Kitwanga

Kitwanga (also called Gitwangak) is a small village located in the North Coast-Nechako region of British Columbia.

Understand

Kitwanga is a very small indigenous community, located where the Kitwanga River converges with the Skeena River in Northern British Columbia. Kitwanga located within the territory of the Gitxsan Nation, which is the governing body for the village. Kitwanga features numerous ancient totems and is considered one of the best places in BC to see authentic totem poles. Kitwanga is also the southern terminus of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway.

Get in

By car

Kitwanga is located where Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) intersects with Highway 37 (Stewart-Cassiar Highway).

Along Highway 16, Kitwanga is about 1 hour northeast of Terrace and 5½ hours west of Prince George. The area is in the northern mountains so extra precautions should be taken during the winter.

Highway 37 connects to the Yukon Highway 1 (Alaska Highway); taking the route, as opposed to the entire Alaska Highway which starts in Dawson Creek, can save about 210 km (130 mi) for travellers coming from southern British Columbia and the US Pacific Northwest.

On the Yellowhead Highway, there is mobile wireless coverage along the corridor west of Kitwanga, but gaps for stretches between Terrace and Kitwanga, and gaps for stretches between Terrace and Prince Rupert.

On Stewart-Cassiar Highway (Highway 37), Kitwanga and near Watson Lake, Yukon, about 720 km (450 mi) away, there is no mobile wireless service due to few tiny communities along the way. Near this corridor, there is mobile wireless service in Stewart, but Stewart is a 60 km (37 mi) drive from Highway 37.

By train

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• 1 Kitwanga station. Sign post station (updated Oct 2023)
  • VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates a route between Jasper and Prince Rupert with stops in McBride, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, and Terrace. The train travels during the daytime, taking two days in each direction. There is an overnight stop in Prince George, where passengers will need to book sleeping accommodations. Jasper is also a stop for The Canadian, which travels between Vancouver and Toronto. Kitwanga station is a flag stop, so reservations are required. (updated Apr 2022)

By bus

• BC Bus North, ☏ +1-844-564-7494. Twice per week bus service between Prince George and Prince Rupert with stops in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers, New Hazelton, Kitwanga, and Terrace, and Port Edward. Fare is $40 to $65, depending on distance. (updated Apr 2021)

Get around

By public transit

• BC Transit (Hazeltons Transit System), ☏ +1-250-842-2134, toll-free: +1 855 935 2666. Three days per week, operates a bus route between Terrace and Kispiox via New Hazelton and Kitwanga. Operates a bus route three other days per week between Smithers and Kispiox via New Hazelton. (updated Jul 2018)

See

Totem poles in Kitwanga

• 1 Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site, ☏ +1 250-559-8818, toll-free: +1-877-559-8818, pc.shn.gitwangak.nhs.pc@canada.ca. Once the site of a fortified village where the Gitwangak people defended their domain in the mid-1700s to 1800s, the site includes a trail with interpretive signs. The nearby Gitwangax Village features several wooden totem poles. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Gitanyow Historic Village and Interpretive Centre (Kitwankul National Historic Site), 1 Ave, Gitanyow (15 km (9.3 mi) N of Kitwanga on Hwy 37). The historic village is home to some of the oldest-known and largest collection of totem poles in British Columbia. (updated Mar 2021)

Do

• 1 Kitwanga Mountain Provincial Park. After a steep climb to the top of Kitwanga Mountain, visitors are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Seven Sisters mountain range. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Seven Sisters Provincial Park & Protected Area. Offers a wide variety of existing and potential recreational activities. Hiking and snowmobiling are two popular front-country and back-country activities. (updated Mar 2021)

Buy

• 1 Kitwanga General Store, 1587 Kitwanga Rd N, ☏ +1 250-849-5587. For basic groceries and supplies. (updated May 2023)

Eat

• 1 N & V Johnsons Restaurant (Jct Hwy 16 & 37), ☏ +1 250-849-5796. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Karisa’s Ever Deadly Pizza, 424 5th Ave, ☏ +1 778-641-4519, everdeadlyone@gmail.com. Tu-Th 1-7PM, F Sa 1-8PM. (updated Jun 2024)

Sleep

Additional accommodations are located in New Hazelton (35 minutes east) or Terrace (1 hour west).

• 1 Kitwanga River RV Campground, 1535 Barcalow Road, ☏ +1 250-849-5799, cassiarmountainrvpark@gmail.com. (updated Mar 2021)

Go next

Routes through Kitwanga

Prince Rupert ← Terrace ←	W  E	→ New Hazelton → Jasper
Prince Rupert ← Terrace ←	W  E	→ New Hazelton → Prince George
Kitimat ← Terrace ←	S  N	→ Stewart via → Watson Lake