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Discover: Circle Tours

Experience a variety of circle tours that lead you from or through Prince George on an adventure you are sure to enjoy. Consider the following options when coordinating your next visit to British Columbia...

Northern BC Circle Tour

This is one of the greatest opportunities to see the best "The North" has to offer without retracing one step! This impressive circle tour takes visitors past prairie fields of golden wheat and bright yellow canola through endless forests and across stunning mountain ranges. Allow eight days so you can take your time!

Travelling North from Prince George on Highway 97, you will begin to experience the true character of Northern BC! Spiky black spruce trees emerge from the muskeg swamps. If you linger, you will often see moose, beaver, muskrat and waterfowl adjacent to the highway.
Reaching Fort Nelson, the trees give way to spectacular mountain views, take your time and stop at the parks such as Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake Provincial Park.
The Stewart Cassiar Highway 37, cuts through remote wilderness, scenic mountain passes, and parallels turbulent creeks. Take the time to explore the jewel of clear waters, Boya Lake Provincial Park.
Be sure to stop at Meziadin Junction for some interesting sights. A short side trip leads to the famous glaciers and grizzly bears of Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska.
Highway 37 joins Highway 16 at Kitwanga, at which point the circle tour strikes east towards Prince George.
Near Hazelton, the Coast Mountains dominate, the salmon fishing is popular and the 'Ksan Indian Village is a favourite. Stops of interest include Twin Falls and dramatic Moricetown Canyon.
Here the splendor of the Bulkley Valley is incredible as pleasant pastures roll upward to picturesque mountains. The mountains of the Coast Ranges loom on the horizon near Houston.
The journey comes to an end at the completion of the full circle at Prince George where you can enjoy all the amenities of a city centre or go wild with adventure opportunities.

The Totem Circle Tour

Allow eight or nine days to tour the highlights of Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Prince Rupert, Highway 16 & Prince George

Prepare to sail the British Columbia coast on an impressive circle tour. Board a BC Ferry in Vancouver headed for Vancouver Island, then sail North to Port Hardy.
Catch the Prince Rupert ferry and experience an unforgettable journey. Bring a camera for hours of spectacular views while sailing past inlets, waterfalls and rain forests. Watch for sea lions, whales, seals and sea birds.
Drive east along Yellowhead Highway 16 stopping at the many friendly communities along the way, the totems at the Hazeltons are a definite must-see. Enroute, the landscape changes dramatically travelling by rivers, lakes, mountain ranges and lush valleys.
At Prince George, head south on Highway 97 and travel through the Cariboo Chilcotin region to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver.

BC-Yukon Circle Tour

This is another great opportunity to see the best "the north" - including the Yukon - offers without retracingyour journey. This trip takes between eight and nine days so have fun!

Travelling North from Prince George on Highway 97, you will begin to experience the true character of Northern BC! Spiky black spruce trees emerge from the muskeg swamps. If you linger, you will often see moose, beaver, muskrat and waterfowl adjacent to the highway.
Mile "0" marker of the Alaska Highway is in Dawson Creek. From here, the Peace Country fades into the dense forest as you travel North on the highway. Also known as the Alcan, it was created by the threat of war during World War II. It is a marvel of engineering and of initiative.
Through Stone Mountain and Muncho Lake Provincial Park, the trees give way to spectacular mountain views. Northward, Liard River Valley conceals fascinating natural attractions such as Liard Hotsprings, Smith River Falls and Whirlpool Canyon.
The Alaska Highway ends just past Watson Lake's famous signposts and the circle tour heads south into Northwestern BC.
The Stewart Cassiar, Highway 37, cuts through remote wilderness, scenic mountain passes, and parallels turbulent creeks. Take the time to explore the jewel of clear waters, Boya Lake Provincial Park.
The Iskut waters offer excellent fishing amidst a glorious view. Be sure to stop at Meziadin for some interesting sights. A short side trip leads to the famous glaciers and grizzly bears of Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska.
Highway 37 joins Highway 16 at Kitwanga, at which point the circle tour strikes east towards Prince George.
Near Hazelton, the Coast Mountains dominate, the salmon fishing is popular and the 'Ksan Indian Village is a favourite. The journey comes to an end at the completion of the full circle at Prince George.

Great Beaver Circle Tour

Lots of history and scenic beauty as you visit the communities of Fort St, James, Mackenzie from Prince George. Visit some of northern BC's most interesting sites. Allow two days to do this tour.

East Line Circle Tour

An area rich in heritage and the history of the First Nations people, early pioneers and railroad builders. Find farmlands, quaint communities and lots of forests. Partially follows the "east line" of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Only one short section follows a well-maintained gravel Forest Service Road.

