Things To Do
The mountain draws tourists from around the world for its world-class skiing, downhill mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, quadding and snowmobiling. It is a four seasons playground for everyone to enjoy. It was also used as a filming location for the movies The Grey and Eight Below.
👉For many years, folks from Telkwa, Smithers and Witset areas have reportedly seen strange lights at night, flying around Hudson Bay Mountain. Travelers passing through along Highway 16 have also filed UFO reports with various researchers. The mountain has drawn the attention of otherworldly visitors too!
Twin Falls is a unique ecosystem with a campground and trails set in a mature Hemlock forest. Tourists can watch the stunning views of the Twin Falls cascade down from Lake Kathlyn Glacier on Hudson Bay Mountain. Mountain goats can be seen on the cliffs near the trails. The beautiful recreation site has five designated campgrounds with picnic tables and outhouses are available. Access road is narrow with sharp corners. Larger vehicles should use caution. Be advised this is avalanche terrain.
Take Lake Kathlyn Road, just north/west of Smithers, to Glacier Gulch Road. The site is at the end of Glacier Gulch Road. From Smithers, it is approximately 15 min. by vehicle. 2-wheel drive access. From Witset, the drive will take approximately 24 minutes (29.8 km).
Don't forget your camera and maybe a pair of binoculars!
The mountain boasts 315 acres of skiable area with 36 trails. The longest run, known as the Rotary Community Trail to Town is 8 km or 4.97 miles. It goes down the mountain into the town of Smithers.
It will take 29 minutes (22.7 km) from the town of Smithers to reach the ski resort. From Witset, it will take you approximately 53 minutes (56.2 km).
There are so many trails a person can explore out here and things to do. Check out the link below which includes information on some more areas a person can explore.
12km on Hudson Bay Lake Road
Our favorite place to go was up in behind Hudson Bay Mountain on McDonell Lake Road. It will be at the 12 km mark, on your left, before the ski resort.
McDonell Lake Road
If you're looking for the chance to see some wildlife, this is definitely where you will want to go. There is a good chance to see grizzly, black bear, moose, deer and wolves. Don't drive fast. Take your time. Allowing yourself the chance to come upon these animals near or on the road. The less noise you make the better your chances.
10km
🚶 Silvern Lake Trail - A 16.3 km out-and-back trail. It's a challenging route that takes about 6 hours to complete. Elevation gain is 2, 926 feet. It's popular for birding and hiking. Best times to travel this trail are from April to September. A more direct access point is the Duthie West Trailhead at 9 km. (Click for more information.) A short drive in you'll find a covered picnic area, with picnic tables, firepit and one outhouse.
Adrich Lake (formerly Loon Lake)
Before reaching Dennis Lake, there is another smaller lake. There used to be a road a person could get to it. Turned 4x4 trail which might have overgrown since then. It was pretty rough getting to to the lake.
👉Below Duthie mine (between Aldrich and Dennis Lakes) Bigfoot was observed and large tracks found on a number of occasions, by more than one witness between 1958 and 1963. Source: Outdoors with Bruce, Interior News, Smithers, BC, Canada. Wednesday March 27, 1968. Thanks to Kira Westby, Bulkley Valley Museum.
13km
Dennis Lake Recreation Site has 4 tenting sites, a boat launch and a dock. This lake is the headwaters to the Zymoetz (Copper) River which travels to Terrace. Dennis Lake was featured in the 2023 Netflix featured movie The Mother, starring Jennifer Lopez.
I can remember coming here in the 70's with my school class. We camped here for three days. The bus driver who took us out there and back was Wilf Bacon. He was my regular bus driver when I used to live out on the Telkwa High Road. - Barb
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| View of McDonell Lake from the road |
35km
McDonell Lake has some old cabins and is privately owned.
👉Almost thirty years ago, a friend of mine lived in one of the cabins, as a caretaker. He had no vehicle, so he would hike out on foot to the town of Smithers. Sometimes catching a ride by a kind passerby. He would grab what he needed in town, stop at the Bulkley Hotel for a few drinks, and then hike back up again. Sometimes he was able to find someone in the hotel who was able to give him a ride back. He told me he seen Bigfoot on more than one occasion, crossing the road up ahead of him. He had also found some tracks. I knew him to be an honest man and had no reason to doubt him. He kept a rifle with him on his trips up and down the mountain. His name was Mike La Chance. Friends fondly called him Last Chance. - Barb
A few kms ahead, Copper South FSR on your left
Zymoetz (Copper) River is known for its amazing steelhead fishery. Wild steelhead are a thrill to catch, their fight and vigor unmatched. The Zymoetz (Copper) River is Classified Water, and a steelhead stamp is mandatory.
McDonell Lake Road goes on for quite a ways, but will only take you until you can go no further. As seen by the photo below with the large rocks in the way. Once you reach the bridge with the rocks you can turn around and explore some other roads along the way back. You could spend a whole day out here and still not cover everything and you could have a different experience every time you come out. Some days you'll see more wildlife than other days.
This area is a snowmobiler's and four-wheeler enthusiast's paradise out here. A person could definitely explore a lot more ground in a four-wheeler, as there are many narrow off-roads and a lot of logging roads that have been deactivated. Not to mention, old roads which are not maintained.