They say heading out into Mother Nature is good for the soul – fresh air, maybe some animal sightings and an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Prince George is home to a host of great trails that will provide just that.
Here are our top five picks:
Eskers Provincial Park
One of the best places to check out for fall hiking in Prince George is Eskers Provincial Park. Its numerous lakes and several trail options make the park a favourite for hiking. The trails are well defined and include a three-kilometre loop trail around Pine Marsh and a longer 6-km trail to Kathie Lake. Eskers, which are landforms created from the meltwater of ancient glaciers, give this park its name and are a unique feature of the area. The park conserves a section the 40-km Stuart River Eskers Complex. Only a 40-minute drive from downtown Prince George, Eskers is a great park for repeat visits and a wonderful place to enjoy the fall foliage.
How to get there: Turn west off Highway 97 north onto Chief Lake Road. Continue west for 27 km. At the west end of Ness Lake turn north onto Ness Lake Road North. Follow this road for 1 km to the Eskers Provincial Park entrance.
Cranbrook Hill Greenway Trails
The Cranbrook Hill Greenway allows hikers to experience the fall wilderness within the city limits of Prince George. The Greenway has over 25 km of multi-use trails that connects the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Forests for the World, Otway Ski Centre and Parkridge Creek. The purpose of Cranbrook Hill Greenway is to preserve a linear area of approximately 324 hectares that provides both a corridor for wildlife habitat and recreation activities. Hikers can choose to do either a portion of the trail or traverse the greenway in its entirety.
How to get there: For full directions on accessing the UNBC, Forest for the World and the Otway Cranbrook Hill Greenway trails, visit cranbrookhillgreenway.bc.ca.
Moore’s Meadow
Moore’s Meadow comes alive with fall colours and is an enjoyable place to spend a few hours immersed in nature. The meadow contains a network of four trails, spanning 5 km, that circle a large glacial kettle created during the ice age. The trails include the Mary, Fallis, Ridge, Kettle and East trails. This unique feature makes Moore’s Meadow a natural getaway within city limits. In the fall, it’s popular with hikers, bikers and dog walkers. It’s also one of the city’s three off-leash pet areas. However, the trails are on-leash and the meadow itself is the designated off-leash area.
How to get there: From Foothills Boulevard and University Way follow Foothills Boulevard to the Moore's Meadow parking lot on the right.
Goodsir Nature Park
Located on private property, Goodsir Nature Park is the labour of love of owner Jim Goode. This truly unique Canadian botanical garden is the place to explore and learn about fall foliage. The park hosts over 200 different kinds of trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Goode has also labelled the various types of vegetation with interpretive signs throughout the park, which makes not only a beautiful hike but an informative one, too. The park also includes trails, picnic tables, a campground and beaver pond. It’s a quiet and serene spot to explore and see how local plants change in the fall. Another extraordinary aspect of Goodsir is Goode’s small plant museum and vinyl museum, which you can also check out by donation.
How to get there: Drive north on Highway 97. Take a left after the bridge in Salmon Valley and follow along – the park is located at 22825 Old Summit Lake Rd. and it will be on your left.
Teapot Mountain
Teapot Mountain is only a 45-minute drive north of Prince George and its summit boasts spectacular views of the surrounding wilderness. It’s a short trail as it’s only 1.4 km one way and it takes roughly a half-an-hour to reach the peak. The climb up, however, is quite steep, and there are ropes tied to trees at especially steep spots to assist hikers as they make the ascent up or down the mountain. The trail continues around the top of the Teapot Mountain, allowing hikers to take in the views of Summit Lake and the nearby wetlands. Hikers may also be able to spot an actual teapot or two placed in certain spots along the trail.
How to get there: Drive 50 km north of Prince George on Highway 97 past Summit Lake. From Highway 97, turn left onto Tallus Road. Continue driving and then take a right onto the Caine Creek Forest Road. Follow the road to the parking lot.
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