Down in the valley, valley so green

Be a modern-day explorer in the Bulkley Valley

The Bulkley Valley near Smithers—located along the historic Yellowhead Highway—is as close to a natural paradise as you’re likely to find. Rich in biodiversity and geological wonders, the valley still holds much of the mystery and intrigue that early settlers to the area must have felt when they first arrived.

Hudson Bay Mountain—so named for the seminal trading company that opened the region to commerce and settlement—is a year-round attraction for recreation. There are several trail systems for walking, jogging and mountain biking in the summer months. Not to be missed is the Prairie on the mountain, an alpine meadow where wildflowers are in bloom all through the summer months, and where it’s not unusual to spot mountain goats or marmots.

“There are big views, fresh smells and the joy of being on top of the world,” said Gladys Atrill from Tourism Smithers.

Kathlyn Glacier is also found on Hudson Bay Mountain, and Atrill said that shutterbugs will find their bliss here. As the glacier melts, it creates two spectacular waterfalls—the Twin Falls.

Atrill said that RVs can make the drive but should drop in to the Visitor Centre in Smithers for detailed driving directions.

Time travel

In the Bulkley Valley, you can also find the Driftwood Canyon Fossil Beds. This is an easily accessible provincial park where some of the world’s most significant fossil beds exist. Interpretive signs throughout the park provide a glimpse into the prehistoric world and the flora and fauna that thrived in the region millions of years ago.

Moricetown is an aboriginal community in the Bulkley Valley near where the Bulkley River is forced into the narrow Moricetown Canyon. It is here that the Wet’suwet’en people catch and preserve salmon, as they have been doing for thousands of years.

There are multiple hidden gems in the area, said Atrill, that the locals are happy to share with friendly visitors.

“Smithers is a town filled with people who just love it,” she said. “I hope when people come to Smithers to visit, they will take time to meet and chat with those of us who live here. Whether you're on the golf course, in the mountains or in a coffee shop, we would love to tell you all about our favourite places.”