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Heaven is under our feet
as well as over our heads.

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Explore a World of Wonder

motorcyclists overlooking mountains
Click photo for more info about motorcycle touring Route 16
Magically, even though Skeena Cabin is on the edge of pristine wilderness, it is still only a short drive away from stunning attractions and outdoor activities. 
At the cabin, nature is at your doorstep, and within easy reach is even more big nature, in an area dotted with friendly small towns.
If you were only planning to drive through, take a look at what is close by.

Click on the photos to find out more about a particular feature, and feel free to contact us if you want more information about any local attractions.

World Famous Fishing

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Click on photo for Best Times to fish salmon and steelhead in the Skeena watershed.
Whether you're after world class salmon fishing on the Skeena, or you want to throw a line in one of the river's tributaries or in a local lake, Skeena Cabin makes a great base for anglers.
For guided salmon and steelhead fishing, contact Skeena Wilderness Fishing Charters (based in Terrace) and ask about day trips.
spawning male steelhead trout
dolly varden trout fish
rainbow trout fish
bull trout fish
westslope cutthroat trout fish
brook trout fish
Closer to home, you can fish steelhead trout in the Kitwanga River (15 minutes drive east of the cabin), and both steelhead and dolly varden at Insect Creek (about a 20-minute drive west). Opportunities abound to fish at various lakes – among the most accessible are Kitwancool (rainbow and bull trout), Seeley (cutthroat and rainbow trout) and Ross Lakes (rainbow and eastern brook trout), all within an hour’s drive or less from Skeena Cabin.
Helpful links:
For Skeena Region fresh water fishing regulations, click here.
To purchase a British Columbia fresh water fishing license on-line, click here.
For Skeena Region salmon fishing regulations, click here.
To purchase a salmon fishing license on-line, click here.


Seven Sisters Provincial Park

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"The chain of peaks that constitutes the Seven Sisters is without equal in the whole of West Central British Columbia. On all counts, it can only be described by superlatives. It is more beautiful, more impressive, more inspiring and in a sense more aloof than any of the other mountains and ranges."

Einar Blix and Andrew Blix, Trails to Timberline in West Central British Columbia
seven sisters park trails map
Whether you’re looking for a short, easy stroll with access to fishing, or a full-day trek that takes you to the alpine, there’s a hike for everyone in this spectacular sanctuary. Mountaineers who scale the rugged peaks (some over 8,000 feet) meet with true majesty.
The forest of the lower elevations are often cloaked in the mists of the Skeena River - which makes for delightful fungi habitat. Black and grizzly bears, marten, moose, mule deer and wolves also make their homes here, and you may even spot a mountain goat herd in the alpine.   
The trail heads are only a 30-40 minute drive from Skeena Cabin. Or, for a spectacular view of the mountain peaks, hike the Kitwanga Mountain Park trail, just an 11 minute drive from the cabin.

Spectacular Glacier Viewing

travellers viewing salmon glacier
Salmon Glacier, past Hyder (click photos for more info)
bear glacier highway view
Bear Glacier, Highway 37A
fish creek black bear
Black bear at Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site
colorful dowtown stewart bc
Downtown Stewart

Day trip to glaciers near
Stewart and Hyder

A three-and-a-half-hour scenic drive from Skeena Cabin brings you to the quaint communities of Stewart, British Columbia and Hyder, Alaska. View the Bear Glacier on the way to Stewart, and drive another hour past Hyder to reach the stunning Salmon Glacier. Make sure to pick up your Self-Guided Auto Tour to the Glaciers at the Stewart Visitor Centre.
In Hyder, you can also watch bears and wolves feeding on salmon runs at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site.

Nisga’a Memorial
Lava Bed Park 

This hauntingly beautiful landscape could be the highlight of your trip to British Columbia.
Explore the lower section of the Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park as a leisurely day trip by driving along the Nisga'a Highway north of Terrace.
Or, plan a full day journey via Highway 37, and really immerse yourself in lava bed geology and Nisga’a culture.
nisga'a nation auto-tour brochure
Click image for map of Nisga'a Nation Auto-Tour

nisga'a auto-tour roadside sign
Click photo for descriptions of stops 1-9 of auto-tour
drowned forest waterfall
The Drowned Forest - click photo for auto-tour reviews
vetter falls emerald water
Vetter Falls - click photo for more info on this stop

Day Trip - Nisga’a Highway

Travel north of Terrace up the Nisga’a Highway and follow the first half of the Nisga’a Nation’s auto-tour. You can pick up a copy of the complete auto-tour brochure at the Terrace Visitor Centre, but the route is well-marked.
This eerily enchanting landscape is the result of the last volcanic eruption in Canada, over 260 years ago. Each stop on the auto-tour leads you into a hidden natural treasure.
There are great picnic sites along the route - make sure to bring water and pack a lunch.

