Parks and trails in Prince George, BC
Prince George parks and trails: Forests for the World, Cottonwood Island, Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, the Heritage River Trail, Moore’s Meadow.
Updated
At a glance
- The Heritage River Trail follows the Fraser and Nechako for about 9.2 km with less than 10 m of elevation change.
- Forests for the World covers 106 ha on Cranbrook Hill with about 15 km of trails, Shane Lake and a city lookout.
- Cottonwood Island Park is a 32 ha riverside floodplain forest on the Nechako.
- Moore’s Meadow has 9.5 km of trails, glacial kettles and an off-leash meadow.
- Eskers Provincial Park, 40 km northwest, protects glacial gravel ridges, small lakes and 15 km of trails.
Prince George has a remarkable amount of wild space inside city limits. You can walk from downtown to a riverside cottonwood forest in minutes, or drive ten minutes up Cranbrook Hill to trails where moose outnumber people. Here are the parks and trails worth knowing, from easy strolls to longer outings.
The riverfront
Heritage River Trail
The Heritage River Trail System is the classic Prince George walk. It runs about 9.2 km along the Fraser and Nechako, linking Cottonwood Island Park, Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, the Hudson’s Bay Wetland and Carrie Jane Gray Park. It is mostly flat, with less than 10 m of elevation change, on a mix of paved and dirt surfaces. You will find picnic spots, washrooms at a couple of points in season, interpretive signs and canoe launches along the way.
Note: sections along the Nechako have been closed at times because of bank erosion. Check the city’s trail page before you go.
Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park
At more than 65 acres (about 26 ha), this is the city’s best-known and busiest park, with lawns, gardens, playgrounds and a spray park overlooking the Fraser. It is the site of the Lheidli T’enneh village and the 1807 Fort George fur post, and it holds a Lheidli T’enneh cemetery; please be respectful there. The Exploration Place museum is here too. From the riverside path, look across the Fraser at the silt bluffs, layered deposits from the last ice age explained in our Glacial Lake Prince George guide.
Cottonwood Island Park
A 32-hectare floodplain forest where the Nechako meets the Fraser, with a 2.2 km loop of paved, dirt and gravel paths, footbridges and towering black cottonwoods. Look for the wood carvings hidden in the trees and the views of the Nechako cutbanks. The Railway and Forestry Museum is next door. Because it is low-lying, parts of the park can flood in spring. Dogs must be leashed.
Hudson’s Bay Wetland
A 1.8 km trail through a riverside wetland with interpretive signs. It is excellent for birdwatching in spring and fall.
Parks on the hills
Forests for the World
This 106-hectare park on Cranbrook Hill is the city’s favourite forest escape, with more than 15 km of trails and Shane Lake (with docks, a canoe launch and trout fishing). There is also a smaller reflection lake, a traditional pit house and a picnic shelter. The short climb to the lookout gives the best panorama of Prince George: the bowl, both river valleys, the Interior Plateau and, on clear days, the Rocky Mountains to the east and Cariboo Mountains to the southeast.
Access is from the Kueng Road parking lot off Cranbrook Hill Road, or from the Greenway lot near UNBC. The trails link to the UNBC Greenway, the Otway trails and other networks on Cranbrook Hill.
Moore’s Meadow Nature Park
On the west side of the bowl, Moore’s Meadow has 9.5 km of trails, elevated viewing areas, glacial kettles (hollows left by melting ice blocks) and a large open meadow. The meadow is a designated off-leash dog area. Bears frequent the park, so stay alert.
Connaught Hill Park
A flat-topped hill right beside downtown, with gardens, picnic spots and views over the city. Geologists see it as a remnant of the old glacial lake floor, left standing when the rivers cut down around it.
Connecting trails
The Centennial Trail loops around the bowl, linking Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and the Heritage River Trail to Moore’s Meadow, the UNBC connector trails, Carrie Jane Gray Park and the Hudson’s Bay Wetland. With some planning you can walk or bike a big circuit of the city on trails and quiet streets.
