North America : Canada : British Columbia : North Coast
North Coast (British Columbia)
The North Coast is in British Columbia Canada. It is a huge area that stretches from Burns Lake in the east to the Pacific Ocean and the Alaska Panhandle in the west, and north to the Yukon Border.
Regions
- Queen Charlotte Islands - an archipelago of more than 150 islands. Two of them are quite large. Called Haida Gwaii by the natives.
Cities
- Prince Rupert - Coastal city with ferry and rail links
- Smithers -
- Kitimat
- Terrace - largest city in the region.
- Stewart - Remote village on the Alaska border.
- Atlin - In the far north. Only accessable by vehicle if you first head up to the Yukon.
- Masset - Largest town on the Queen Charlottes with 1470 inhabitants.
Other destinations
- Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park - a wilderness area in the province's far northwest corner.
- Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park - vast area of untouched wilderness.
- Stikine River Provincial Park - linear park that follows the river. Ideal for a week long canoe and camping trip.
- Shames Mountain - ski resort that is relatively unknown, despite the huge amounts of fresh powder it receives.
Understand
The most developed part of this region is along the Yellowhead Highway. Once you venture to the Queen Charlotte Islands, or up to the north you will find vast expanses of untouched wilderness and very few people. This is an area where first-growth rainforest meets rugged snowcapped peaks, framed by labrithyne ocean inlets that rival the fjords of Norway.
The climate is temperate near coastal regions, becoming colder as you travel east and north from the Pacific Ocean.
Talk
The official language is English, though you will hear native dialects if you are in villages inhabited by the First Nations People.
Get in
Prince Rupert has a small airport that serves domestic flights. By vehicle you can enter the region on the Yellowhead Highway (16) heading west from Prince George. The Cassiar Highway (37) is an alternative route from Alaska, and splits from the Alaska Highway in the Yukon just west of Watson Lake. It joins the Yellowhead in between Smithers and Terrace.
Another way to enter the region is to take BC Ferries Inside Passage route from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert.
Get around
You will want to travel by car to cover the vast distances. Vehicle rentals are available in Prince Rupert and Prince George. Via Rail also provides passenger rail service from Prince George to Prince Rupert, though this is more of an attraction in itself than a legitimate means of transportation.
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See
Itineraries
The Government of British Columbia outlines many circle tour itineraries. The Heritage Discovery [1] and Great Northern [2] tours have large parts in this region.
Do
Eat
Drink
Stay safe
Get out
- Head down to Vancouver Island via BC Ferries stunning Inside Passage.
- Cross over and visit Alaska.
This page was last edited at 20:34, on 7 December 2008 by Ryan Holliday. Based on work by Nick and Darren Kirby and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.