Prince George, a gateway city to the Northern British Columbia region, is an excellent starting point for exploring further north.
Prince George offers the unique opportunity to enjoy the amenities of a city, while finding a variety of wilderness opportunities just minutes away.
Hiking, camping, fishing, golfing and cross-country skiing are just a few outdoor activities that Prince George has to offer. Dogsledding, caving and mountain biking are also possible here. It is also an important regional shopping destination.
Outside the city, more rustic attractions exploring pioneer history and agricultural ways of life can be found, including the heritage sites Huble Homestead and Noah's Arc.
Impressive Buildings
The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is BC's northernmost university. The university is beautifully built on a hill overlooking the city and is fashioned from great wooden beams and grey stonework. The university was formally opened in August 1994 and was officiated by Her Majesty the Queen. The best time of year to see the university is in the summer, when there is also an excellent view of the city.
Artists and Art Galleries
The Two Rivers Gallery (725 Civic Plaza), located in downtown Prince George, showcases contemporary Canadian artists. The gallery's exterior design symbolizes the geography and natural history of Prince George and has arching wooden beams that represent the cutbanks that surround the city. Sculptured rocky beds represent the Fraser and Nechako Rivers.
Gardens & City Parks
Fort George Park is Prince George's main urban park. Many of the city's festivals & events are held at the Fort George Park Bandshell.
Find a wilderness getaway without leaving the city at the Cottonwood Island Nature Park, located at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers. Cottonwood Island Park is made up of ancient gravel bars that have formed into forested islands, including immense, towering cottonwood trees.
Swimming
Prince George has two main indoor aquatic centres for swimming. The Prince George Aquatic Centre (1770 George Paul Lane) features a 50m/164ft, 8-lane main pool designed for competitive swimming, and has a leisure pool with a wilderness-themed wave pool.
The Four Seasons Leisure Pool (700 Dominion Street) has six 25m/82ft lanes, a fitness centre, tot pool, hot tub, sauna and waterslide that enters into a leisure pool.
Winter Activities
Dog-sled racing is an exciting Northern BC experience and has been a popular winter pastime in many northern communities. Dog Power Adventures is a Prince George-based company that offers Siberian Husky dog-sledding excursions. Short guided treks and multi-day guided trips are available. Tours are available throughout the year.
Other winter sports include skating, curling, downhill skiing, and snowmobiling. Skating is available at The Prince George YMCA, which organizes indoor public skating.
Mountain Biking
Prince George caters to mountain biking enthusiasts at all levels. The terrain and trails around the city and region range from easy single-lane trails to tough and tumble trails with jumps and technical aspects. Eight key mountain biking areas near Prince George include Cranbrook Hill, Dirtland, Forests for the World, Greenway, LC Gun, Otway, Pidherny and Tabor Mt. Bike Park.
Caving
There are a few spectacular opportunities for caving/spelunking in the mountains near Prince George. One of Canada's nationally important cave systems is found in Evanoff Provincial Park just 121km/75mi east of Prince George on Highway 16. Experienced cavers can explore the Fang Cave complex, which features the 9th longest cave in Canada, as well as smaller caves, Tooth Decave and Window.
The Close to the Edge cave is found in Close to the Edge Provincial Park, 160km/99mi northeast of Prince George along the Pass Lake forest service road to Gleason creek. Only the most experienced cavers should attempt this cave, which is among the deepest caves in Canada.
Other activities in and around Prince George include bird watching, horseback riding, guide outfitting and ATVing.
Attractions
There are a number of attractions in Prince George, including:
- Noah's Arc: Noah's Arc is a short drive from Prince George near Cranbrook Hill. The area is filled with rolling hills dotted with hobby farms. Animals, hay rides and sleigh rides are available at this small, privately operated farm. Cattle, turkeys, geese, chickens and sheep, miniature Vietnamese pot belly pigs, pygmy goats, yaks and peacocks can be found here. Dress warmly for the outdoors.
- Prince George Astronomical Observatory: Stargazers will enjoy spending time at the Prince George Astronomical Observatory, located 20km/mi west of Prince George on Highway 16 and Tedford Rd. The observatory is open on Friday nights from March to the end of May, and from September to the end of November. Entrance is by donation. Warm clothing is suggested.
Tours
There are several tours on offer in Prince George – check with the Visitor Centre for updated information. Among them, Touchwood Tours provides guided, educational trips into local forests, and the Prince George library arranges downtown heritage walking tours. All tours should be booked in advance.
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