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A person is perched overlooking the towering peaks and large glaciers of Mt. Robson.
If carrying your food and accommodation on your back is not for you, book a helicopter ride and see the park and the peaks from the air. This rarified view will have been shared by many of the nearly 200 bird species documented in the park. Image credit: Berg Lake and Mount Robson | Owen Perry

Set your compass north toward The Great Wilderness, a vast place for wildlife viewing, multi-day road trips, and striking landscapes. 

Where nature reigns and animals outnumber humans

Carved by ancient glaciers and volcanoes, The Great Wilderness is an enormous land that spans the entire northern half of British Columbia. Travel roads through wide open spaces with few souls in sight, taking in big nature and northern BC towns. Experience the living cultures of those who have always been here through First Nations art, language, and stories. Outdoor adventures range from remote backcountry expeditions to thrilling stops like Salmon Glacier, one of the largest vehicle-accessible glaciers in the world. Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark stands out with hikes to dinosaur trackways and powerful waterfalls.

Map Of British Columbia, Canada
Hikers / trail runners in the Spectrum Range, Mount Edziza Provincial Park.
Windfall Lake in Tumbler Ridge

Journey, from alpine glow to lava flow

Paddle a turquoise lake, hike to hot springs, or watch the Northern Lights dance overhead. From river valley to alpine summit, The Great Wilderness inspires you to chase big adventures in remote places.

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  • Great Northern Circle Route

    10+ Days
    3189 km | 1981 mi
    Travel through the vast nature of Northern BC, part of The Great Wilderness.
    12 min
    Bison along the Alaska Highway.
    Alaska Highway | Andrew Strain
    The Great Wilderness

  • Alaska Highway

    3-10 Days
    1343 km | 834 mi
    Travel along the historic Alaska Highway through the rugged wilderness of BC's north.
    10 min
    Grizzly Bear in walking at Muncho Lake Provincial Park.
    Muncho Lake Provincial Park | Destination BC
    The Great Wilderness

  • Nisg̱a'a Lands Auto Tour: A journey through volcanic landscapes

    The Nisg̱a'a Lands Auto Tour is an 18-stop self-guided drive through volcanic landscapes, ancient forests, and cult
    6 min
    An aerial view of an RV driving through the Drowned Forest, a sea of turquoise water with forest growing into it.
    Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park | Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain
    The Great Wilderness

  • Northern BC Route 16

    7-14 Days
    1006 km | 625 mi
    A soul-stirring odyssey that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Canadian Rockies across some of the grandest scenery in British Columbia.
    11 min
    An RV winds its way along a highway, surrounded by dense forest, tall mountains and a calm river.
    RV driving from Terrace to Prince Rupert on Highway 16, along the Skeena River. | Andrew Strain
    The Great Wilderness

  • Northern BC's Stewart-Cassiar Highway

    3-7 Days
    855 km | 531 mi
    Visit Northern British Columbia’s vast wilderness for outdoor adventure and learn about Indigenous culture and heritage along this scenic route.
    5 min
    An RV drives down a winding highway surrounded by great wilderness.
    The Great Wilderness

Travel ideas

Plan the road trip of a lifetime

The Great Wilderness is home to jaw-dropping touring routes that blend contrasting landscapes and cultures. Drive through the lava beds and cultural sites of the Nisg̱a’a Nation, or view snow-covered peaks along historic Alaska Highway. Adventure unfolds with wildlife sightings, backcountry parks, and roadside landmarks at every turn.

The Great Wilderness
Roy Henry Vickers

Locals

Stories from Northern BC

It takes a certain kind of person to live in a vast wilderness where animals outnumber people. Meet the artists, rodeo riders, and bush pilots who call it home.

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Frequently asked questions

  • The Great Wilderness is best travelled by car so you can go at your own pace. You can also travel through the area by plane and by ferry.
    • By car: Several major highway routes travel to and through The Great Wilderness, including: Highway 1, Highway 37, Highway 97, and Highway 16. Always check DriveBC.ca for real-time road conditions.
    • By plane: Take an international flight into YVR in Vancouver. Regional flights from YVR travel to: YXS in Prince George, YPR in Prince Rupert, YYD in Smithers, YXT in Terrace, and YXJ in Fort St. John. 
    • By ferry: Take an overnight voyage up the Pacific Coast from Port Hardy (on Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert via BC Ferries.
  • The Great Wilderness is an outdoor adventurer’s playground. Go paddling, fishing, and jet boating along the rivers and waterways. Hiking and mountain biking trails bring you to towering peaks and through dense forest on single-day and multi-day trips. Muskwa-Kechika Management Area makes for a fantastic horseback riding adventure through wild country. Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Geopark is a unique combination of ancient fossils and dinosaur tracks, and a remarkable array of trails, viewpoints, and waterfalls to explore.
  • You can visit The Great Wilderness year-round, but late spring, summer, and fall offer the largest range of experiences. Once the snow melts, road tripping is in full swing and hiking and biking trails are easier to access at higher elevations. Fall weather can be more unpredictable, but it is often a beautiful time to explore with fewer visitors and great wildlife viewing.
  • The Great Wilderness boasts incredible biodiversity. At any moment, you may come across bears, bison, moose, Stone’s sheep, or wolves. The Alaska Highway through the Northern Rockies is known for roadside wildlife viewing. At 6.4 million hectares, the Muskwa-Kechika supports the largest predator-prey system in North America. The Tatshenshini-Alsek and Stikine rivers are also great for wildlife viewing.
  • The Nisga’a Lands are home to Anhluut’ukwsim Lax̱mihl Angwinga’asanskwhl Nisg̱a’a Park (Nisg̱a'a Memorial Lava Beds), which includes an 18-stop auto tour and Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisg̱a’a (Nisg̱a’a Museum). View totem poles and meet artists at 'Ksan Historical Village and Museum, located in Gitxsan territory near the ancient villages of Gitanmaax and Hazelton. Around Prince George, experience the living culture of Lheidli T'enneh at cultural exhibits and parks, including Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park.
A herd of bison spotted along the Alaska Highway in Liard River.
Northern BC Tourism | Grant Harder
The Gitmaxmak'ay Nisga'a Dancers and the Wii Gisigwilgwelk (Big Northern Lights) Dancers at the Cassiar Cannery in Port Edward
Cassiar Cannery, Port Edward | Dave Silver
Three friends enjoying their hike along the Flowering Springs Trail in Stone Mountain Provincial Park in the Northern Rockies.
Northern BC Tourism | Grant Harder
The Great Wilderness

Travel Responsibly

This area is home to more than 50 First Nations, who have cared for the lands, waters, and ecosystems since time immemorial. Take time to learn about their living cultures, languages, and stories and walk gently in your travels.

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