--- title: "Day trips from Prince George, BC | PG Pulse" description: "Day trips from Prince George: the Ancient Forest, Barkerville and Wells, the Bowron Lakes, McBride, Vanderhoof, Purden Lake and Fort St. James." url: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/ markdown: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips.md site: PG Pulse (https://princegeorgepulse.ca), The pulse of Prince George, British Columbia generated: 2026-10-16T15:49:32.077Z --- # Day trips from Prince George, BC Day trips from Prince George: the Ancient Forest, Barkerville and Wells, the Bowron Lakes, McBride, Vanderhoof, Purden Lake and Fort St. James. Updated September 30, 2026 ![A horse-drawn carriage on the main street of Barkerville historic town, lined with wooden gold rush buildings](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/horse-drawn-carriage-main-street-barkerville-historic-town-ca9c44-1280.webp) Photo: Cbone, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## At a glance - Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut, about 115 km east, has boardwalks among thousand-year-old redcedars. - Barkerville, a gold-rush town with over 125 heritage buildings, is about 2.5 hours south and east via Quesnel. - Fort St. James National Historic Site preserves Canada’s largest collection of restored wooden fur-trade buildings. - Vanderhoof’s Nechako bird sanctuary hosts thousands of migrating Canada geese. - Purden Lake, 64 km east, is the nearest big lake campground. One of the best things about Prince George is how much lies within a few hours’ drive: ancient rainforest, a gold-rush town, a national historic fur-trade post, a world-famous canoe circuit and the Rocky Mountains. Here are the classic trips, roughly ordered by direction. Before you go, check [DriveBC](https://www.drivebc.ca/) for road conditions and the [wildfire dashboard](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/dashboard/wildfire/) in summer. Cell coverage is patchy on rural highways. ## East on Highway 16 ### Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut **Distance:** about 115 km east (roughly 1.5 hours) The Ancient Forest protects part of the **inland temperate rainforest**, a rare ecosystem of giant western redcedars and devil’s club far from the ocean. Some cedars are estimated at around 2,000 years old and up to 5 m across. The park was established in 2016 on Lheidli T’enneh territory; _Chun T’oh Whudujut_ means “ancient forest” in their language. - A **450 m universal-access boardwalk** suits wheelchairs and strollers. - A longer **2.3 km boardwalk** leads to named giants and a waterfall. - The strenuous **Driscoll Ridge Trail** climbs 15.5 km for alpine views. Read our full visitor guide: [Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut: what to know](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/articles/ancient-forest-chun-toh-whudujut-what-to-know/). ### Purden Lake **Distance:** 64 km east (about 45 minutes) A big lake with a provincial campground, beaches, a boat launch and stocked kokanee and rainbow trout. Great for a summer swim on the way back from the Ancient Forest. See [summer and lakes](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/summer-and-lakes/). ### McBride and the Robson Valley **Distance:** about 210 km southeast (about 2.5 hours) The village of **McBride** sits in the broad Robson Valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Cariboo Mountains. Founded in 1913 during Grand Trunk Pacific construction and named after Premier Richard McBride, it has a heritage railway station on Main Street, a valley museum, and **Horseshoe Lake**, an oxbow with a birdwatching platform. The surrounding mountains are known for snowmobiling in winter and hiking in summer. Continue about another hour to reach **Mount Robson**, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, for an overnight trip. ![A giant western redcedar trunk rising from the mossy floor of the Ancient Forest](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/giant-western-redcedar-trunk-rising-mossy-floor-ancient-7c47eb-1280.webp) A giant redcedar in the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut. Photo: Lub0t, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## South on Highway 97 and 26 ### Barkerville and Wells **Distance:** about 200 km (roughly 2.5 hours) via Quesnel **Barkerville** grew almost overnight after Billy Barker struck gold on Williams Creek in 1862, and it became the heart of the Cariboo Gold Rush. Today it is a **National Historic Site** and living museum with **more than 125 heritage buildings**, costumed interpreters, stagecoach rides, a theatre and gold panning. The main season runs through summer, and the townsite is open for walk-in visits in winter. Just 8 km before Barkerville is **Wells**, a former gold-mining company town that once had more people than Prince George. Now a village of a couple of hundred residents, it is known for colourful