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Many visitors head to the Kitimat region for its superb hiking and camping opportunities. The area is also a major destination for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. The city’s main claim to fame is the Alcan Kitimat Works Aluminum Smelter, well worth a tour. The First Nations village of Kitamaat also makes for a fascinating visit.
Those looking for adventure should seek out the remote Kitlope Heritage Conservancy. Accessible only by air or water, it encompasses the world’s largest intact coastal temperate rainforest. Don’t miss the Giant Spruce in Radley Park, officially the oldest known living organism in the Kitimat Valley.
There are wonderful hiking trails for all skill levels in the Kitimat region. Many families traverse the Pine Creek Trail, famed for its massive cedar trees and plentiful opportunities to watch spawning salmon. Those seeking a challenge head up Mount Elizabeth; – its steep trail rises 1,350 m (4,500 ft) in just 5 km (3 mi).
There are terrific parks to explore as well. Radley Park, in the heart of fishing country next to the Kitimat River, provides 54 campsites, while Hirsch Creek Park, on the outskirts of the city, offers campsites, hiking trails and a large picnic area.
Lakelse Lake Provincial Park, 40 minutes north of Kitimat just off Highway 37, offers 156 vehicle campsites in a majestic setting amidst old-growth cedar, hemlock and Sitka spruce forests. There are sandy beaches around the lake as well as a roped-off swimming area. Those who find Lakelse’s waters too cold often drive to Mount Layton Hot Springs –just minutes away by car– for odourless, open-air hot pools (entrance fee in effect).
A major community hub of Kitimat is the Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club. This recently completed facility boasts a scenic 18-hole championship golf course.
The Haisla Nation has inhabited the Kitimat Valley for thousands of years. Today, many of its people live in Kitamaat Village, located along the coast of the Douglas Channel, approximately 15 minutes from Kitimat. When visiting Kitamaat Village, make sure to see the Haisla Community School, shaped in the form of a fish, as well as Sammy Robinson’s famed carving shop.
The Kitimat Centennial Museum also has a permanent display of Haisla culture and arts as well as an interesting account of the industrial development of Kitimat.
No visit to Kitimat is complete without a visit to the Alcan Kitimat Works Aluminum Smelter, one of 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 all constructed in what was then wilderness. Today, visitors can tour the smelter, where up to 272,000 tonnes (299,829 tons) of primary aluminum are produced each year.
The Mount Elizabeth Theatre hosts both celebrated artists and local talent, with performances running from October through April.
Kitimat is surrounded by natural glories. Coghlin Park, located just outside town, provides panoramic views of Kitimat, the Douglas Channel, Kitamaat Village and the Coast Mountains. Radley Park is home to the Giant Spruce, a Sitka spruce tree that is the oldest known living organism in the Kitimat Valley. Over 500 years old, it measures 42.4 m (139.1 ft) in height, and 11.4 m (37.4 ft) in circumference.
The extraordinary Kitlope Heritage Conservancy in the Kitlope Valley encompasses the world's largest intact coastal temperate rainforest and features old-growth trees over 800 years old. While awe-inspiring, only the more adventurous get a chance to visit this remote area, which is accessible only by air or water. Trips of at least five days are required, ideally in July or August. Guided boat or fly-in tours into the park are available. Visitors can camp or stay in a rustic lodge just outside the park.
Kitimat is a gateway for both world-class saltwater and freshwater fishing. Anglers head to the Douglas Channel year-round for salmon fishing, as well as for giant halibut, lingcod, crab and red snapper. Numerous charters are available in town. Kitimat River is also a terrific location for steelhead (May), chinook (July), chum (August) plus coho and trout (September).
The Douglas Channel, which reaches 90 km (56 mi) inland to Kitimat from the Pacific Ocean, provides some of BC’s most memorable sailing experiences, as it is magnificently flanked by soaring rock walls and dense forest. A bevy of smaller channels, arms, inlets and bays offer a number of safe, well-marked anchorages. Watch for seals, Orcas, sea lions and bald eagles. Or head to the Kitlope Heritage Conservancy, the world’s largest undeveloped coastal temperate rainforest, accessible only by air or water.
Canoes and kayaks are also a popular sight on the Kitimat River and Douglas Channel.
Hot Springs abound in the Kitimat region. Relax at Bishop Bay Hot Springs in Ursula Channel and Weewanie Hot Springs in Devastation Channel – only accessible by air or water. Just a 40-minute drive north from Kitimat along Highway 37 is Mount Layton Hot Springs, one of the world’s largest hot springs in terms of volume of water seeping from the earth. The springs are known for their therapeutic benefit and odourless (non-sulphur) waters.
Visitors can also relax at Hospital Beach, located at the head of the Douglas Channel. This is an ideal spot to picnic, walk along the shore and photograph the spectacular Douglas Channel flanked by surrounding mountains.
Winter is all about cross-country skiing in the Kitimat area. The Onion Lake Ski Trails, just south of Lakelse Lake, offer 25 km (16 mi) of groomed trails, some lit for night skiing. The trail system has been built to suit all skill levels and to provide easy access to many small lakes and spectacular valley views. Ski by day, then relax in the soothing waters of nearby Mount Layton Hot Springs by evening.
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