Best Things to Do in Prince George, BC

I’ve been to Prince George a few times on my way to other destinations in Northern BC. It’s often treated as a stopover, but after spending 2.5 days there, I think it’s worth making time for the city itself – there are lots of things to do in Prince George!

I loved the easy walking trails in town, learning about the local history, and the surprisingly good food scene. And hiking the Ancient Forest just an hour away was a real highlight.

Prince George sits at the crossroads of two of BC’s major highways: Highway 97 and Highway 16, so it is known as the gateway to Northern BC. The city of about 76,000 has a long history as a railway hub, a forestry town, and a regional centre for all of Northern British Columbia. Even though it’s not a big city, it punches above its weight thanks to its regional importance.

I’ve put together a complete guide to the best things to do in Prince George for you. It includes:

• Prince George at a glance: a quick overview
• Prince George itineraries for 1 or 2 days
• A map of Prince George that shows all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Prince George: Nature walks, museums, parks, and more.
• Where to eat in Prince George: The restaurants and cafes I recommend.
• Where to stay in Prince George: My picks for the best hotels.
• Prince George travel tips: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? And lots more.

This is a sensitive wilderness area. Learn how to Leave No Trace to keep the wilderness wild. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the 10 Essentials. Get ready for adventure with this checklist of things to do before every hike.

Hey there: Thanks so much to Tourism Prince George and Northern BC Tourism for hosting me during my trip to Prince George. All opinions in this post are my own. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks for your support! – Taryn

Prince George at a Glance

Where: Central/northern BC

How to get there: Driving or flights to Prince George Airport (YXS)

How long to stay: 1 to 2 days

Best time to visit: June to September for outdoor activities

Getting around: Downtown is walkable, but a car is best for exploring

Why visit: Easy hikes and walks, local history

Prince George Map

To help you plan your trip and find your way around, I created a custom Google map of Prince George for you. It includes every place I mention in this post.

How to Spend One or Two Days in Prince George

If you only have one day in Prince George, I recommend focusing on the highlights:

• Coffee at Ristretto or donuts at Daydream Donuts
• Cottonwood Island Nature Park
• Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum
• Lunch at Ivy’s Family Kitchen
• Nechako Cutbanks hike
• Mr. PG
• Dinner at the River House Restaurant at Northern Lights Estate Winery

If you have an extra day, I’d spend it on a day trip:

• Breakfast at Aubree’s Place
• Pick up a to-go lunch at Origins Kitchen
• Ancient Forest hike and picnic lunch
• Purden Lake
• Dinner at Trench Brewing or White Goose Bistro

Want more detail? Keep reading my guide to the best things to do in Prince George, including what to see, how long to spend at each spot, and my favourite places to eat.

Things to Do in Prince George

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Cottonwood Island Nature Park

Best for: Easy walk, tree carvings, birdwatching

Time needed: 60 to 90 minutes

Distance from downtown Prince George: 5 minutes by car

Cottonwood Island sits at the mouth of the Nechako River where it meets the Fraser River. The quiet walking trails and river views made it my favourite spot in Prince George.

The flat paths are gorgeous as they wind through the cottonwood trees. You’ll get views of the river and surrounding wetlands. It’s a great place to watch for birds, including waterfowl, songbirds, and eagles. We brought binoculars and were surprised by how many species we spotted. Tip for novice birders: use the Merlin app to help with ID.

The other great reason to explore Cottonwood Island is the unique carvings in the trees. Local artist Elmer Gunderson carved faces, birds, dragons, and more into the bark of the cottonwood trees in a way that does not harm them. There are 20 carvings – see if you can spot them all!

A narrow salmon spawning channel cuts off the island from the rest of Prince George, and a trail runs the length of the island and then back around the spawning channel so you can make a 3-kilometre-long loop. There are also several side trails leading down to the Nechako River, and the main trail continues along the Fraser River, so longer walks are possible.

Insider tip: For the most direct route to the carvings, head across the bridge near the Railway and Forestry Museum and then follow the trail to the right. Most of the carvings are on the central portion of the loop, so you don’t have to walk the whole thing.

Nechako Cutbanks Hike

Best for: Short hike, challenging climb, scenic views

Time needed: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Distance from downtown Prince George: 5 minutes by car

The sandy cutbanks of the Nechako River are visible from downtown Prince George and Cottonwood Island. They have become one of the city’s symbols.

If you’re a hiker, you need to tackle the steep ascent to the top on the Nechako Cutbanks Trail. It’s only 135 m of elevation gain over 0.5 kilometres, but thanks to the slippery, sandy ground, it feels tough. The hike starts from a small parking lot at McMillan Creek on Pulpmill Road. From there, the trail heads along the bottom of the cutbank before turning sharply uphill.