heritage buildings, an arts scene and outdoor recreation. Consider staying overnight. ### Bowron Lake Provincial Park **Distance:** about 3 hours via Quesnel and Wells The **Bowron Lake canoe circuit** is a roughly **116 km** paddling loop of lakes, rivers and portages through the Cariboo Mountains, often ranked among the world’s great canoe trips. It usually takes 6 to 10 days, with a shorter west-side option. Numbers are limited, so reservations are required for the paddling season. For a day visit, you can paddle Bowron Lake itself or walk the trails near the park entrance. ## West on Highway 16 ### Vanderhoof **Distance:** about 100 km west (about 1 hour) Vanderhoof, close to the geographic centre of BC, is a friendly farming town on the Nechako River. Its **Nechako River Migratory Bird Sanctuary**, about 180 hectares along the river, is a stopover for up to 20,000 migrating Canada geese along with swans, pelicans, terns and ducks. Spring and fall migration are the best times to visit. Stop at **Bednesti** or **Cluculz** lakes along the way. ### Fort St. James **Distance:** about 155 km northwest via Vanderhoof and Highway 27 (about 2 hours) Founded by Simon Fraser in **1806**, a year before Fort George, **Fort St. James** was the headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s New Caledonia district and operated as a trading post until 1952. The **National Historic Site** on Stuart Lake has Canada’s largest collection of restored wooden fur-trade buildings, with costumed interpreters in summer. The town on the lake’s shore has beaches, fishing and paddling. Pair it with Vanderhoof for a full day. ![A large weathered log warehouse at Fort St. James National Historic Site](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/large-weathered-log-warehouse-fort-st-james-national-a036ee-1280.webp) The fur warehouse at Fort St. James National Historic Site. Photo: Jerrye and Roy Klotz MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## North on Highway 97 ### Huble Homestead and the Giscome Portage **Distance:** about 40 km north (about 35 minutes) At the south end of the historic Giscome Portage, the Lheidli T’enneh’s “shortcut” over the Arctic–Pacific divide, **Huble Homestead** is a restored farm and trading post from the early 1900s. Summer programs bring pioneer life to life, and you can walk part of the portage trail. ![Log and white wooden buildings at the Huble Homestead Historic Site among tall trees](https://princegeorgepulse-media.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/prince-george/guides/log-white-wooden-buildings-huble-homestead-historic-site-e22328-1024.webp) Huble Homestead Historic Site, north of the city. Photo: David Stanley, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons ## Quick planner | Trip | Direction | Drive one way | Best season | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Huble Homestead | North | 35 min | Summer | | Purden Lake | East | 45 min | Summer | | Vanderhoof | West | 1 hr | Spring and fall | | Ancient Forest | East | 1.5 hr | Late spring to fall | | Fort St. James | Northwest | 2 hr | Summer | | Barkerville and Wells | South then east | 2.5 hr | Summer; winter walk-in | | McBride | Southeast | 2.5 hr | Year-round | | Bowron Lakes | South then east | 3 hr | Summer | ## Related - [Things to do in Prince George](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/things-to-do/) - [Getting here and around](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/getting-here-and-around/) - [Fort George and the railway boom](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/explore/fort-george-and-the-railway-boom/) ## Common questions **What is the best day trip from Prince George?** For most visitors, the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut is the top pick: an easy 1.5-hour drive east to boardwalks through one of the world’s only inland temperate rainforests. History fans should add Barkerville or Fort St. James. **How far is Barkerville from Prince George?** About 200 km, or roughly 2.5 hours, driving south on Highway 97 to Quesnel and then east on Highway 26 through Wells. **Can you see Mount Robson on a day trip from Prince George?** It is a long day. Mount Robson is roughly 3.5 hours east on Highway 16, past McBride. Many people make it an overnight trip. **Do I need reservations for the Bowron Lake canoe circuit?