Where the Wild Coast Meets the Open Road
From coastal fjords and ancient rainforests to glacier-carved valleys and long northern highways, Northwest BC invites travellers to step beyond the expected.
Migrating here
THROUGH PRINCE GEORGE
Travelling west from Prince George along Highway 16, the Yellowhead Highway, the landscape begins to widen. Forests deepen. Rivers run broad and cold. This corridor carries you into the heart of Northwest BC.
Follow Highway 16 through communities such as Houston, Smithers, Telkwa, Terrace and onward to Prince Rupert on the North Coast.
For those seeking a northern detour, turn north at Kitwanga onto Highway 37, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, a route that feels like a meditation in motion. This iconic drive leads toward Stewart, vast alpine terrain, and some of the province’s most remote and powerful wilderness landscapes.
THROUGH PRINCE RUPERT
For many, the journey begins on the water.
Arriving via BC Ferries along the Inside Passage is one of Canada’s most remarkable coastal voyages. Sailing north from Port Hardy or connecting from Vancouver Island, travellers pass forested islands, misty channels, and wildlife-rich waters before docking in Prince Rupert.
From here, Highway 16 becomes your gateway east into the Skeena Valley and beyond, connecting seamlessly to inland communities and road trip routes across Northwest BC. It is a transition from ocean to mountain, tide to timberline, all within a single day.
Getting here
By Plane
Northwest BC is accessible by regional air service, connecting travellers to the vastness quickly and efficiently via the Prince George Aiport, Smithers Regional Airport, Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat, and the Prince Rupert Airport.
By Car
Northwest BC is best explored by car, RV, or touring motorcycle. Highway 16, Highway 37, and connecting backroads carry you through mountain passes, along salmon-bearing rivers, and into communities shaped by resilience and resourcefulness.
Communities
The region consists of the Northwestern BC communities of Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort. St James, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Houston, Granisle, Smithers, the Hazeltons, Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Stewart, and the Nisga’a Lands.
The region is most easily accessed through Prince George from the East and West from Prince Rupert by ferry.
Our Pledge
Northwest BC is home to many Indigenous Nations whose Peoples have cared for these lands, waters, and stories since time immemorial. As travellers, we are guests here. Travel thoughtfully. Give wildlife space. Move with care through communities.