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Kitwanga
(Gitwangak)
Kitwanga or Gitwangak meaning "place of rabbits" is located
at the junction of Hwy 37 and Hwy 16, 91 km (57 miles) east of Terrace
and 43 km (27 miles) west of Hazelton.
Kitwanga
Petro-Canada Service
Located at the junction of Hwy 37 and Hwy 16 is the Kitwanga Petro-Canada
Service Station. Here you can find fuel, a minor repair shop, a
small restaurant and a convenience store. This is also where you
can find the access to Hwy 37 and the bridge over the Skeena River
where Kitwanga is 4 km (2.5 miles) to the north.
Kitwanga
Lumber Company
Once you're traveling through Kitwanga on Hwy 37 you'll notice the
main employer in town is the Kitwanga Lumber Company. First established
in 1963 by one of the pioneering families of Kitwanga, the Hobenshields,
the mill supports a number of families living in the area.
Kitwanga
Fort
Located in Kitwanga is the Kitwanga Fort a National Historic Site
of Canada. The Kitwanga Fort is associated to the aboriginal warrior
Nekt in the 18th century. Nekt strategically located the fort on
Ta'awdzep or Battle Hill to have a vantage point over the adjacent
Kitwankul Trail and the Kitwanga River Valley.
Skeena
River
Near the Skeena River there are some totem poles displaying crests
associated with Nekt's biography. Artwork ranges from his original
flight from the Queen Charlotte Islands, being a warrior, and his
use of Battle Hill to guard the important aboriginal trade routes.
There is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Kitwanga River near
here.
Wildlife
Viewing
If you enjoy watching wildlife there is a good vantage point from
just the other side of the Skeena River Bridge. A good time to come
is in April to July when the spawning Chinook, Sockeye and Steelhead
Salmon return to the Kitwanga River near the outlet of the Kitwanga
Lake.
Woodcock
There is also a dirt road going the downstream side of the Skeena
River once you're over the bridge. This road takes you down the
river for about 18 km (11 miles) to an airstrip called Woodcock
(CBQ8), just across the Skeena River from Cedarville. It's at Woodcock
where people from Terrace and the area
come and try parachuting.
Seven
Sisters Mountain
If you do take this road, try going down on a clear day. This is
when you have the best view of the Seven Sisters Mountain Range.
The Seven Sisters, which are across the Skeena River at Woodcock,
can best be seen from the trail up Kitwanga Mountain. Kitwanga Mountain
trail involves a long hard hike and is accessed off the Woodcock
Road.
Cross-Country
Trail
One favourite hike you might want to try near Kitwanga is the Cross-Country
Trail. Take the Kitwanga-Hazelton Road about 45 km (28 miles) towards
Hazelton. The Cross-Country Trail takes
about 1.5 hours to walk and there is some very nice scenery. This
trail is also used for biking, horseback riding and snowmobiling
in the winter.
Kitwancool
(Gitanyow)
Kitwancool now known as Gitanyow, 15 km (9 miles) to the north on
Hwy 37, is home to some of the oldest-known totem poles in British
Columbia.
Totem
Poles
These can still be seen along the Kitwanga River just north of Kitwanga
at their original site in the village. Marvel at the craftsmanship
and feel the aboriginal spirit and history coming from the artwork.
Cassiar
RV & Campground
For people who want to stay in Kitwanga, the only place is the Cassiar
RV & Campground located on Bacalow Road 4 km (2.5 miles) from
Hwy 16 in Kitwanga. The RV campground is situated next to the Kitwanga
River.
Kitwanga
River Steelhead
The Kitwanga River has some excellent fishing, especially during
the Steelhead run in the months of April and May.
Information
on Kitwanga (Gitwangak)
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