Smithers,BC, Canada - near Alaska, Cassiar

SMITHERS, British Columbia, CANADA
A Town for All Season

SMITHERS is located in the Bulkley Valley in northern British Columbia. It is situated on Highway 16 which leads to the BC and Alaska Ferries, on the way to and from Alaska, and the Cassiar Highway.

Smithers a town of 6000 people is set at the base of Hudson Bay Mountain and is surrounded by mountains, which providing the backdrop for the downtown alpine theme. This town with an European touch is an amazing community made up of a cross section of people who choose to live here. For visitors of BC it is a must to see and visit this town if they travel Highway 16. Here the visitor will find everything they need, from Supermarkets to nice shops on main street, from the hockey arena to an indoor swimming pool, from B&B to nice alpine Hotels, from fast food to high quality restaurants, all kinds of outdoor activities, places to visit and to relax. The town does have an airport as well as a train station where BC rail stops on the way to Prince Rupert.

The main industries include forestry, agriculture, tourism and mining. Smithers is also well known as the Gateway to the north. From Smithers many Outfitter's, Lodges, Cabins, Outdoor operators, Gold Mines and so on get supplied by either wheel or float plane.

WHERE TO STAY

In Smithers and surrounding area there is a wide variety of different accommodations for all customers needs. For visitors Smithers offers Hotels and Motels, private Bed and Breakfasts, exclusive Log Lodge and Gourmet Restaurant, private Cottages and Cabins for Family Vacations and a number of wilderness lodges outside of town.

WHAT TO DO

Due to the location, nestled in between mountains, surrounded by pristine lakes and rivers, close to Provincial Parks, the Town for all Seasons offers all kinds of activities in and outside of Smithers for both residents and visitors. There is something for everybody in spring, summer, fall and winter.

Summer Activities and Recreational Facilities include: golf courses, swimming pool, fitness trails, picnic sites, camp grounds, fossil beds for rock hounding, Jet boat tours, travel tours up north to explore the wild, exclusive Log Lodge and restaurant, Alpine hiking trips, float plane tours, Helicopter rides, Fishing, Trail riding and Wilderness Vacation, Rock climbing, river rafting, Trips for women, Guided canoe tours, mountain biking, educational programs, Adventure Trips, photographic workshops with professional photographer and lots more.

Winter Activities are: Cross country skiing, guided ski tours, down hill skiing, dog sled rides, hockey arena, curling rink, outdoor skating rinks, snowmobile tours, ice fishing, avalanche courses and lots more.

HOW TO GET HERE

Smithers is located on Highway 16 which offers many ways to come to this beautiful town in the heart of northern British Columbia. You can choose from the following:

By Air Smithers can be reached from Vancouver twice a day with Canadian Regional Airline. Attention, there are special rates for connection flights from overseas and from countries other than the US. Those rates are from Air Canada and Canadian Airlines and they are around Can$ 190.- round trip from Vancouver. For more information, please contact our office. There are also flights from Regional Airports like Prince George etc.

By Car Smithers on Highway 16 can be reached via Highway 16 from Edmonton, via Highway 1 and 16 from Calgary, via Highway 1 and 16 from Vancouver. The distance from those cities is almost the same and the driving time will be app. 13 hours. From the east Smithers can be reached on Highway 16 from Prince Rupert and from the Cassiar Highway coming from Alaska.

By Ferry Highway 16 is also connecting the Inside Passages out of Prince Rupert on the West coast. There is BC Ferry running every second day from and to Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and the Alaska Ferry is stopping here from Bellingham to Alaska and from Ketchikan and Skageway. From Prince Rupert visitors can use there own car or choose from the a train ride or the Greyhound Bus.

By Train Via Rail stops in Smithers twice a week on the way from the east to the west to Prince Rupert. This is one of the most scenic train rides in the world. The train could be used to go from Smithers and catch the Ferry or make the other way to Edmonton or Vancouver.

By Bus Greyhound Bus is stopping every day twice in Smithers, coming either way from the interior or from the coast. The Bus ride could also be combined with the Ferry , with Via Rail or with a plane.

LOCAL WEATHER REPORT

The weather in Northern BC could change very fast. Smithers are in a very good position with only a little bit rain in the summer and with average rain in the spring and fall. The average Rainfall is 33.7 cm/year in the summer and the snowfall in the winter reaches an average of 106 cm/year. To see the latest weather report and the forecast please click here.

ROAD CONDITIONS

The Highway 16 where Smithers lays is always very well maintained in summer and winter. For the latest road conations and for the condition on the Cassiar Highway up north to Alaska please visit BC Highways.


Hope to see you soon in Smithers!