A popular half- to full-day drive near Smithers – half of it along a scenic former highway – takes in the Village of Telkwa, Tyhee Lake Provincial Park, Driftwood Canyon and Moricetown.
The Village of Telkwa, a 10-minute drive east of Smithers along Highway 16, lines the Bulkey River. With a population of 1,400, the village holds its own as unique and folksy community. Though because of their close proximity, Telkwa and its people are very much a part of Smithers and vice-versa.
Take in Telkwa
Visit the Old Ranger Station Gallery & Gift Shop to view art and grab a quick drink and bite to eat. They can also complete a historical walking tour of the village's many old buildings, some restored, from the early 1900s. A brochure, Walking Tour of Historic Telkwa, with a map and explanation of each site, is available from the Smithers Visitor Centre.
Tyhee Lake Provincial Park
After exploring Telkwa, drive back on Highway 16. Immediately outside of town, turn right on Telkwa High Road, then right on Tyhee Road to get to Tyhee Lake Provincial Park. The whole ride takes about five minutes. Tyhee Lake, a sandy beach surrounded by mountain views and a forest full of trails is a popular picnic and swimming area, and campsite with locals and visitors.
Driftwood Canyon
Travellers should then continue west along Telkwa High Road. A couple kilometers down the road, turn right on Driftwood Creek Road to get to the Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, one of the world's most significant fossil beds. The fossils here – of plants, animals, fish and insects – date back five to 10 million years.
This portion of the drive should also take no more than 10 minutes. Here, visitors must walk over the creek's narrow one-man-only bridge and continue on a flat dirt trail for five minutes to get to the Canyon's viewing station. It's here they read about the history of the beds and perhaps spot a fossil.
Back on Telkwa High Road, visitors should drive west again for about 20 minutes to Moricetown Canyon. The scenery en route includes spectacular views of mountains, lakes, and old farmhouses.
Moricetown and the Wet'suwet'en
The road eventually reaches Moricetown, a Wet'suwet'en First Nations community and Moricetown Canyon, where the whole Bulkley River tumbles through the 50-foot-wide canyon. It's here that the local Wet'suwet'en fish, standing on the tall canyon rocks using long spruce 'gaff' poles and nets.
The Moricetown Band Interpretive Centre, which overlooks the canyon interpretive tours, is a great place to learning the interesting history of the canyon but it's only open from June to August.
From here, visitors can either return to Smithers again on Telkwa High Road or more quickly on Highway 16.