You can take the direct route up a steep, sandy chute. There is a ratty-looking rope you can use to help you ascend, but honestly, I wouldn’t trust it to hold my weight. Instead, I opted for the zigzagging switchbacks next to the chute.

The views from the top are incredible as you look down to the Nechako River, Cottonwood Island, and downtown Prince George. We ran into locals doing laps of the ascent as fitness training, but just one climb was enough for me. Use caution on the descent and on the bluff at the top since it’s really steep and there are some drop-offs.

Connaught Hill Park

Best for: City views, picnics

Time needed: 10 to 60 minutes

Distance from downtown Prince George: 5 minutes by car or a 20-minute walk

Connaught Hill Park is the highest point in Prince George. It has great views of the city and grassy areas for picnicking. The pergola area with flower beds is also cute.

You can drive to the top via the access road off Connaught Drive. If you want to walk, there is a pedestrian path that leaves from near the corner of Patricia Boulevard and Queensway at the southern edge of downtown Prince George.

Museums and Local Culture

Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum

Best for: Families, local history

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from downtown Prince George: 5 minutes by car

This sprawling Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum is located next to Cottonwood Island and features several dozen outdoor exhibits, including train cars, a train station, and huge pieces of logging machinery. Prince George owes its existence to its location at the intersection of several important railways and the importance of the forestry industry, so this museum is a great way to dig into local history.

You can pick up a brochure when you enter that has info on each of the exhibits. About half of the train cars and buildings are open to the public, which means you can wander through train cars and poke your head into old buildings. I loved the huge snowplow cars that were needed to keep the railway open in Canadian winters.

If you’re visiting with kids, they also have a miniature railway you can ride. The tracks loop around the museum grounds and go right through the middle of a massive beehive sawdust burner.

Mr. PG

Best for: Visiting Prince George’s most iconic citizen

Time needed: 10 to 20 minutes

Distance from downtown Prince George: 10 minutes by car

If you haven’t heard of him, Mr. PG is my pick for the best city mascot in Canada. He’s a huge 8 m (26.5 feet) tall cartoon-looking man with a log for a torso, legs and arms made of wood, and a hard hat on his head. Originally built in 1960, he has been a symbol of Prince George ever since. He often has flags or outfits to celebrate the season. On my visit, he was proudly waving a pride flag.

Mr. PG is a bit of a local legend: there is a song about him, he was on a Canada Post stamp, he has a Wikipedia entry, and you can buy commemorative Mr. PG merch including magnets, keychains, plushies, and more through Tourism Prince George’s website or at the Exploration Place’s gift shop.

If you want to see him in person, you have to head out to the intersection of Highway 97 and Highway 16. The closest place to Mr. P.G. is actually private property in a condo complex, so don’t drive in there. (I did without realizing it was private property and encountered a grumpy resident.)

Instead, I recommend parking on the east side of Recplace Drive, then following the sidewalk on Highway 97 and then Highway 16 around the Roll-A-Dome towards Mr. P.G. This route avoids walking or parking on private property.

Local Food and Drink Experiences

Northern Lights Estate Winery

Best for: Wine tasting, river views

Time needed: 30 to 90 minutes

Distance from downtown Prince George: 5 minutes by car

Until I visited, I had no idea there was a winery in Prince George. Northern Lights Estate Winery is the northernmost winery in Canada and one of the largest fruit wineries in BC. They source fruit from their orchard on the banks of the Nechako River as well as from orchards around the province.

You can sample wines in their tasting room, wander through their orchard on a self-guided tour, or bring your own picnic to enjoy on their gorgeous riverside lawn. It was raining when I visited, but it looked like a great place to spend a sunny summer afternoon.

I tasted their fruit wines during a visit to the River House Restaurant, which is upstairs from their tasting room. I’ve tried fruit wine before, and often it is quite sweet and best served at dessert. However, I was impressed by a few of their fruit wines that were much closer to traditional grape wines. (The sweet wines made with strawberries were also delicious – just not with my main course!)

Prince George Farmer’s Market

Best for: Local food and crafts

Time needed: 30 to 90 minutes

Location: Downtown Prince George

If you are in town on a Saturday morning, don’t miss the Prince George Farmer’s Market. It takes place every Saturday. Wander through the stalls to discover locally grown produce, foraged mushrooms, honey, jams, hot food, crafts, and lots more.

Day Trips from Prince George

Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park

Best for: Old-growth forest, easy hiking

Time needed: 1 to 2 hours

Distance from downtown Prince George: 1.25 hours by car

Until recently, I had no idea there was a rare pocket of inland temperate rainforest near Prince George. Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudugut Provincial Park protects 11,000 hectares of this biodiverse ecosystem. It includes massive old-growth western red cedar trees that are up to 2000 years old. (The park’s name means “oldest trees” in the Lheidli T’enneh Indigenous language.)

