Looking for a little adventure during your visit to Prince Rupert?
Well, you’re in luck, because we’re right in the heart of the North Coast playground.
Here at the Crest, we’re blessed with beautiful views over the water, islands, and surrounding lush hillsides. We encourage all of our guests to get out an explore!
There are numerous opportunities for day hikes around Prince Rupert, from low-key walks through wetland bogs to inspiring waterfall vistas to energizing-yet-challenging mountain climbs. Our trail system offers options for every ability level, and some are also mobility accessible.
Our temperate weather means that most trails are open year-round. Take in the unbeatable summertime views with visibility across to Haida Gwaii, or enjoy a quiet, contemplative shimmering snowshoe trek in the winter.
n.b. Because of our coastal rainforest location, trails can be wet at any time. Wear sturdy shoes with good grips to avoid twisted ankles!
Hiking around Prince Rupert grants numerous opportunities to view our unique wildlife: get closer (but not too close!) to seabirds, seals, sea lions, mountain goats, bears, elk, owls, and bald eagles (yes, they live in Canada, too). Always remember that this is their home and their habitat. Their responses to humans can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. Please don’t try to interact directly with any of the wild animals around PR, never feed them, and take only photos from afar. They’re just as magnificent from 30m away!
Here are some of our favourite ways for everyone to enjoy the “outside passage” in Prince Rupert’s spectacular natural surroundings:
Tough Trails
Rugged mountain hikes in this area will take you high above Prince Rupert Harbour and Cow Bay. The Kiwanis Trail on Mt. Hays is a combined hiking/mountain biking route (stay to the right if you’re on foot!), and it’s definitely a workout. It can be wet (read: slippery) throughout the year, so proper footwear and clothing are essential. Climb up through dense, leafy pathways to subalpine meadows, and along a charming boardwalk to a shrubby summit and a compacted forestry road. In season, you might even reward yourself with a handful of wild blueberries. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous waterfalls and winding creeks, plenty of wildlife, and panoramic views across to Alaska!
Moderate Meandering
McClymont Park Trail winds along Hays Creek from the Civic Centre to the Cow Bay waterfront. This 1.6 km scenic route is popular with trail runners and hikers looking for a little bit of exertion. A unique opportunity to explore the magical old-growth trees and towering First Nations totems, the lush rainforest canopy and charming North Coast architecture, and to climb up to an incredible view over the bay. The trail is well-maintained, though keep an eye out for exposed roots and slippery sections.
Easy Easements
The 5.4km Butze Rapids Interpretive Trail is always a favourite, and it appeals to all ages. Any time of day, this is an easy, picturesque loop to a beautiful waterway, but at high and low tide, the reversing tidal rapids rush, and they are thrilling! Sunshine peeks in through the trees and salmonberry bushes, and a highlight of the loop is the Dr. Seuss-like natural tree fort (a perfect photo-op). Expect to see eagles, songbirds, and maybe even a lone wolf. The well-maintained trail makes the gentle slopes here easy to maneuver. Wear your bathing suit and enjoy a chilly “refreshing” swim at the end!
Adaptive Exploration
Prince Rupert is such a gem, those of us who call it home want to make sure everyone has a chance to experience it. A local organization, Kaien Coastal Riders, helps to make that a possibility. Their Trail Rider program brings people with mobility challenges out into our outstanding parks, forests, and trails with a special adaptive wheelchair and group of passionate, dedicated volunteers. Contact them to arrange for your individualized visit to beautiful Prince Rupert.
Make your visit to Prince Rupert truly memorable…take a hike!
Fresh air, invigorating exercise, the smells of cool ocean breezes and rich, ancient spruce forests, and so many things to see. A trek around these parts will definitely leave you satisfied (and probably with a great story to tell).
After a day of exploring, come back to the Crest for some well-deserved pampering. Contact us to book your stay, and get ready for a true Canadian adventure here on British Columbia’s stunning North Coast.