Hazelton British Columbia

We arrived at Hazelton British Columbia on Friday 5 September 2025. We had reservations at 'Ksan Campground in Gmax. From the Internet: "Gmax" in Hazelton BC refers to the Gitanmaax Band, a First Nation government of the Gitxsan people, and by extension, its related businesses and facilities such as the Gitanmaax Food & Fuel and the Gitanmaax Community Hall. The Gitanmaax Band is located near the village of Hazelton, British Columbia, between the Skeena and Bulkley Rivers. 

We went in to the Visitor Information Center and the lady working there is fifth generation Gitxsan. She's very nice and extremely knowledgeable about the area and she's a talented artist. She told us about hiking trails and fishing spots and even where to get a fishing license. Steve decided he didn't want to fish after learning from the place that sells the licenses that for non-residents it is $200 for an 8-day license and that non-residents are not allowed to fish fresh water on the weekends. We were really mainly here for a weekend, so it just didn't make sense to get a license.

'Ksan Campground - Hazelton BC

Smoky from wildfires to the south

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC Visitor Information Center - 5 Sep 2025

We don't often find ourselves with no leftovers, nothing defrosted to cook and simply not feeling like cooking. In that situation the day we arrived, we hoped to find indigenous foods to sample, but there was none to be found. The lady at the Visitor Center had told us of a couple of options for dinner when we asked. There is a pizza place and a gas station that has a new "restaurant". We actually opted for the gas station and enjoyed our sandwiches (Philly cheese steak and French dip) with fries.

On Saturday we tried to see the museum of the history of the Gitxsan Nation (located in our campground) but it wasn't open at 10:30am when the sign said it opens at 10am. We walked around the grounds and took some pictures of the outside of the buildings and totem poles. We then went to find a waterfall in New Hazelton. We got a short hike in by the time we found the waterfall. The New Hazelton Falls were not easily visible with the overgrowth of trees and bushes, but we could definitely hear it's roaring flow. On our way back we stopped at the New Hazelton Lookout.

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Narrow doorway

We learned during our guided tour that sometimes the doors are not only narrow but short. From the Internet: This is a deliberate defensive feature to protect against raiders. The design allowed only one person to enter at a time, making it difficult for attackers to gain entry. Inside the doorway, in the floor was often a rotating section, designed to cause unwanted guests to lose their balance and become vulnerable to the people inside.  

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Waterfall

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

It was smoky our first couple of days from wildfires in Hope BC

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 6 Sep 2025

On Sunday 7 September 2025, we attended mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hazelton. It was located across the street from the Visitor Center and there was a Farmers Market on Sunday at the Visitor Center. Mass was at 11am and there were refreshments after mass to socialize. We stayed a few minutes and then walked to the Farmers Market. It was a beautiful day. Later in the afternoon we went into town to do more of the walking tour. It had gotten hot out by the time we went, so we didn't stay as long as we thought we would.

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

St. Mary's Catholic Church

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

Hazelton BC - 7 Sep 2025

Walking Tour

On Monday we did a few things to get ready to travel on Tuesday, went a guided tour of three of the long houses at the museum village and we went for a drive to see more totem poles and to walk on the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge. The houses on the tour were the Frog House, Wolf House and Fireweed House. Pictures are not allowed inside the houses. We had taken pictures of the outsides on Saturday and the guide said outside pictures were OK. It was interesting to hear about the traditions and culture of the First Nation. Our guide belongs to the Wolf tribe.

To get to our campground we had to cross a one lane bridge . The Hagwilget Canyon Bridge (200ft long and 400ft high) is a historic steel suspension bridge located on Highway 62 over the Bulkley River canyon. At the Visitor Center we saw the history of the bridge. It turns out that today's bridge was built in 1931. It's the 4th bridge over the canyon and this one seems to be holding up.

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - 8 Sep 2025

Ksan Historical Village and Museum - 8 Sep 2025

Us in the narrow doorway...

From the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

From the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

From the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

From the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

From the Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

Hagwilget Canyon Bridge - 8 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 8 Sep 2025

Seven Sisters Mountain Range

Hazelton BC - 8 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 8 Sep 2025

Hazelton BC - 8 Sep 2025

Ptarmigan on top

Hazelton BC - 8 Sep 2025

We noticed salmon in the Kispiox river on our way back from the Kispiox totem poles

Tomorrow (9 Sep 2025) we're heading to Prince George BC for a week. We're gradually making our way to Washington. We'll get there eventually. As long as the weather is so perfect, we're in no rush.