You can explore the park on a short network of trails that lead through the rainforest to the base of huge trees. The easiest trail is the 450 m-long Universal Boardwalk that is designed for accessibility with wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

If you want to explore more of the park, you can hike the 1.5 km-long Treebeard Loop Trail. It is sometimes muddy and rooty, but it does have lots of smoother sections and boardwalk. It passes by two huge trees, Treebeard Tree and Radies Tree. Signs along the way teach you about the giant trees as well as the other plants and animals in this unique biome.

Along that trail, you can follow a side trail to a waterfall and an off-shoot trail called the Big Tree Loop. If you complete a circuit of all of these trails, you’ll have walked about 4 kilometres with about 150 m of elevation gain. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours on the hike.

This is a newer provincial park, established in 2016. But before that, local community groups worked to protect it and build trails. On my visit, a large interpretive centre in the parking lot was under construction. It is scheduled to open in 2027 and will feature cultural history exhibits sharing Lheidli T’enneh First Nations heritage.

Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudugut Provincial Park is located about 1.25 hours east of Prince George along Highway 16, so it is an easy day trip from the city.

Purden Lake Provincial Park

Best for: Swimming, beach, picnics, summer day trips

Time needed: 1 to 3 hours

Distance from downtown Prince George: 45 minutes by car

I spent a pleasant hour hanging out at the beach at Purden Lake Provincial Park on the way back from the Ancient Forest. It’s just 45 minutes from Prince George and has a sandy beach that is a great place to cool off on a summer day. The grassy area behind the beach is perfect for picnics. There is a six-kilometre-long trail along the lakeshore, but I didn’t have time to hike it. There is a campground too.

More Things to Do in Prince George

I spent 2.5 days in Prince George, but that wasn’t enough time to see everything. Here are a few things I have bookmarked for next time:

The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre: This science museum is aimed mostly at kids, but I’ve heard it also has great exhibits about local history and Indigenous culture. Their gift shop is great with lots of Mr. PG merch.

Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park: A sprawling park on the banks of the Fraser River, it contains an active traditional Indigenous burial ground and facilities for kids, including a huge playground and a seasonal spray park.

Huble Homestead Historic Site: This museum preserves a turn-of-the-century homestead to showcase settler life. It is a living history museum with costumed interpreters, farm animals, and a working blacksmith shop.

Forests for the World: A network of trails on the west side of the city that are popular for hiking and cross-country skiing.

David Douglas Botanical Garden: A botanical garden on the UNBC campus that showcases native and exotic plants. I’ve heard it also has great views.

Two Rivers Art Gallery: A visual arts centre in downtown Prince George with exhibitions that focus on contemporary Canadian and local First Nations art.

Sugarbowl-Grizzly Den Provincial Park: This mountainous park just west of Prince George has great alpine hiking and backcountry cabins. I’d love to do a multi-day trip!

Best Places to Eat in Prince George

Prince George has a surprisingly diverse scene. Of course you’ll find classic diners, but I also had craft beer, southern barbecue, Vietnamese food, and locally made wine!

Ristretto Coffee House

Best for: Coffee or a quick lunch

Ristretto is a downtown coffee shop that makes great espresso-based drinks, which isn’t surprising since they roast their own beans. They have baked goods and also have sandwiches, salads, and soup for lunch.

Daydream Donuts

Best for: Donuts in fun flavours

The interior and the donuts are both cute and colourful at Daydream Donuts. They have lots of fun flavours including some I had never seen before, like root beer and watermelon.

Aubree’s Breakfast Place

Best for: Classic breakfast

Aubree’s Breakfast Place is an unassuming spot tucked into the Econo Lodge hotel. It was packed with locals on a weekday morning, which is always a good sign. The menu is classic diner breakfast: lots of eggs, sausage, and potatoes, plus sweet offerings like French toast, waffles, pancakes, and crepes. My eggs benny was great, but the shredded hash browns were the standout.

Origins Kitchen

Best for: To-go picnic lunch

You can find Origins Kitchen inside Exploration Place, but you don’t have to pay museum admission to eat here. They have great sandwiches and baked goods. We picked up their charcuterie boxes to take for lunch on a hike at the Ancient Forest, but this would also be a great option for a picnic in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.

Ivy’s Family Kitchen

Best for: Vietnamese food

As a West Coast girl, I’m often craving East Asian food, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover incredible Vietnamese cuisine at Ivy’s Family Kitchen in downtown Prince George. On my visit, it was crowded with locals on their lunch break. Their vermicelli bowls were full of crisp, fresh veggies and herbs, and the grilled pork was delicious.