The Full Day Journey

Plan an early start and spend a full day to really get the most out of visiting the lava beds and learn more about the Nisga’a people.
Book a guided tour to see the volcano (a “lava cone”) that gave rise to this captivating setting, soak in the Aiyansh hot springs, and peruse the Ancestor’s Collection and the new "Healing Ways" exhibit at the Nisga’a Museum.
To follow this itinerary, access the park from the north via Highway 37. At Cranberry Junction, turn west onto the Nisga’a Highway. At the end of the day, return to Skeena Cabin via Terrace and Highway 16.
Take a step off the beaten path and be captivated by this little-known and surreal landscape. It could be the most fascinating side-trip you ever do.
relaxing in Aiyansh hot springs
Click photo for Google reviews of hot springs (refurbished in 2017)
nisga'a auto-tour roadside sign
Click photo for descriptions of stops 10-18 of auto-tour
nisga'a museum outdoor view
Click photo to visit museum website
traditional nisga'a wood carving
Click photo to learn about repatriation of NIsga'a artifacts

Day Trips to Larger Communities

Centrally located between a number of friendly small towns, Skeena Cabin is a great base for exploring the unique character and attractions of several Northern communities.
Terrace, Hazelton, Smithers, Prince Rupert, and Kitimat are all possibilities for day trips. Check out the highlights below.
map of skeena cabin region
Click map to enlarge

Inland Outings

busy terrace farmer's market
Click photo to read about Terrace Farmer's Market
Terrace lies about 105km/65 miles southwest of Skeena Cabin. Renowned for its Farmer’s Market, it also has a fine selection of restaurants. And don't miss out on the hiking and biking trails, and fishing on the Skeena River.
ksan traditional artwork
Click photo to read reviews about Hazelton's Ksan Historical Village
Hazelton is 75km/50 miles to the northeast. This cozy little community features the Ksan Heritage Village and the artisinal Skeena Bakery & Coffee Shop.

golf course with mountain views
Click photo to read reviews about the Smithers Golf & Country Club
Smithers is 125km/80 miles southeast of Skeena Cabin. Here you can enjoy yet more trails, restaurants, shopping on Main Street, and the Smithers Golf & Country Club.

Go Coastal

To experience an ocean-side town, visit Prince Rupert (255km/160 miles drive southwest of Skeena Cabin), or Kitimat (170km/105 miles southwest).
Prince Rupert is known for wonderful seafood and wildlife viewing, and it is a port for BC Ferries.
Kitimat has great fishing on the Kitimat River and in the Douglas Channel. Go ocean-kayaking, or rent a motorcycle for land-based touring.
waterfront pub at marina
Click photo for more about Prince Rupert's waterfront pub
frolicking killer whales
Click photo to read about wildlife viewing tours in Prince Rupert
kayaks on ocean beach
Click photo to read reviews of Kitimat's North Coast Kayak Adventures
moto tours family with motorcycles
Click photo to learn more about Kitimat's family-run Horizon Moto Tours

Kitwanga

Friendly services close by

At Skeena Cabin, you’re only a 20-minute drive from the little town of Kitwanga. Here you’ll find the Kitwanga General Store, where you can stock up on groceries, fishing tackle, and just have fun perusing the aisles of an old-fashioned general store. The Petro-Canada gas station has a restaurant, an ATM and small convenience store. If you need to do laundry, follow the signs to the quaint and well-kept Cassiar RV Park. And if the Kitwanga totem poles make you curious to see some artwork by modern-day Aboriginal artists, check out the Gitskan Paintbrush art gallery, just a couple of minutes west of the Petro-Canada on Highway 16.
gitskan totem poles of kitwanga
Click photo to learn the history of the Gitskan totem poles in Kitwanga
The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ... and know the place for the first time.

TS ELIOT
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SKEENA CABIN
Kitwanga   ~   British Columbia   ~   Canada
  • Home
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