NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 574

PLANNING YOUR TIME
The most important thing to remember when planning your time in northern British
Columbia is that this part of the province is vast. It is as big as all the other regions com-
bined, so plan accordingly. Though you can loop up through Williams Lake to Prince Ge-
orge and then head south again, you'll be missing all the highlights. If you want to see the
best of the region, schedule at least three days to drive the length of Highway 16 west to
Prince Rupert. To drive the Alaska/Cassiar Highway loop will take at least another four
days, including a stop at Liard River Hot Springs and detours to Hyder and Atlin. Add
another three days in Haida Gwaii for good measure. One good way to visit northern Brit-
ish Columbia without retracing your steps is to take the ferry between Prince Rupert and
Vancouver Island in one direction. If you do make ferry connections in Prince Rupert, al-
low at least one full day in town, and be sure to visit the North Pacific Cannery National
Historic Site.