Off-leash dog parks
The City has seven designated off-leash areas. Leash up before you go in and when you leave, pick up after your dog, and bring no more than two dogs per person.
| Park | Where |
|---|---|
| Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park | 6877 Glenview Drive (Hart); fenced, with lit paved paths |
| Duchess Park | 2425 Ross Crescent |
| Moore’s Meadow Nature Park | West side of the bowl; the meadow is off-leash, the trails are not |
| Ginter’s Meadow | 4190 Massey Drive; off-leash in the meadow, on-leash on the perimeter trail |
| Ingledew Park | 1627 Hemlock Street; about a hectare, fully fenced |
| Perry Park | 299 Wilson Crescent, beside Van Bien Elementary; fenced |
| Southridge Park | 7043 Southridge Avenue; fenced, double-gated |
See the pet rules in bylaws and animal control.
Disc golf
Prince George has several free disc golf courses:
- Rainbow Park, an 18-hole Rotary course with easy and moderate layouts, good for beginners.
- Otway, an 18-hole wooded course at the Nordic centre, busy from snowmelt to snowfall.
- Short 6-hole courses at Edgewood and Vanway Elementary.
The Hart ski hill course has been listed as closed, so check the UDisc app for current conditions before you go.
Just outside the city
| Park | Distance | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve | North of the city | 2.5 km shoreline loop, waterfowl, songbirds, fall colour |
| Otway Nordic Centre | West of the city on Otway Road | 50+ km of summer single-track and hiking trails; ski trails in winter |
| West Lake Provincial Park | 22 km southwest | Day-use beach, swimming, trails, fishing |
| Eskers Provincial Park | 40 km northwest | 15 km of trails, small lakes, glacial eskers |
| Tabor Mountain | About 20 km east | Ski hill in winter; mountain biking nearby |
Eskers Provincial Park
Eskers protects nearly 4,000 hectares of rolling forest, marshes and small lakes, including part of the Stuart River eskers complex, long winding ridges of gravel laid down by rivers flowing beneath the ice sheet. There are about 15 km of marked trails, including a 3 km beginners’ loop and a 6 km route to Kathie Lake, canoe launches and a viewing platform. Camp and Kathie lakes have trout. In winter the trails are popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. It is day-use only, with no fires or motorized vehicles.
Trail tips
- Wildlife. Black bears, moose and occasionally cougars use city green spaces. Make noise, keep dogs leashed where required and carry bear spray on longer hikes.
- Ticks and mosquitoes. Late spring brings ticks; check yourself and your pets.
- Mud season. Trails can be soft in April and May.
- Smoke. In wildfire season, check the air quality dashboard before strenuous hikes.
- Rivers. The Fraser and Nechako are cold and fast. Stay off unstable banks and check the rivers dashboard in spring.
Related
Common questions
What is the best easy walk in Prince George?
The Heritage River Trail through Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and Cottonwood Island Park is flat, partly paved and follows both rivers. Hudson’s Bay Wetland and Ferguson Lake are also short and gentle.
Where can I walk my dog off leash in Prince George?
The City has seven off-leash dog areas: Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park, Duchess Park, Moore’s Meadow Nature Park (the meadow only), Ginter’s Meadow, Ingledew Park, Perry Park and Southridge Park. Dogs must be leashed in other parks, including Cottonwood Island and Forests for the World.
Is there disc golf in Prince George?
Yes. Free 18-hole courses at Rainbow Park and the Otway Nordic Centre are the most popular, and there are shorter courses around the city. The Hart ski hill course has been listed as closed, so check UDisc before you go.
Where is the best view of Prince George?
The lookout at Forests for the World on Cranbrook Hill shows the whole bowl, the rivers and, on clear days, the Rocky Mountains. The UNBC access road and Connaught Hill Park are closer alternatives.
Are there bears on Prince George trails?
Yes. Black bears and moose use city green spaces, especially Moore’s Meadow, Forests for the World and the river corridors. Make noise, keep dogs leashed and carry bear spray on longer outings.
Sources
- Heritage River Trail System (City of Prince George)
- Cottonwood Island Nature Park Trail (City of Prince George)
- Forests for the World (City of Prince George)
- Moore's Meadow Nature Park (City of Prince George)
- Hudson's Bay Wetland Nature Park (City of Prince George)
- Centennial Connector Trail (City of Prince George)
- Eskers Park (BC Parks)
- Fall in Love with Fall: 6 Trails to Stroll (Tourism Prince George)
