Attractions in Northern British Columbia

Fort St. John Museum

A trip to the city’s local museum is an absolute must for anyone visiting Fort St. John. Here you will step back in time to learn about everything from the fur trade to First Nations’ settlements and the role of the famous Alaska Highway during World War II. Exhibitions are well curated and incredibly insightful, making this the perfect afternoon activity for any history buffs in the area.

The Fort St. John museum is open all year round from Monday to Saturday between 9:00am-5:00pm.

Cottonwood Island Nature Park

Home to river views and stunning forest trails, Cottonwood Island Nature Park is one of Prince George’s prime nature spots. Look up as you walk and you should catch sight of the park’s unique tree carvings. You need to go quite deep into the forest trails to find them, but seeing unexpected faces emerge from the woodland is well worth the effort.

While Cottonwood Island Nature Park is very much a must-see all year round, it’s particularly beautiful during fall when the leaves turn golden and the air feels crisp.

The Northern Lights

With a little luck, you’ll be treated to one of the most magnificent shows on Earth during your trip to Northern British Columbia: the extraordinary northern lights.

Northern British Columbia is one of the best places in Canada to spot this natural wonder, attracting thousands of travellers to the region all year round. On particularly active nights, the sky illuminates with green, blue and purple, creating a spectacle that is truly out of this world.

Your best chance of seeing the lights in Northern British Columbia is between December and March. So, plan wisely, wrap up warm and keep your fingers crossed for an evening you’ll never forget.

Fraser River Footbridge

If you’re visiting Quesnel in Northern British Columbia, don’t forget to swing by the city’s famous Fraser River Footbridge.

This landmark is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world and offers visitors a chance to stroll back in time to Quensel’s past. Walking across the historical wooden bridge evokes thoughts of what it was like back when wagons and cattle used to cross this bridge. Bring an open mind and your imagination, and you can almost hear the sound of carts rattling along!

During daylight, simply take a stroll across the footbridge from West Quesnel to Downtown or vice versa and admire the views. Then, as the evening sets in, watch as the bridge is lit up by multicoloured lights and begins to sparkle against the Fraser River below.

Dawson Creek Art Gallery

The Dawson Creek Art Gallery was the first gallery to open in Northern BC and to this day remains a real cultural highlight. Bursting wall-to-wall with local talent, it’s an inspiring look at the area’s thriving and growing creative community.

The gallery has an exciting schedule of permanent and visiting exhibits that cover a wide range of themes, such as peace in British Columbia to explorations of Syrian art. You can also learn a new skill at one of the gallery’s regular workshops. People rave about the printmaking workshop in particular, so be sure to put it at the top of your list.

Even if you’re not an art buff, it’s definitely worth heading here just to admire the architecture. The iconic building was once an old prairie granary, but has now been repurposed for its new life as home to all things cultural.