Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Train -- A VIA Rail (tel. 888/VIA-RAIL; www.viarail.ca) train, the Skeena, operates between Prince Rupert and Prince George 4 days weekly (3 in winter). One-way fares start at C$66 (US$66/£33) in summer season. The train follows the same route as the Yellowhead Highway along the scenic Skeena River valley. At Prince George, travelers can continue on to Jasper, with connections to the mainline VIA Rail line between Vancouver and Toronto.

By Plane -- Air Canada Jazz (tel. 888/247-2262; www.flyjazz.ca) provides service between Vancouver and Prince Rupert. Hawkair (tel. 800/487-1216; www.hawkair.ca) also offers daily service from Vancouver.

Both these airlines fly into Prince Rupert's Digby Island airport, which is indeed on an island. Upon collecting their luggage, arriving passengers board a bus that meets every scheduled flight and transports all passengers to the ferry terminal. Once there, the entire bus boards the ferry and crosses to Prince Rupert. The bus deposits the passengers at the Howard Johnson Highliner Plaza Hotel. Taxis are available. The bus/ferry fare from the airport to Prince Rupert is included in your airline ticket so there's no fee assessed for the service while you're traveling. The entire voyage takes roughly 35 minutes. While this process may sound complex, in fact it's as simple as collecting your luggage and getting on the bus. The driver takes care of the rest.

To catch a flight from Digby Island, the process works in reverse. Meet the airport bus at the Highliner Plaza Hotel. Once loaded it then proceeds across the ferry to the airport. Call the airport bus at tel. 250/622-2222 to find out what time the bus leaves for your flight.

By Car -- Prince Rupert is the terminus of the Yellowhead Highway, Canada's most northerly transcontinental roadway. Between Prince Rupert and Prince George, the route is 756km (469 miles) of extraordinary scenery. For car rentals, call National (tel. 800/CAR-RENT or 250/624-5318; www.nationalcar.com). If you are planning on renting a car while in Prince Rupert, reserve well in advance, as the cars get snapped up fast, especially on days when trains or ferries arrive.

By Bus -- Greyhound Canada (tel. 800/661-8747 or 604/482-8747; www.greyhound.ca) serves Prince Rupert and Prince George with two buses daily each way. The fare is about C$104 (US$104/£52).

Visitor Information

The Prince Rupert Visitor Info Centre, Suite 215, Cow Bay Road (tel. 800/667-1994 in Canada, or 250/624-5637; www.tourismprincerupert.com), is on the waterfront in the new Atlin Terminal building, about 2km (1 1/4 miles) from Highway 16. The center is open year-round, Monday through Saturday from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 9pm, and Sunday from 8 to 11am and 5:30 to 9pm (all day in summer).

Special Events -- During the second week in June, Prince Rupert hosts Seafest (tel. 250/624-9118), which features a fishing derby, parades, games, food booths, bathtub races, and the annual blessing of the fleet.