Smithers - Moricetown - Telkwa ~ a circle tour
Begin you tour at the Smithers Visitor Centre to pick up a map. Travel west, taking in Glacier Gulch and Twin Falls above Lake Kathlyn. Next is a photo opportunity on Highway 16 at Adams Igloo Wildlife Museum. The igloo is an interesting building and contains wildlife examples from the Bulkley Valley region. You will continue on Highway for about 5 minutes and be in the rural community of Evelyn - where you can stop at the Toboggan Creek Fish Hatchery. There is a picnic area to relax in, or carry on to the hatchery which rears salmon for release in area rivers. Another 10 minutes down the road and you are arriving in Moricetown: a Wet'sewet'en First Nation's village. Take time out at the rest stop between the highway and Bulkley River to enjoy the spectacle of the river forced through the narrow canyon. At certain times of the year, Wet'suwet'en fishers will be harvesting salmon from the rocks by the canyon.
Take the Bridge over the river. If you have the time, enjoy a look back though time at the Moricetown Interpretive Centre. You are now on the Telkwa High Road which used to be the highway. You have a good chance of seeing wildlife along the route, including black bears, moose and deer. The High Road is home to ranchers, and dairy operations. Other attractions include Narnia Farms and Mountain View Trailriding.
Another possible enjoyable detour will take you to the Driftwood Canyon Fossil Beds. There are information signs on site explaining the significance of these fossils. It also has a beautiful day use area at the edge of Driftwood Creek. A short walk takes you to the viewing platform for the fossil beds. Collecting is not permitted.
Back on the High Road again, continue on toward Telkwa. Tyee Lake Provincial Park provides access to the lake for swimming, boating, birdwatching along with walking trails and a beautiful campsite.
Next - you arrive in the Village of Telkwa, one of the older communities along the Highway. For a complete history lesson stop in at the Telkwa Museum, located on Highway 16. On a hot sunny day, enjoy hard ice cream from the booth by the museum. Highway 16 will take you back to Smithers - completing your circle.
