Prince Rupert is a little marine city (population: 15,000) with one-of-a-kind wilderness exploration and wildlife viewing experiences on Northwest BC's Pacific Coast. It's also a popular stop on various Alaskan cruises.
Spend a day exploring the town or set out on an adventure. Main attractions in the port town include spectacular ocean fishing; cultural, whale watching and grizzly bear-viewing tours; and enjoying amazingly fresh seafood at Rupert's various restaurants.
In Prince Rupert, tame deer wander certain neighbourhood streets, while wild grizzly bears can be viewed in a sanctuary from boats just northeast of the city. Whales swim and play in the deep ocean about an hour offshore.
Location, First Nations and Cannery History
Prince Rupert is located at the mouth of the Skeena River, surrounded by Chatham Sound and many small, uninhabited islands. The area is perfect for exploring and discovering the fascinating history and customs of local First Nations people. In town, the town's locals are friendly and the hilly, winding streets are easy to navigate. Just checking out the quirky and colourful homes in the area – some dating back to the early 1900s – is a tour in itself.
Cow Bay
The city's main tourist area, Cow Bay, is cute, quaint and on the waterfront close to downtown. The three or so block area is easy to find as it is uniquely decorated with cows to represent the hub's name.
Cow Bay is a great place to shop, sip on a coffee, enjoy a tasty meal or brew as well as explore the art work in the artists' cooperative there. Eagles fly overhead while cargo ships and fishing boats putter past the dock. During the summers, huge cruise ships dock here and unload hundreds of passengers.
Old-Growth Rainforest and Rock Carvings
Rupert's surrounding old-growth rainforest is lush and moist, as is the town's air. Though the land seems untouched, petroglyphs and evidence of ancient First Nations villages prove the existence of people in this area thousands of years back. This history, along with information about the town's more recent history – the railway, pioneer era and fishing era – can be learned in the town's various museums or on cultural tours.
Gateway Destination
Prince Rupert is also a gateway for many more destinations. Ferries to the Queen Charlotte Islands, Vancouver Island and Alaska start and begin their passages here.
Tourism, especially the cruise ships, has become increasingly important as an economic stimulus. Trade, as in the past, is still the most important financial driver for this community. Tons of goods pass daily through the Prince Rupert port, which was recently expanded, heading to and from Asia and the rest of Canada.
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