BC-Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert is a port town of around 12,000 people on the northwest corner of Kaien Island. It is accessible via Highway 16 from BC's mainland, or by ferry from Port Hardy. Its main industries are fishing, port transport and tourism.

It has an interesting waterfront with a few restaurants from which to choose; as well it has a casino. Perhaps its main tourist destination is the North Pacific Cannery in nearby Port Edmond.

This portion of our trip was without a car, so we didin't get to explore the outer parts of the city, other than the cannery, so three days was a sufficient amount of time.

A highlight for me was the number of eagles we saw. We've seen them pretty much all throughout B.C., but this town seemed to have an exceptional number of them.

Now figure me this: I've heard of eagle eyes and all that. But this beautiful national bird of ours, without a doubt, turned its head and looked me straight in the eyes the minute I raised my camera to the window. It was probably a block away at least, so I was pretty taken aback when he turned as if he saw me. Then, he looked away, but stayed on the chimney top long enough for me to get another shot. This was my first encounter with an eagle in Prince Rupert, but the next day we will have - almost - gotten our fill of them. (Pictures below!)

We took the Rushbrook Trail which starts at the Rushbrook Harbor and parallels the watrfront to Seal Cove with its abandoned but picturesque waterfront. Along the way, this eagle was spotted down on the shore rocks. Not sure whether it's a female bald eagle, an immature eagle, or a golden eagle.

Sunken Gardens - the town's sweet spot

Sunken Gardens is a highlight of Prince Rupert. Originally a World War II ammunition depository, the unattractive 'hole' was gradually made into this serene and quiet garden by a local resident. It's a short walk through the charming and well-kept gardens.

Walking through town we happened across a small bridge, the Hays Bridge, with a semi-dried up riverbed below. Flying over and under and around the bridge, from every direction are a dozen or more bald eagles. We must have stood nearly half an hour watching them. It was a real treat to see so many at one time. We figured a fishing boat must have just come in to the nearby harbor.

North Pacific Cannery, on the Skeena River, is a day tour out of Prince Rupert located on the Skeena River in Port Edward. It was started in 1888 and became the longest running cannery in British Columbia, with nearly 90 years of continuous salmon production and fish processing. It ended in the late 1970s. In 1985, a group of local historians joined forces to save the cannery grounds from demolition. Today, it is the number one tourist attraction in the Prince Rupert area. Port Edward is some 15 miles outside of Prince Rupert, on mainland B.C.