The Kitimat Valley
Created in the last ice age as the glacier scraped and gouged its path between the Kitimat mountain ranges, the Kitimat Valley is one of only two wide flat valleys in British Columbia. Blessed with an abundance of natural beauty the Valley boasts the hottest hot spring in British Columbia. Located south of Lakelse Lake, Mount Layton Hot Springs was first developed in 1907 and has been a destination for visitors from around the world who wish to bathe in its healing waters.
Forestry was and is practised in the valley as the temperate rain forest promotes amazing growth. The spinoff of this activity is the access to the wilderness that the forestry roads allow. There is an abundance of rock climbing opportunities here, as high quality granite is exposed in many areas, thanks to the ice age glaciers that scraped and rounded the mountains. Wetland and rainforest hikes and biking can be found throughout the region where lakes and rivers abound. The largest river, the Skeena, is known for its salmon runs and jet boat access. This river flows through the northern point of the Kitimat Valley at Terrace and continues on to the Pacific Ocean at Prince Rupert.
The Kitimat River, a freestone river of medium size, is known for its abundance of fish. Thanks to the Kitimat River Hatchery the river produces a fine coho run each year. The Kitimat Chamber of Commerce capitalizes on this run by hosting the annual Kitimat Fish Derby to coincide with the returning coho. The Kitimat River is also a world class destination for drift boat fishing. For those walking along the riverbank, the Kitimat River’s smaller river rock eases the journey. The Kitimat River flows into the Kitimat Valley through the mountains at the central point of the Valley and continues to the sea at the private Port of Kitimat that boasts deep sea access.
At the Valley’s southern most point, where the Valley meets the Douglas Channel you will find Kitimat, a small city designed in the 1950s to house the workers of the new aluminum smelter. Its green space model boasts a network system of walkways used by residents and that afford beautiful vistas of the surrounding Kitimat Mountain Range.
Kitimat has two campgrounds - Radley Park and Hirsch Creek Park. If looking for lodging, Kitimat’s lodges, B & Bs, and motels are comfortable and clean. In the City Centre you will find virtually everything - government offices, banks, a post office, library, museum, swimming pool, two ice rinks (home to the Kitimat Ice Demons) and an abundance of shopping opportunities including large grocery stores, hardware stores, and an enclosed shopping mall. Across Haisla Bridge over Kitimat River is Service Centre with more retail shopping opportunities. Up the hill from City Centre is Nechako shopping, Mount Elizabeth Theatre, and the golf course.
