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Tanning Moose in Fort St. James
Stop and visit Fort St. James National Historic Site, a fully restored 1896 fur trade post. Special events, interpretive programs, a great cafe and full service visitor centre welcome you. Stay the night in their period bed and breakfast or spend a few hours taking part in a program, baking an apple pie or relaxing by the incredible view of Stuart Lake and Mount Pope Provincial Park. Open 9am-5pm daily. There are many overnight campsites in the area also.Contributed
Fort St. James was the economic and administrative capital of New Caledonia (Northern BC) for more than 100 years before the arrival of the railway into the region. The community and its historic site are the beating heart of Fur Trade history in the region. Combining a day’s outing to the Parks Canada historic site and a stop off in Vanderhoof along the way gives a good picture of major historical influences on the evolution of the area as it is today.
A One day trip itinerary from Prince George, BC
8:00 AM Begin the day in Prince George, find highway 16 and drive west for 90km to beautiful Vanderhoof, BC.
At Vanderhoof, stop at the Vanderhoof Community Museum and explore their unique heritage village. Stop at the OK Cafe (one of Northern BC’s best kept secrets). Or take a tour and learn about early settlement history and the many intriguing stories of Vanderhoof’s past.
Leave Vanderhoof and drive west to Highway 27. Turn north and drive 50km to Fort St. James, BC.
Driving to Fort St. James, cross the mighty Nechako River; earliest of waterways in support of the fur trade and home to the highly endangered Nechako White sturgeon.
Entering Fort St. James 40min later, you cross the Stuart River, a provincial heritage river. Follow Parks Canada signs to get to the national historic site.
Stop and visit Fort St. James National Historic Site, a fully restored 1896 fur trade post. Special events, interpretive programs, a great cafe and full service visitor centre welcome you. Stay the night in their period bed and breakfast or spend a few hours taking part in a program, baking an apple pie or relaxing by the incredible view of Stuart Lake and Mount Pope Provincial Park. Open 9am-5pm daily. There are many overnight campsites in the area also.
When you’re finished with your visit to Fort St. James, extend your stay by walking the new Ripples of the Past Interpretive walk along Stuart Lake and see stories of bush pilots, ancient chiefs and more. (2hour return).
Optional Side Trips:
Nice weather and too nice to return to Prince George right away? Stop in Vanderhoof and visit Riverside Park for a stroll along the Nechako River or a visit to their excellent bird watching tower.
Berman Lake Regional Park: Half way from Vanderhoof back to Prince George, stop by this beautiful secret park for a dip in a cool kettle lake, left from ancient glaciers or take a walk on several looping hiking trails for a close up look at sub-boreal forest. Use Norman Lake Rd intersection to access.