** Yes. Entry to the circuit is limited and reservations are required through BC Parks for the paddling season. Check BC Parks for current dates and rules. ## Sources - [Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/ancient-forest-chun-toh-whudujut-park/) - [Barkerville (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkerville) - [Wells, British Columbia (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells,_British_Columbia) - [Bowron Lake Provincial Park (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowron_Lake_Provincial_Park) - [Fort St. James National Historic Site (Parks Canada)](https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/stjames) - [McBride, British Columbia (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McBride,_British_Columbia) - [Nechako River Migratory Bird Sanctuary (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nechako_River_Migratory_Bird_Sanctuary) - [Purden Lake Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/) ## Official links - [Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/ancient-forest-chun-toh-whudujut-park/) - [Barkerville Historic Town and Park](https://www.barkerville.ca/) - [Fort St. James National Historic Site (Parks Canada)](https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/stjames) - [Bowron Lake Park (BC Parks)](https://bcparks.ca/bowron-lake-park/) - [Huble Homestead Historic Site](https://www.hublehomestead.ca/) - [DriveBC road conditions](https://www.drivebc.ca/) ## On this page - [East on Highway 16](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#east-on-highway-16) - [South on Highway 97 and 26](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#south-on-highway-97-and-26) - [West on Highway 16](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#west-on-highway-16) - [North on Highway 97](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#north-on-highway-97) - [Quick planner](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#quick-planner) - [Related](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/#related) ## Data Machine-readable data behind this page, from the free PG Pulse API (https://princegeorgepulse.ca/developers/). ### Guide facts, FAQ and sources Source: [PG Pulse guides (plain-language guides with links to official sources)](https://princegeorgepulse.ca/). Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Updated 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z. JSON: https://princegeorgepulse.ca/api/v1/guides/visit/day-trips?fields=summary,faq,officialLinks,sources,updated - **summary**: Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut, about 115 km east, has boardwalks among thousand-year-old redcedars., Barkerville, a gold-rush town with over 125 heritage buildings, is about 2.5 hours south and east via Quesnel., Fort St. James National Historic Site preserves Canada’s largest collection of restored wooden fur-trade buildings., Vanderhoof’s Nechako bird sanctuary hosts thousands of migrating Canada geese., Purden Lake, 64 km east, is the nearest big lake campground. - **updated**: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z #### faq | q | a | | --- | --- | | What is the best day trip from Prince George? | For most visitors, the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut is the top pick: an easy 1.5-hour drive east to boardwalks through one of the world’s only inland temp… | | How far is Barkerville from Prince George? | About 200 km, or roughly 2.5 hours, driving south on Highway 97 to Quesnel and then east on Highway 26 through Wells. | | Can you see Mount Robson on a day trip from Prince George? | It is a long day. Mount Robson is roughly 3.5 hours east on Highway 16, past McBride. Many people make it an overnight trip. | | Do I need reservations for the Bowron Lake canoe circuit? | Yes. Entry to the circuit is limited and reservations are required through BC Parks for the paddling season. Check BC Parks for current dates and rules. | #### officialLinks | label | url | | --- | --- | | Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/ancient-forest-chun-toh-whudujut-park/ | | Barkerville Historic Town and Park | https://www.barkerville.ca/ | | Fort St. James National Historic Site (Parks Canada) | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/stjames | | Bowron Lake Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/bowron-lake-park/ | | Huble Homestead Historic Site | https://www.hublehomestead.ca/ | | DriveBC road conditions | https://www.drivebc.ca/ | #### sources | title | url | | --- | --- | | Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/ancient-forest-chun-toh-whudujut-park/ | | Barkerville (Wikipedia) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkerville | | Wells, British Columbia (Wikipedia) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells,_British_Columbia | | Bowron Lake Provincial Park (Wikipedia) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowron_Lake_Provincial_Park | | Fort St. James National Historic Site (Parks Canada) | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/stjames | | McBride, British Columbia (Wikipedia) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McBride,_British_Columbia | | Nechako River Migratory Bird Sanctuary (Wikipedia) | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nechako_River_Migratory_Bird_Sanctuary | | Purden Lake Park (BC Parks) | https://bcparks.ca/purden-lake-park/ | --- Markdown version of https://princegeorgepulse.ca/visit/day-trips/. 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