Northern BC

Welcome to the third edition of the Northern BC Backroad Mapbook. Readers of our previous editions will see several significant improvements in this edition. In addition to countless new roads we have also tracked down hundreds of new trails (hiking and motorized) and continued to add to the impressive number of recreation opportunities up north. Complementing the maps, our reference section has been greatly expanded and now includes new sections for Hunting, ATV Trails and Snowmobile Trails on top of many additions in the other sections (from Fishing to Winter Recreation).

Of all the areas in British Columbia covered by our mapbooks, this is easily the most diverse. From prairies and open farmland around Dawson Creek, across the spine of the Rocky Mountains, through the heart of BC via the Rocky Mountain Trench and the Central Plateau, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It is an area marked by vast, unsettled spaces, few main roads and lots of lakes and streams, including some of the finest fishing rivers in the world.

It is also one of the largest books we have published. Just south of Vanderhoof is the geographic centre of the province. And the maps stretch all the way to the Yukon boundary, covering an area larger than Sweden (which is the fifth largest country in Europe).

The northern half of British Columbia is truly a magnificent wilderness area, interrupted only occasionally by the works of man. Here you will find names like Tweedsmuir, Spatsizi, Chilkoot, Tatshenshini-Alsek and Muskwa Kechika that resonate deeply in the hearts and minds of hardcore outdoor adventurers. These are places where you can hike or horsepack for weeks in one direction and not come across a road, let alone another soul. Places like Prince George, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson still resonate with the pioneer spirit of the folks that settled this area.

This is truly a do it yourself landscape. While you will find many of BC’s largest parks here, you won’t find much in the way of developed recreation infrastructures. Trails are few. Campsites are even fewer. And outside a few main corridors (the Alaska Highway, and the Stewart-Cassiar Highway), there are very few roads.

Locals and visitors alike will appreciate this book, which is the most comprehensive outdoor guide to this area. The book has been designed as a one stop guide that not only you about all the outdoor activities in a particular area, but also shows you how to get there. Whether you are an angler, a hiker, an ATVer, or just an armchair enthusiast, this is the book for you.

The reference section found in this book includes information on backroad attractions, fishing opportunities, paddling routes, parks and recreation sites, multi-use trails (hiking/biking and off-road trails), winter recreation and wildlife viewing.

The maps in this book highlight the backroad and logging road networks, trails systems and recreation opportunities in Central and Northern BC. A unique feature of the maps is that all recreation activities are labeled, allowing for quick and easy referencing when researching a specific area. Further, no other source provides as much detail and accuracy on the road and trail networks throughout the north. If you enjoy the outdoors, we are sure you will have as much fun using the Backroad Mapbook as we did in developing it!