Smithers

Smithers is an alpine town in the North Coast-Nechako region of British Columbia. With a population of 5,350 residents (2016), Smithers is the perfect base for exploring the surrounding wilderness.

Understand

Smithers has adopted an alpine theme, which is drawn from the geography of the area. A town bylaw requires businesses in the downtown area centred on Main Street to construct their buildings in an alpine style. A fibreglass statue of a man blowing an alpine horn, commonly referred to as the Alpenman or Alpine Al, is located at the entrance to the main street and has become the town symbol. Similarly, the Smithers chamber of commerce displays an Alpine Al costume at community events and in television advertisements for the town's businesses.

Residents of Smithers are called "Smithereens" which remains a more popularly accepted demonym than the sometimes used "Smitherite".

History

The Bulkley Valley in which Smithers is situated was inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en First Nation. Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers.

Climate

Winters are cold and cloudy but highly variable with a January average of −8.9 °C (16.0 °F). Snow is the main type of precipitation during winter. Warm spells can push temperatures above freezing during the winter months, while cold weather systems can reduce the temperature to less than −30 °C (−22 °F). The average annual snowfall is 204 cm (80.3 in) with maximum accumulations of snow tending to happen in February when the snow depth is around 36 centimetres (14.2 in) and there are many months when the snow depth reaches or surpasses 20 cm (7.9 in). Summers are warm with a normal highs of just below 30 °C (86 °F) and an extreme high of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F). Nighttime temperatures are often cool with normal nighttime lows under 10 °C (50 °F). Depending on the year there may be very little or a lot of precipitation. Spring and fall are short transition seasons. Smithers receives an average of 513 mm (20 in) of precipitation a year with February through April being the driest months. Smithers receives 1651 hours of bright sunshine a year, ranging from a minimum of 13% of possible sunshine in December to a maximum of 48% of possible sunshine in August.

Get in

By car

Smithers is approximately halfway between Prince George and Prince Rupert. The town is 68 km (42 mi) east of New Hazelton, on Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway), and 370 km (229 mi) west of Prince George.

By bus

By train
See also: Rail travel in Canada
  • 🌍 Smithers station, 202-3815 Railway Avenue. (updated Oct 2023)
    • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates a route between Jasper and Prince Rupert with stops in McBride, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, and Terrace. The train travels during the daytime, taking two days in each direction. There is an overnight stop in Prince George, where passengers will need to book sleeping accommodations. Travel time to Prince George from Jasper is 7.5 hours. Travel time to Smithers from Prince George is 6.25 hours, from Vanderhoof is 4.25 hours, from Burns Lake is 2.25 hours, from Terrace is 3.75 hours, and from Prince Rupert is 6.25 hours. Jasper is also a stop for The Canadian, which travels between Vancouver and Toronto. (updated Apr 2022)

Airport

Airlines

Get around

The only taxi service in Smithers ceased operating on January 31, 2020.

By public transit

See
  • 🌍 Bulkley Valley Museum, 1425 Main St, ☏ +1 250-847-5322, . M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-2PM (closed Su). A collection of artifacts and archival materials which explores the social and technological development of the Bulkley Valley, including the Aboriginal communities and European settlers. By donation. (updated Jul 2023)

Do
  • 🌍 Hudson Bay Mountain, ☏ +1 250-847-2058, toll-free: +1-866-575-4669. First-class ski slopes. In summer, there is horseback riding and hiking. (updated Apr 2023)
    • 🌍 Crater Lake. A good hike passing through beautiful scenery, with views of the Telkwa Mountains. Trail starts from the Hudson Bay Mountain ski area, and the end of the road. 
  • 🌍 Twin Falls Recreation Site (west end of Glacier Gulch Rd). Trailhead for both the Twin Falls and the Glacier Gulch trails. (updated Apr 2023)
    • Twin Falls Trail. The walk up to Twin Falls is a few hundred meters, mostly uphill. The trail is wide and well packed down. There used to be a viewing platform, but it was wiped out by an avalanche in 2018. You can see three sets of waterfalls that all drain into the same waterway and end up in Lake Kathlyn below. A long and steep hike will take you to the toe of the glacier -- best suited to experienced hikers. In the winter you can hike to views of frozen waterfalls. Once it is frozen enough and you have enough snow you can hike up towards the falls but you must be aware of what's above you as you are now in avalanche territory. (updated Apr 2023)
    • Glacier Gulch Trail. Climbs 1000 metres to the base of the Hudson Bay glacier. Offers views of the glacier, Hudson Bay Mountain, and the surrounding area. (updated Apr 2023)

Learn

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep
  • 🌍 Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge, 3251 East Highway 16, ☏ +1 250-847-4581, toll-free: +1-877-737-8443, . You can borrow free bikes, sporting equipment, board games and beach toys. Mediterranean restaurant, lounge, sports bar, free WiFi. From $145. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Stork Nest Inn, 1485 Main St, ☏ +1 250-847-3831, toll-free: +1-877-647-3831. Full menu breakfast included with room, air conditioned, fridges in most rooms, cable TV, free high speed wireless internet, massage studio, fishing wader and ski storage room, free coffee and tea. Nov-Apr: single $99, double $105, twin $110; May-Oct: single $105, double $120, twin $120;. (updated Jun 2018)
  • 🌍 Smithers Guesthouse, 1766 Main Street, ☏ +1 250-847-4862. 5 guestrooms plus a common kitchen with stove, refrigerator, oven and microwave and a common living/lounge area with satellite TV, DVD player, library and gas fireplace. Guest laundry and ski/sporting equipment storage area is also available. Sundeck and hot tub. Stays are available with or without breakfast. Single $65-70, doubles $70-75. (updated Jun 2018)

Cope

Go next
  • Prince George, 4 hour and 15 minutes east on Highway 16
  • Terrace, 2 hour and 20 minutes west on Highway 16
Routes through Smithers
Prince Rupert ← New Hazelton ←  W  E  → Vanderhoof → Jasper
Prince Rupert ← New Hazelton ←  W  E  → Vanderhoof → Prince George


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