Scenic trails abound around Princeton. The most popular multi-use trail in the area is the Kettle Valley Trail, which winds through tunnels and over trestles at a very manageable grade. Visitors can also try the two longer multi-use trails, the Trans Canada Trail and the Spirit of 2010 Trail. Manning and
Cathedral Provincial Parks have exceptional hiking-only trails and local guest ranches offer lessons and guided excursions for horseback riders of all levels. Guided ATV outings are also available.
Other popular outdoor activities include camping at private, forest and provincial park campgrounds; golfing the 18-hole course at Princeton Golf Club; and panning for gold in the Tulameen or Similkameen Rivers (panning maps and guidelines are available in town).
The gold rush was a defining era for Princeton and this is evident just about everywhere you go. Interpretive plaques describing buildings and events of historical interest are scattered throughout the town itself and two nearby ghost towns, Granite City (once BC’s third largest city) and Blakeburn, contain fascinating collections of gold-rush-era houses and shops. The A-P Guest Ranch, built in 1911, is a lively, hands-on sort of place where you can jam with the band in an old-time saloon, taste authentic ranch recipes, take wagon or buggy rides and mount a horse for a lesson, trail ride or pack trip. You can also watch demonstrations of horse-whispering, horse-training, blacksmithing and horseshoeing.
The biggest attractions in the area are the Princeton and District Museum and the Mascot Gold Mine. The museum houses the world-famous Joe Pollard Collection, which includes a hands-on fossil display that is very popular with children. It also exhibits old photos, vehicles, furniture, clothing and everyday items from the pioneer and gold mining eras. Mascot Gold Mine is located 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above the town of Hedley. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Similkameen Valley during a First-Nations-themed tour of the Interpretive Centre before you descend 220 m (722 ft) on foot to an underground special effects show.
Princeton’s annual events tend to have an Old West flavour. You can watch skilful displays of roping, riding and bull wrestling at the Pro Rodeo (May); bet on the horses at Racing Days (June); or shop for fresh-picked produce, handicrafts and more at the Agricultural Fall Fair (September).
You’re never far from nature in Princeton, and sometimes you don’t even have to leave town to enjoy it: deer are plentiful in the area and frequently wander into town. Elk, Black Bear, Coyote and Cougar can be spotted in the surrounding countryside, as can more than 240 species of bird. In early May the hillsides are a riot of colour; more than 160 varieties of wildflower grow in the area.
There are four provincial parks within an hour’s drive. Bromley Provincial Park offers great views of the Similkameen Valley. It’s also a popular swimming, tubing and hiking spot. The Cascade Mountains are the backdrop for Otter Lake Provincial Park and the source of its many clear streams but large canyons are what really sets that park apart. Manning and Cathedral Provincial Parks are both known for their hiking trails.
Located at the convergence of two rivers and surrounded by lakes (49 within a 30-minute drive), Princeton is an ideal location for anyone who likes to spend a lot of time on the water. Families can enjoy an afternoon of tubing on the Similkameen River and both the Similkameen and Tulameen Rivers are suitable for kayaking, canoeing and whitewater rafting. Many local lakes offer good fishing (guided excursions are available) but water skiing is best done at Otter Lake, Allison Lake or Missezula Lake.
Princeton receives a thick blanketing of snow in winter and it makes the most of every flake. Locals spend a great deal of time outdoors exploring and enjoying the countryside on skis and snowmobiles. The groomed and ungroomed tracks at China Ridge Ski Trails are very popular with cross-country skiers, as is the area around Tulameen. Both cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are permitted on the Kettle Valley Trail/Trans Canada Trail.