Free
Butze Rapids Trail
A forest loop to tidal rapids that reverse with the tide.
North Coast, British Columbia
Prince Rupert
A misty port city on Kaien Island where the Yellowhead Highway meets the Pacific: Cow Bay's waterfront, totem poles, the Museum of Northern BC, a historic cannery and boats to see grizzlies in the Khutzeymateen.
Photo: Cow Bay Marina, Prince Rupert, Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0
Prince Rupert sits on Kaien Island at the western end of the Yellowhead Highway, and it feels like the edge of the map in the best way. Cow Bay's painted waterfront, totem poles around town and the cedar-built Museum of Northern BC tell the story of the Ts'msyen people and the North Coast.
From the harbour, boats head north to the Khutzeymateen, Canada's grizzly bear sanctuary, and BC Ferries sails to Haida Gwaii and down the Inside Passage. Just south, the North Pacific Cannery shows how salmon built this coast.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Diana Lake Provincial Park
A freshwater lake with a picnic area and beach, east of town.
Paid
Khutzeymateen grizzly tours
Boat trips to Canada's grizzly bear sanctuary.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Cow Bay
The colourful waterfront district, with shops and cafés by the marina.
Free
Sunken Gardens
A garden set in a sunken excavation beside the courthouse.
Cheap
Museum of Northern BC
Ts'msyen art and North Coast history in a cedar longhouse-style building.
Cheap
North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site
A historic salmon cannery village on the Skeena estuary in Port Edward.
Season Opens May 1 for the season (check before you go).
Cheap
Kwinitsa Railway Station Museum
A restored Grand Trunk Pacific station on the waterfront.
Paid
BC Ferries to Haida Gwaii
Car ferries from Prince Rupert to Haida Gwaii and Port Hardy.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Prince Rupert Adventure Tours
Grizzly bear and whale-watching boat tours from Prince Rupert.
Season Grizzly tours mid-May–end of July, whale tours end of July–mid-Sept (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Grizzly and whale tours take most of a day.
- Ferries to Haida Gwaii and Port Hardy make Prince Rupert a natural overnight.
- Cow Bay at dusk, with the boats coming in, is worth staying for.
Nearby and worth the drive
Ready-made trips with Prince Rupert
Good to know
- Ferries: Haida Gwaii and Inside Passage sailings: BC Ferries.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Cow Bay Marina, Prince Rupert, Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Diana Lake Provincial Park, William Matheson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Museum of Northern British Columbia, Hans-Jürgen Hübner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Totem poles at the Museum of Northern BC, Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: North Pacific Cannery waterfront, Karen Neoh, CC BY 2.0