The biggest and best Prince Rupert attractions are; world class salmon and halibut fishing, wildlife viewing, whale watching, bear watching tours in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, the Museum of Northern BC, Cannery Museum in Port Edwards and the ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. Other Prince Rupert points of interest are the Cow Bay Road tourist area, Butze Rapids, the Fire Museum, Kwinitsa Railway Museum, kayaking, the Oldfield Creek Hatchery and Pike Island tours. Though Prince Rupert has had its share of economic ups and downs like so many other resource based communities on the west coast of British Columbia, it is strong today with one foot firmly planted in industry and the other in tourism.
Prince Rupert History and Facts A vision interrupted by the sinking of the Titanic and an unintentional gift from Hirohito. Prince Rupert was named after Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria (1619-1692). A soldier from a young age who picked the wrong side to fight for during the English Civil War and lived out his exile days as a buccaneer in the Caribbean. It wasn't until his reinstatement that he returned to England and with his vast mariner experience became a naval commander and the very first governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. The first humans to inhabit the area in and around Prince Rupert was the Tsimshian first peoples, in fact this area was one of the most highly populated areas in North America prior to European contact. The attraction being a hospitable climate and the incredible salmon resource of the Skeena and Nass Rivers. When the Europeans arrived they were seeking their treasure in furs and pelts, but what they soon realized was that it was the fish that was, and still is, one of the biggest natural riches of the area.
Small cannery villages started to pop up here and there in the area, some now ghost towns. The real vision for development came in 1910 from Charles Melville Hays (1856-1912) where he envisioned Prince Rupert being a major sea port and stopping point for steam ships and cruise liners with a grandiose hotel as its centrepiece. Charles Hays was the general manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and establishing Prince Rupert would be the next stop on the way for aggressively building his company's empire. Unfortunately, while Charles was returning from raising capital in England his ship hit an iceberg and he and sank to a watery grave at the bottom of the Atlantic, the ill fated ship he was sailing on was the Titanic. After Hays tragic death, the Prince Rupert local government scaled down Hays' plans and decided to encourage businesses and individuals to settle here with the promise of a connecting road to the rest of the continent. It wasn't until World War II when the US military finished the road from Terrace to Prince Rupert to assist them in bringing troops and equipment to Alaska. After the war and for almost the rest of the 20th century fishing and forestry were the main economic engines of Prince Rupert. In the 1990's disputes over fishing boundaries in Dixon Entrance and heavy tariffs on wood products being imported into the US threatened the livelihoods of many people. Some residents did leave to seek their fortunes elsewhere, but for those who stayed, economic recovery was just around the corner. A cornerstone of Charles Hays vision was for Prince Rupert to be a major shipping port. Over the years coal and grain shipping terminals were built and in 2004 and 2005 a deep sea cruise ship terminal and cargo container port respectively were built with plans for further expansion. Now Prince Rupert is a hub of activity that is busy with visitors from all over the world and bustling with freight. Cargo ships coming from Asia to North America enjoy 1000+ kilometre shortcut and can shave almost 60 hours off their trip. Offloaded containers then travel to their North American destinations via rial or transport. It took a long time for Hays ideas to manifest themselves. Is a grandiose hotel next for Prince Rupert? We'll see...
Prince Rupert Fishing Arguably the biggest and longest running attraction for Prince Rupert is the sport fishing industry. Prince Rupert is uniquely locates by both the Skeena and Nass Rivers that have large salmon runs and you can effectively fish all year round. The best time to go salmon fishing is April to September when the salmon runs are at their peak. Coho, Pink, Chinook and Sockeye are the types of salmon that can be caught in Prince Rupert, there is also a great opportunities for cod, snapper, year round dungeness crabbing and halibut fishing. But, people usually come for the salmon. Many of the Prince Rupert fishing charter services will clean your fish and even temporarily store them for you. Whale Watching Prince Rupert Many of these beautiful and majestic animals can be viewed in Prince Rupert, some are local and can be viewed year round, others are migratory and only are viewable over a shorter period of time. Orcas (Killer Whales) can be seen year round, but the best time to see them is in May and June during one of the salmon runs. Porpoises can be seen year round in the harbour and out around the local islands. Humpback whales are the most commonly visible from August to October. Gray whales can be seen from March to July. Once in a while you might spot a minke whale, these whales are in all oceans all over the world, but their migration patterns are not easily predictable. Here is a great resource for local Prince Rupert whale watching companies.