White Goose Bistro

Best for: Date night

The cute White Goose Bistro sits on a corner in downtown Prince George. We stopped in for lunch, and I had a great grilled chicken and brie sandwich with yummy fig jelly. The restaurant is cozy and looks like the kind of place that would be romantic at night.

RiverHouse Restaurant at Northern Lights Estate Winery

Best for: River views, elevated cuisine, innovative local wines

The pasta I had at RiverHouse Restaurant at the Northern Lights Estate Winery was one of my best meals in Prince George… and I’m not just saying that since I also had a flight of their wines to influence my opinion! The restaurant also has the best view in town since it looks down on the river. We even saw a rainbow while we were eating thanks to a quick evening rainstorm.

Trench Brewing and Distilling

Best for: Craft beer, barbecue

I’m not a big beer drinker, but I hear the craft beers at Trench Brewing and Distilling are great. Instead, I had one of their yummy house-made seltzers. If you’re looking for food, they have a full pub-style menu. If you’re with a group, get their Meat Sweats Tray. It’s piled high with barbecue staples like brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, and cornbread. We split it among three people and still had a bit of leftovers.

Where to Stay in Prince George

Coast Prince George Hotel

I spent three nights at the Coast Prince George Hotel during my trip. It has a good downtown location that was walkable. Our room was clean and quiet. The staff were really helpful and friendly too. Check rates.

Econo Lodge

The Econo Lodge gets great reviews for a budget-priced property. It’s right around the corner from the Coast Prince George Hotel and has Aubree’s Breakfast Place on site. Check rates.

Travel Tips for Visiting Prince George

How Many Days Should You Spend in Prince George?

I spent 2.5 days in Prince George, which was enough time to see most things and do a day trip out to the Ancient Forest. In general, I think most visitors should spend at least one day in Prince George. If you want to go hiking or visit any of the out-of-town attractions, add on an extra day or two.

When is the best time to visit Prince George?

Summer is definitely the best time to visit Prince George. It has the warmest weather and is peak tourism season, so all of the attractions and restaurants will be open. I visited in mid-July and it was the perfect time to go. I’ve also heard Prince George is nice in all four seasons:

Summer: Best for hiking and sightseeing

Fall: Best for fall colour and fewer bugs

Winter: Best for snow sports and a quieter trip

Spring: Best for off-peak travel, but expect bugs and muddy trails.

What is the Weather Like in Prince George?

Prince George sits in the middle of BC, so it has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. The weather is warmest and driest in summer, but this is northern BC, so it’s not usually that hot: summer highs are around 23°C (73°F) with lows around 10°C (41°F).

Compared to coastal BC, Prince George doesn’t get that much rain. You can expect 8 to 10 days of rain per month in the summer. However, that rain usually comes in the form of afternoon storms rather than all-day drizzle.

How Do You Get to Prince George?

Most people visit Prince George as part of a larger road trip through Northern BC.

Here are some rough driving times between Prince George and major Western Canada Destinations:

• Vancouver, BC to Prince George: 8.5 hours
• Kamloops, BC to Prince George: 5.5 hours
• Calgary, AB to Prince George: 8.5 hours
• Edmonton, AB to Prince George: 7.5 hours
• Prince Rupert, BC to Prince George: 8 hours

You can also fly to Prince George via major carriers like Air Canada and WestJet or regional airlines like Pacific Coastal. You’ll arrive at Prince George Airport (YXS). The airport is about 15 minutes from downtown Prince George and has rental cars.

It’s less common, but you can get to Prince George by bus or train. EBus offers a Prince George-Kamloops route that connects to routes to larger cities like Vancouver and Calgary. VIA Rail also stops in Prince George as part of their Prince Rupert to Jasper passenger rail service.

How Do You Get Around Prince George?

In general, downtown Prince George is quite walkable. However, most of the key attractions are outside of downtown. You can get around by bus or use taxis or the local rideshare app called Uride. (Prince George has Uber, but locals say there aren’t many drivers available, so Uride and taxis are more reliable.)

However, I think the best way to get around Prince George is by car. The best attractions aren’t on the bus routes or are far out of the city, so I really recommend having your own car. You can rent cars at the airport as well as in downtown Prince George.

Final Thoughts

Prince George surprised me. I was expecting a gritty regional hub city. And, yes, Prince George is that. But the locals love the outdoors, history, and food… and it shows. I found all kinds of things I wasn’t expecting to find in Prince George: a winery, access to nature without leaving the city, a rainforest, and even authentic Vietnamese food.

The next time I drive up to Northern BC, I’ll build some time into my itinerary to spend a day or two in Prince George. I’d like to dig into more of the hiking trails and visit Huble Homestead.

If you’re planning a trip to Northern BC, here’s what you should read next:

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