Your day-long tour begins at the Junction of Highway 16 East and the Shelley Road, about six kms east of Prince George. Turn left (north) onto Shelley Road.
The Village of Shelley (21 km). The Village of Shelley was founded in 1914 when the Lheidli T'enneh nation was relocated here from its original village in what is now Fort George Park in Prince George. Sawmilling operations began in Shelley in 1919.
The Village of Willow River (40 km). Established in 1912 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Visit the General Store, established in 1919, and see an old fashioned community.
The Town of Giscome (48 km). Located on Eaglet Lake. Named after the early pioneer John Giscome, and previously home to one of the largest and longest running sawmills in the district. The community grew to a population of 1000 during the 1950's and was disbanded in the 1970's with the closure of the mill.
Aleza Lake Research Forest (71 km). An important forestry research site. 1924 to 1963 featured many forestry experiments in the area with some trials continuing today. Hike the two-kilometre North Ridge Eco-Trail through 200 to 300 year old spruces, through stands harvested in the early 50's, and through wildlife habitat.
Gale and Trick Mill (72 km) Like all the original communities along the East Line, the town of Aleza Lake was home to a large sawmill built for cutting rail ties. The Oblates of St. Mary Immaculate Church, built by missionary fathers, still stands.
Upper Fraser (80 km). A small mill community established in the late 1920's.
Hansard Bridge (89 km). Hansard Rail/Vehicle Bridge is only one of two bridges of this type remaining in Canada. The original Rail Bridge was converted in 1969, to allow automobile traffic to cross.
McGregor Model Forest. The entry point of the McGregor Model Forest and a Tree Farm License which covers 181,000 hectares. This research program aims to develop an advanced computerized decision support system called the Brass Ring. For a short side trip, cross the Hansard Bridge and follow the road east as it parallels the Fraser river through the historic sawmill and railroad villages of Sinclair Mills, Hutton, and Longworth.
Sinclair Mills (100 km). Historic sawmilling area. The population of Sinclair Mills was about 500 in the 1950's.
Hutton (102 km). Not much remains of the old Hutton town-site today, but during its heyday, the village was larger than Prince George. Hutton began as a railway tie cutting camp in 1912.
Longworth (107 km). The site of the Grand Trunk Pacific Station with a population of 500. Hike the 6-kilometre (approx. 3 hours) to the Longworth Lookout above the treeline at 5600 feet. The road ends here. Please return to the Hansard Bridge crossing and proceed south along the Bowron Forest Service Road to the junction of Highway 16.
Purden Recreational Area. Turn right onto Highway 16 and head westward toward Prince George. You will pass Purden Lake Resort and ski hill. Purden Lake Provincial Park has a pleasant beach and picnic area and a large campground nestled in the trees.
The Willow River Interpretive Forest is an established outdoor classroom and research centre. Various forestry techniques are tested and demonstrated here.

Dunster-Croydon-Tete Jaune Circle Tour

Rustic farmlands and true Canadian wilderness. This leisurely one-day drive offers sightseeing, fishing or even a little shopping! Other attractions in the Robson Valley area include the Terry Fox and Mount Robson Provincial Parks, Rearguard Falls, Jackman Flats and a variety of hiking, snowmobile and cross country trails.

You may wish to plan your trip during mid-August to mid-September when the Chinook salmon return to their spawning area on the Fraser River near Tete Jaune Cache.

From Prince George, head east along Hwy 16 past McBride. About twenty minutes east of McBride you find the Dunster turn-off. This is the starting point of your circle tour. Turn south onto the Dunster-Croydon Road. The tour follows a good tar and gravel road along the south side of the Fraser River.
Culp/Caywood (1km). Across the bridge is the Culp/Caywood Farm, home to peacocks, llamas and crossbred Rocky Mountain sheep. Farm tours can be arranged in advance by calling 250-968-4309.
Downtown Dunster (4 km). At the top of the hill, turn left onto the Croydon-Tete Jaune Road and soon find yourself in downtown Dunster. Hill's General Store is where you can find just about everything you need for your travelling comfort. Across the street is the historic Dunster Train Station; one of the last of the original train stations build by the Canadian National Railways in the early 1900's. Continuing eastward, the Dunster-Croydon Road winds through the Fraser river headlands, You will pass through lush forests and sleepy rangelands bordered by magnificent snow capped mountains.
The Village of South Croydon (16 km). Fifteen minutes east of Dunster. Once a thriving rail building community, now the home to just one family, the Metcalf's. They run the Bear's Lair Studio and Gallery where they create fine handcrafted fabric arts, paintings, drawings and photographs. The studio is housed in a heritage building that began as a mill office and later became the post office. You will also find a wildlife holding facility, where injured or orphaned animals live until returned to the wild. Mountain Pottery is found at the foot of the Old South Croydon Ferry Road and features hand thrown pottery and watercolours.
Lookout Trail (26 km). At Kiwa Creek find an access trail that leads to the Forestry Lookout Tower atop Shere Point. A 90-minute hike to the tower is rewarded by a stunning view of the Valley, including the villages of McBride and Valemount.
Scenic Lookout (33km). Ten kilometres further along is "Watertank Hill" and another great view of the Valley.
Historic Tete Jaune Cache (43 km). At the CNR rail crossing, is the site of the original Tete Jaune Cache village. The old village is gone now. A few ruins are all that remain of the once thriving community of 3000 people. This was the nerve centre during the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway in the early 1900's. It was the final destination for the flat bottom stern wheelers that travelled the Fraser bringing equipment and supplies to the railway camps.
Picturesque Bridge (46 km) At the T intersection, turn left onto Blackman Road and follow it north past the Yellowhead Trading Post into Tete Jaune Cache. Cross the Fraser River over the old Tete Jaune Howe wooden truss bridge. Notice the sheer shale cliffs along the river's edge as you cross over the bridge. Round the curve now and you will find yourself at the Tete Jaune Cache Lodge at the Junction of Hwy 16. Turn west onto Hwy 16, returning to Prince George.
Interpretive Forest (52 km) About ten minutes past the junction of Hwy 16 is the Spittal Creek Interpretive Forest. Two self-guiding interpretive trails explore different forest environments and tree species. The trails take about 30 and 60 minutes to complete. Both trails have gentle grades and are well marked.
Farmer's Market (78 km) Travelling west towards Prince George, past the Terracana Lodge and Simpson's Farm and Vacation tours, you will arrive at the Dunster Hall. An old fashioned flea market and farmer's market, complete with fresh farm produce and home baking, operate here most Saturday mornings during July and August. It is THE place to be on Saturdays in the Robson Valley.