Prince Rupert Bear Watching Whether you are driving into Prince Rupert, coming by boat, taking advantage of one of the great local charter services or hiking by streams and estuaries, your chances are pretty good you'll get a few glimpses of black bears. But, if you want the experience of a lifetime, you need to come see the bears in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary is north of Prince Rupert and you can only get there via a day long boat tour or a few hour float plane charter. The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary is one of the few Grizzly bear sanctuaries in North America that has a strong population, visiting the reserve will almost guarantee multiple Grizzly bear sightings. Make sure you make arrangements with local charter companies for your Khutzeymateen tour. Museum of Northern BC If you are visiting Prince Rupert you must visit the Museum of Northern British Columbia. Upon entrance to the museum you are greeted by the warm glow of the wooden structure and the smiling face of the reception. The museum itself is an architectural marvel, it is made in the coastal First Nations style of a long house. Take a deep and detailed look into the recent and distant history of the area. First Nations archeological history, their inter political history and wars between other First Nations groups, first contact with Europeans and the history of Prince Rupert. Unique native artworks adorn the halls intermingle with period displays of life of eras long past. During the summer months there are guided and self guided tours. The rest of the year the museum takes on a more of an educational role hosting field trips for students from near and far. There is a carving shed beside the museum where you can see local artist hard at work at their craft. The museum gift shop is very impressive selling unique artworks from local artists as well as other generic items with a First Nations theme. Web site. Cannery Museum Prince Rupert Actually its called the North Pacific Cannery and it is located just outside of Prince Rupert along Highway 16 in Port Edwards. I know what you are thinking... “cannery museum, how exciting can this be?”. Well, those were my thoughts too, but no, you will be pleasantly surprised and realize why this open air museum is one of the biggest attractions in the area drawing thousands of tourists every year. The North Pacific Cannery is designated a National Historic site by Parks Canada and is the longest still standing cannery in the Pacific North West. The cannery ended its operations in the 1980's and is now run by the Port Edward Historic Society. The cannery museum is a completely immersible experience where you are free to roam the site explore the buildings and browse the artifacts. You will learn the history of the cannery and the canning business as changes in technology increased production and reduced the need for labour. Canneries have been a big part of the economic life for a long time and for many different people. Learn how different ethnic groups contributed to the cannery function and see the dark side of their subjugation by Europeans. The cannery museum in Port Edwards also hosts special events, has a restaurant and accommodations, you actually get to sleep in the bunkhouse. No car? There is a bus that leaves many times a day from the Museum of Northern BC. Here is more information on the North Pacific Cannery.
The Waterfront Market on Cow Bay Rd. in Prince Rupert is the quintessential hub of traveller information and hospitality. Here you will find unique gift shops and a local artist co-op full of those one of a kind creations. There is a tourist information centre and a few eclectic restaurants and cafes with a view of the harbour. If you are interested in a place where you will meet other travellers like yourself and can relax in a tourist friendly area, then the Waterfront Market on Cow Bay Rd. Is great place to spend some time.
