If you enjoy a walk on the
wild side, you will appreciate the strategic location of Dawson Creek and the surrounding area to meet your outdoor and wilderness needs. While visiting Dawson
Creek, don't miss the waterfowl refuge at McQueen’s
Slough. Here you will find a plethora of birds and waterfowl; a must
see for the birding enthusiast! The Radar Lake Community Forest offers
a piece of tranquility just minutes away from an urban setting. This area features numerous
well-marked interpretive trails where you can learn about local flora
and fauna while strolling through peaceful natural surroundings. Within the Community Forest, the 20 km network of Bear Mountain Nordic Ski trails provide a variety of challenges for winter skiing or summer hiking and mountain biking. If
you are looking for something close by, why not experience our natural ‘green
belt’ which takes you through our beautiful City. Looking for
a picnic? Visit one of Dawson Creek’s many city parks.
Surrounding Splendor
The areas surrounding Dawson
Creek offer a wide range of recreation opportunities. Pouce Coupe
and area offer some spectacular parks including Pouce Coupe Regional
Park, located on the banks of the Pouce Coupe River and Bissette Creek, just ten minutes south east of Dawson Creek.
Tumbler
Ridge
Tumbler Ridge is approximately an hour south of Dawson Creek and provides
an unsurpassed wilderness experience. For years, the secrets of the
Tumbler Ridge back country have been known only to a few. Because of an ambitious trail-building project, Tumbler Ridge is a mecca for
hikers and backpackers. Eight new trails have been built over the past
two years to offer a variety of magnificent wilderness experiences.
Along the Heritage Highway to Tumbler Ridge from Dawson Creek, the
Tepee Falls Trail and Murray Canyon Overlook Trail are both well marked
for visitors. Return distance for each is approximately six kilometres.
Close to town, the Flatbed Pools Trail and Flatbed Falls Trail offer
great summer swimming holes. Nearby, an important dinosaur track way
site is open to guided tours only.
 The Core Lodge Road leads into spectacular sub-alpine and alpine
zones and fantastic scenery. Here hikers can choose between
the Babcock Falls Trail with a recommended swim in the pool; the Boulder
Gardens Hiking Route with a unique jumble of giant rocks and crevices;
the Roman Mountain Trail which follows part of the route of the famous
Emperor’s Challenge mountain half-marathon, and the Quintette
Mountain Trail. This last trail, a round trip of just over two kilometres,
enables visitors to drive to the tree line, then amble up a rocky
ridge to the summit amidst carpets of summer wildflowers. More ambitious
hikers may wish to challenge themselves with the Five-peak Circuit;
twenty-seven kilometres in one day!
Kinuseo Falls in Monkman Provincial Park is one of the great waterfalls
of North America and is not to be missed. There is much
more to enjoy in this park, including the highly recommended Stone
Corral Interpretive Hiking Trail which winds for four kilometres through
a vast environment of lakes, cliffs and small caves. The
twenty-four km (one way) hike to Monkman Lake includes a short side-excursion
to The Cascades, a dramatic series of ten waterfalls in Monkman Creek.
Don’t miss the beauty of Tumbler Ridge, one of the last true
wilderness destinations of the Rocky Mountains.
All this just scratches the surface. There are dozens more accessible
destinations, informative staff at the Visitor Info Centre, and guides
waiting to escort upon request.
INDOOR RECREATION | OUTDOOR
RECREATION | GOLFING | FISHING | BIRDING |
