Smithers is a small Bulkley Valley town with a big mountain backdrop. Main Street leans hard into an alpine look, but the setting earns it: Hudson Bay Mountain rises west of town, waterfalls drop out of Glacier Gulch, and the surrounding country is built for skiing, hiking, fishing, and long northern drives.
The town is useful as a base, but it is not only a base. Hudson Bay Mountain gives Smithers its winter personality, while Twin Falls and Glacier Gulch are close enough for an easy, memorable outing. Downtown, the Bulkley Valley Museum explains the railway, settler, and Indigenous layers behind the town.
Smithers is best for active travellers crossing northern British Columbia. If the weather is clear, even a spare day can feel well spent here.