Ferry Prince Rupert to Port Hardy Prince Rupert is a major launching, transferring and waypoint for travellers and tourists. BC Ferries runs a ferry from Port Hardy BC to Prince Rupert that services isolated communities on BC's Inside Passage, but in the summer has a very scenic day trip that is a big tourist attraction. BC Ferries also has a ferry running from Prince Rupert to Skidegate on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). The Alaska Marine Highway ferry system operates out of Prince Rupert servicing communities in Alaska's Inside Passage. Alaskan cruise ships also stop in Prince Rupert as a port of call and drop hundreds of tourists into its streets. The Discovery Coast Passage offered by BC Ferries through British Columbia's Inside Passage during the summer months draws visitors from all over the world. The cruise takes about 16 hours and takes you by the majestic Great Bear Rainforest, picturesque lighthouses, quaint isolated communities and even a ghost town at Butedale. Wildlife, eagles, and numerous whale sightings are the norm for this voyage, if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of the elusive Kermode bear (or white spirit bear) at the Canoona River on Princess Royal Island. The nice part of this trip that if you are driving you can take your vehicle along with you and continue your exploration on Vancouver Island all the way down to Victoria BC. Passage per person can cost around $170.00, to bring your vehicle the cost starts around $400.00. Butze Rapids Butze Rapids Park is about a 5 minutes drive beyond Prince Rupert's city limits along the left hand side. This is about a 5 km hiking trail loop that will take you through lush green forest, marsh areas and some open grasslands. The highlight of this hike is the reversing Butze rapids that change direction with the tide and provide a unique visual effect about midway through your hike. The Butze Rapids hike can be a brisk hour and a half walk, the area is popular with local runners and their dogs. You do have to be careful of wildlife in the area, wolves and bears are known to be around and you should make noise as you walk, be “bear aware” and turn back if you find fresh scat. Prince Rupert Fire Museum Home to an original 1925 REO Speedwagon that is the centrepiece of their collection. Come discover the history of the Prince Rupert fire and police department and explore relics history proudly put on display. The Prince Rupert Fire Museum is located at 200 1st Ave. West or visit their web site for more information. Kwinitsa Railway Museum A relic of many similar railway stations of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway that were seen throughout the west. Originally the museum was located and hour and a half away and was floated to its present location along the waterfront railroad tracks in Prince Rupert. The museum has memorabilia and pictures featuring the early history of Prince Rupert. The Kwinitsa Railway Museum makes for an interesting curio of a time long gone. The museum is located on Bill Murray Way, in fact, all three museums; Museum of Northern BC, Fire Museum and the Kwinitsa Railway Museum are all close to each other and are in walking distance. Prince Rupert Kayaking Get up close and personal with the west coast by taking a kayak day tour or multiple day expedition. See the landscape, wildlife and unique places that only a kayak can get you into. Contact Skeena Kayaking at (250) 624-8311 Oldfield Creek Hatchery Learn about the life cycles of the salmon. September, October and November are the best times to visit, fry are viewable year round and there are some walking trails in and around the spawning beds. The Oldfield Creek Hatchery is located along Wantage Road in Prince Rupert. Pike Island Tour A small island with a big history. Many archeological excavations are taking place here, one dates use buy humans almost 2000 years ago. Manicured walking trails through a lush forest, petroglyphs and remnants of past inhabitants make for an interesting, unique and cultural tour. For more information contact Sea Shore Charters. Prince Rupert Directions There are many ways to get to Prince Rupert, and often times Prince Rupert is just a stopping point on a continuing journey. You can drive west Via the Yellowhead Highway 16 from Prince George, its 720 km and will take 8 to 9 hours. There is also a bus service via Greyhound from Prince George to Prince Rupert that will take about 15 hours and cost roughly $100.00 There is a very scenic train from Prince George to Prince Rupert option as well serviced by Via Rail. It takes about 13 hours and costs approximately $70.00 The Ferry. BC Ferries services Prince Rupert from Port Hardy Vancouver Island on the Northern Expedition. This trip can take as little as 16 hours in the summer to as much as 24 hours plus in the other seasons. The ferry during the off time of year takes on more of a role of public transportation servicing smaller communities. There is also an option to depart in Bella Coola and jump on the continental highway system there. This can cost as much as $170.00 per person in the peak season and around $400.00 per car.
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