping at Gwillam Lake as well as Pine River Breaks provincial parks. The former also has excellent rock-climbing faces.
Chetwynd is famed for its chainsaw carvings. This outstanding collection, begun in 1991, has been growing steadily, with more than a dozen artists producing nearly 50 carvings to date. Arrange for a guided walking tour of the carvings at the Visitor Info Centre. Maps are also available there. Another unique sight is Chetwynd’s three windmills. Located along the main boulevard, they take advantage of the near-constant wind to power lights strung on trees lining the boulevard. Chetwynd also has a legacy of artistic murals, many of which can be viewed downtown.
Chetwynd hosts the yearly International Chainsaw Carving Championships in early June. This competition features carvers from Canada and the US, with the award-winning results added to Chetwynd’s famed collection and displayed throughout the town. The eclectic Chetwynd Farmer's Market is open Sundays from April until September.
Chetwynd is a gateway to outdoor recreation, with much of it accessed in the area’s provincial parks. Moberly Lake Provincial Park is ideally situated between the Rocky Mountain foothills to the west and the Peace plateau to the east. The namesake lake is the focus for swimming, paddling and fishing as well as the site of vehicle-accessible campsites. Watch for moose and black bears plus a variety of bird species. Gwillam Lake Provincial Park, set in the picturesque Hart Foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is a key destination for canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing as well as hiking and backcountry camping. Pine River Breaks Provincial Park, just a 15-minute drive east of Chetwynd, is accessible only by foot and boat. The park is home to mule and white-tailed deer, moose, coyote and the occasional black bear. The rest of the animals mentioned can be found around Chetwynd, but not necessarily in Pine River Breaks. This park protects important wildlife wintering habitat, especially for mule and white-tailed deer, moose, elk and caribou. Look for black and grizzly bears as well as bald eagles, too. The park also protects an unusual grouping of glacial landforms complete with esker formations and kettle ponds.
No doubt about it: when you’re in Chetwynd, you’re in fishing country. Lakes and rivers abound with rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, whitefish, Dolly Varden, lake char, lake trout and northern pike. Some fishing hot spots include Jackfish and Clearwater lakes as well as Burnt and Peace rivers. There are many established guides available for fishing charters. Canoeists and kayakers particularly head to Moberly and Gwillam Lake (caution: winds often create high waves on the latter). Boat rentals are available in the area. Gwillam Lake is also a popular spot for scuba diving. Moberly Lake has a swimming beach as well as a marked swimming area.
Thanks to an average mountain snowfall of over 6 m (20 ft), the Chetwynd area turns into a snowmobiling paradise from November to May. Two of the more popular riding routes include the Hasler Snowmobile Trail (intermediate to expert) and Silver Sands Snowmobile Trail (beginner to expert). For those who prefer to get their thrills through skiing, Powder King, at Pine Pass on Highway 97, offers 615 m (2,017 ft) of vertical and 21 marked trails in the pristine Rocky Mountains. Ski runs range from breathtaking, black-diamond drops to gently groomed beginner slopes. Cross-country skiers will find plenty of opportunities at Gwillam Lake Provincial Park and the Chetwynd community forest. Die-hard fishers can take advantage of the region’s many frozen lakes to go ice fishing.
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