The Prince Rupert region is located with B.C.’s Northern Rainforest. The climate here tends to be temperate and wet. Prince Rupert has 220 days of precipitation out of the year, and averages 250 cm in one year. Terrace, sheltered by the Coastal Mountains only receives 129.5 cm of precipitation in a year. Kitimat sees the most snow of the three cities, and averages about 198 cm of precipitation each year. Temperatures in this area can range to just below freezing in the winters to the low 20 degree Celsius in the summer.

The Prince Rupert area draws thousands of visitors every year to view local wildlife.  Off the coast, humpback and grey whales, orcas and minke pass through these waters mingle with seals and sea lions. All come to feed on the abundant fish life found in this region, including all five species of salmon, plus large halibut and cod. On the shore, this area is considered prime habitat for grizzly and black bears. The rare Kermode bear makes this area his home. We note that the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, north of Prince Rupert, is the only protected area in North America set aside for grizzly bear and their habitat. Mountain goats, deer, moose and wolves are among the many species which exist in this area. This area is also an important space for North America’s bird population, with 112 species counted in the Kitimat River Estuary, including Snow Geese, Cinnamon Teals, Canvasbacks, Lesser Golden Plovers, and Whimbrels.

Ferry Service: BC Ferries offers service from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. Prince Rupert offers ferry access to the nearby Queen Charlotte Islands. Due to the recent sinking of the Queen of the North , this area is temporarily experiencing a cut-back  in BC Ferry service. Prince Rupert is also served by the Alaskan Ferry Service. 

Air Service: The airports at Prince Rupert and Terrace are served by Air Canada Jazz and Hawk Air, with flights to Vancouver International Airport. Kitimat has an airpark with a 3000 ft runway for light planes only. Minnette Bay at Kitimat is a federally recognized aerodrome for sea planes. 

Rail Service: Via Rail offers service to Terrace and Prince Rupert.

Major Cities: 

This area’s economy centres around the natural resources of Northwest BC. Key industries have traditionally included forestry, mining and manufacturing, fishing, and hydro-electric power.  Recently, the deep sea water ports at Prince Rupert and Kitimat have become increasingly important to Canada’s trade with Asia, as these ports are the closest North American access to China. Major deals have been completed recently in both cities, as companies, especially energy-related companies, take advantage of this. As the infrastructure is put into place to maintain the high level of shipping flowing through these ports, we will see the market in this area become even hotter.  

The real estate market in this region is increasing at a tremendous rate. BC Assessment notes that the overall assessment rolls in this area showed increases over last year from 3% in Kitimat to 12% in Prince Rupert. Northwest Deputy Assessor Scott Sitter noted that “The residential portion of Prince Rupert’s assessment roll show  increases of nearly 25% over last year… Some property owners in these markets will see assessment increases of over 30%” 
 

Recreation:

• Prince Rupert is internationally renowned as a fishing destination, with both saltwater and freshwater opportunities. Species available here include salmon, steelhead, halibut, cod, and crab. Click here for a more detailed report on fishing in the area.

• Prince Rupert Golf Club is an 18 hole course set in the middle of spectacular scenery.

• Wildlife viewing is a major draw to this area both on and off the water. Prince Rupert is the base for excellent whale watching opportunities. Just north of the city is Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, the largest bear preserve in North America.

• Kayakers are being drawn to the opportunities in this area. Sea kayaking in and around the many islands in this area rival the Gulf Islands for beautiful scenery and challenging waters. The reverse tides at Butze Rapids are like those at Skookumchuck Rapids in the Sunshine Coast.

Terrace: This city of 12,109 is the regional hub for the northern communities east of Prince Rupert, providing all commercial and government services. Situated on the Skeena River, this town is becoming known as a hub for recreational activities.
 

Kitimat:  Found at the end of the Douglas Channel, this community of 10,285 is a planned community established by Alcan in the 1950’s. However, Kitimat has diversified its economy in recent years. This deep sea port is the third busiest in British Columbia, yet there still is a multitude of possibilities for all types of recreational opportunities.

Recreation:

• Kitimat offers the best of both worlds for fishermen. The productive Kitimat River is known for its salmon, steelhead, and trout population (perhaps due to the 11 million salmon fry the Kitimat River Hatchery releases every year). The Douglas Channel provides saltwater fishermen opportunities to chase after salmon, halibut, chum, cod, snapper, and crab.

• Accessing the water sports available in the Douglas Channel is made easier by the two marinas located in Kitimat, with boat launching, mooring, storage space, and other services available.

• Golfers will enjoy the challenging, professionally designed 18 hole golf course at Hirsch Creek Golf & Winter Club.

• In the winter, Nordic skiers head for the Onion Lake Cross Country Ski Trails, 23 km of maintained trails between Terrace and Kitimat, which double as great mountain biking and hiking trails in the summer.

• Kitimat is a hiker’s paradise, with trails ranging from easy jaunts along the river to multi-day excursions up nearby Mount Elizabeth.

National and Provincial Parks

The Prince  Rupert region does not have any national parks within its borders. There are several provincial parks in this area, most protecting fragile habitat and the wildlife that exists in Northwest British Columbia. These parks include Gitnadoiks River Provincial Park, Diana Lake, Prudhomme Lake, and Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-Deen Grizzly Sanctuary, and  We note that the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts maintain forest recreational sites in this area, mostly around Kitimat.

City of Prince Rupert

City of Terrace

District Municipality of Kitimat

Northern BC Tourism

BC Parks

Forest Recreation Sites Locator