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Smithers Community Forest
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 by GetawayBC.com
Hike beneath lodgepole pine, hybrid spruce, black cottonwood and alder trees. Beside you the devils club, thimbleberry and false box shrubs flourish. Identify the wild herbs: dwarf dogwood, kinnikinnick, queen’s cup. Spot the northern goshawk, boreal chickadee, or downy woodpeckers overhead. Somewhere within Smithers Community Forest’s 4,620 hectares, you might even meet a moose, coyote or bear.
The community forest is located in provincial forest crown land on the south facing side of Hudson Bay Mountain and is a haven for some of Smithers’ natural treasures.
The forest was established in 1991 as an outdoor classroom of sorts, meant to generate local involvement in forest management plans and has become a popular year round destination for tourists and locals alike. In the summer it boasts many wildlife and flora and fauna viewing opportunities due to its ecological diversity. In the winter months its maintained trails are often used by cross-country skiers. It’s full of trails marked according to difficulty level and time estimations for hiking, making it a must-see for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels.
You can access the community forest bay way of the Hudson Bay Mountain Road, or “Ski Hill Road.” This untamed oasis is a mere five kilometres outside downtown Smithers. For a detailed map of trails, stop by Tourist Information, down town Smithers on Highway 16.;