Experience The Great Wilderness

Drive north on Highway 37, watching for wildlife as you make your way to Tā Ch’ilā / Boya Lake Provincial Park. Along the way, you’ll pass through Tahltan territory, with the volcanic Mount Edziza rising to the west. This dramatic peak is part of a volcanic system shaped over millions of years and the nearby area is protected through the Tenh Dẕetle Conservancy. (Tenh Dẕetle means “ice mountain” in the Tahltan language.) Or head south at Meziadin Junction and follow Highway 37A west to Stewart. From there, a rugged road takes you to the edge of Salmon Glacier—one of the few glaciers in the world accessible by vehicle.

To the east, the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area spans one of North America’s richest predator-prey ecosystems, where wolves, eagles, and caribou roam their lands. Further still, Tumbler Ridge—a UNESCO Global Geopark—reveals dinosaur tracks and the rock pinnacles of the Boulder Gardens. Follow trails to 70-metre Kinuseo Falls, or travel to Mount Robson Provincial Park, where the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies reaches the sky.

At ‘Ksan Historical Village, where the Skeena and Kispiox rivers meet, the Gitxsan welcome visitors onto their lands and into traditional longhouses of the People of the river of the mist. Further west, Anhluut’ukwsim Lax̱mihl Angwinga’asanskwhl Nisg̱a’a (Nisg̱a’a Memorial Lava Bed Park) and the Nisg̱a’a Lands Auto Tour demonstrate their People’s ways of knowing. Legend tells of a volcanic eruption around 1700 CE, which exploded in anger after a group of children disrespected the life-giving salmon. To this day, salmon is cherished, and the park is co-managed by the Nisg̱a’a Nation and BC Parks.

North of Smithers, the Widzin Kwah Canyon House and Museum offers tours led by Witsuwit’en People, grounded in their traditional knowledge and lifeways. Near Fort St. John, Tse’K’wa—an ancient cave and National Historic Site—holds over 12,000 years of archaeological and cultural significance for the Dane-zaa.

Traditional canoe routes unfold through Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, a home for woodland caribou, diverse wildlife and 140 bird species. Bike your way through forested trails near Smithers, Valemount, or Burns Lake. For whitewater seekers, the Tatshenshini-Alsek and Stikine rivers offer world-renowned rafting routes through glacier-fed valleys.

Anglers will find world-class salmon or trout fishing across the Lakes District, Nechako River, and Babine Lake. And for quiet restoration, soak in Liard River Hot Springs or Hlgu Isgwit (Aiyansh), natural sanctuaries and sacred sites that invite presence and peace.