Visitor Services
There’s something for everyone here, from outdoor adventures in every season, to our vibrant music, arts and culture scene. Prefer a slower outdoor pace? Check out the City’s walking and biking trails, which offer access to an extensive trails system by which you can explore Fort St. John!
Drop by the Visitor Centre
Prefer to chat in person? Stop by the Fort St. John Visitor Centre located at 9324 96 Street (inside the Pomeroy Sport Centre).
We are proud to share our state-of-the-art recreation facilities, theatres and conference centres, all of which host concerts, trade shows, tournaments and other events throughout the year.
Visitor Centre Hours
Winter Hours (September long weekend to May long weekend):
Monday - Friday: 9 am - 8 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm
Closed STAT Holidays
Summer Hours (May long weekend to September long weekend):
Monday - Friday: 8 am - 7 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 9 am - 5 pm
Open STAT Holidays
Are you a history buff? The local museum offers dynamic presentations and events, as well as a historical walking tour, a gift shop and much more!
In short, no matter your tastes, you’ll find something exciting to do, see or experience during your stay in Fort St. John.
Staying Here
Come to Fort St. John to seek adventure, play, and relax or just to sample the warm hospitality. No matter what brings you to our energetic city, we have accommodations that will be sure to suite your needs. From cozy, quaint B&B’s, to luxurious hotels, to adventurous camping and RV’ing, there’s something for everyone!!
Accommodations
Don’t forget to check out Hello BC for approved accommodations in BC. You can book and reserve right online, plus find travel information on your destination. Or stop in at the City of Fort St. John Visitor Centre to pick up your copy of the BC Approved Accommodation Guide. We would love to see you and help with your travels!
Things to Do
Arts & Culture
Tap into arts, culture and entertainment in the heart of the city! Creativity and activity go hand in hand in Fort St. John with diverse opportunities and events that everyone can enjoy as a participant or a spectator. Families and individuals have plenty of opportunities to create, perform, be entertained and hone their skills. Arts and cultural groups attract thousands of enthusiastic participants and appreciative audiences in dance, music, visual arts, theatre, heritage preservation and more.
North Peace Cultural Centre
Located in the heart of the city, the North Peace Cultural Centre (NPCC) is a popular entertainment venue, hosting live theatre, concerts, conferences, dance recitals, school productions and more. Check out the North Peace Cultural Centre website for a list of all upcoming events, and to get your tickets!
10015 – 100 Avenue
Fort St. John, BC V1J 1Y7
Phone: 250-785-1992
City Parks
Fort St. John is home to many city parks and green spaces for you to enjoy. From play time to picnics, we have a space for everyone! Centrally located Centennial Park is a main gathering place for community events and even hosts the local Farmer’s Market in the spring and summer months. Centennial Park is ideally situated next to the swimming pool and the Rotary Spray Park so you can cool off on those hot summer days!
Kin Park offers access to free outdoor exercise equipment, bike jumps and ball diamonds, as well as playground equipment and picnic tables for lunch time.
There is an off-leash dog park located at Toboggan Hill Park. For easy access, there is a parking lot across the street from the Fire Hall on 93 Street at 93 Avenue. The fenced area is a short walk up the hill. These are just a few of our amazing green spaces in Fort St. John!
Trails
The City of Fort St. John maintains an extensive network of walking and cycling trails within city limits. Explore the energetic city by foot and experience the beauty of nature within the city!
City Recreation
Fort St. John is home to many state-of-the-art sports and recreation facilities!
The Pomeroy Sport Centre boasts Canada’s newest Olympic-sized indoor speed skating oval, two NHL-sized ice surfaces, a heated walking track (the Northern Vac Track), and meetings rooms. The venue and amenities are available for rental.
The North Peace Arena is home to the Fort St. John Flyers and the Fort St. John Huskies. This arena is also available for private rental.
Kids Arena Fieldhouse offers opportunities to participate in seasonal sports year-round! The facility is open for the public to rent, and the City of Fort St. John offers recreation programs for kids as well. Packages for birthday are also offered.
The North Peace Leisure Pool consists of a leisure pool and a 25-meter lap pool with two dive platforms. The leisure pool has a zero beach at one end and a maximum depth of 1.5 meters (5 feet) at the other end. It has waves, a rapid channel, and spray and squirt features. Don’t forget about the two full-sized water slides!
Events
For the latest event news, access our Events Calendar or Annual City Events.
History & Heritage
In Fort St. John, we are proud of our roots, and our long history in the Peace Region. Alexander Mackenzie was the first European explorer to document the area in 1793 when he passed through the region, travelling by canoe, in search of a route to the Pacific Ocean. The following year, a trading post was established by the North West Company, making Fort St. John the oldest non-First Nations settlement on the British Columbia mainland.
Originally established in 1794 as Rocky Mountain Fort, it was used as a trading post for the Beaver and Sikanni First Nations, and as a supply depot to further expeditions into BC. Since then, Fort St. John has undergone five location changes to adapt to the needs of a growing community. Although there is no absolute record, Fort St. John is thought to have been named when one of the Hudson’s Bay company posts was opened on Saint Jean Baptiste Day.
To learn more about our history and heritage, including information on the pioneering people of the region, and the Pioneer Pathway Walking Tour, or take a tour of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.
Outdoor Adventures
Fort St. John attracts travellers from around the world with our access to exciting wilderness adventure.
We always have something for you to do whether it's summer or winter. The natural beauty of Fort St. John and the surrounding Peace Valley provides a varied terrain ideal for numerous seasonal outdoor activities.
In winter, why not strap into your cross-country skis and see what the Beatton Provincial Park has to offer, with 12km of groomed trails. snowshoe enthusiasts are welcome too!
Snowmobiling at Redfern-Keily Provincial Park in the Rocky Mountains is another great winter activity. What’s a better way to experience the Northern scenery while enjoying a horse-drawn sleigh ride during a sunny winter day.
In the summer, the Peace Valley and rolling hills offer endless picturesque opportunities for scenic drives, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. The Peace River presents great opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, atv-ing, and boating, [include external links] whichever you are interested in our team will point you in the right direction! As well, we are home to some of the best hunting and fishing opportunities in North America and often referred to as “The Serengeti of the North”.
Hunting
To be able to hunt in BC, there is a hunting licence fee, and appropriate hunting tags must be purchased for specific animals. These tags can be bought at the Government Agent’s Office and Backcountry. The BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis must be followed when hunting (this is in hard copy or available and online). The time of year, area, type and size of the animal are all specified in this synopsis.
Fishing
Before fishing anywhere in BC, you must have a valid BC fishing licence. Annual, 8-day, or 1-day licences are available at a range of prices depending on residency and age. Fishing licences in Fort St. John can be purchased from Backcountry, Wal-Mart, or the Government Agent’s Office. There are many boating and fishing locations in the area, but be sure to consult the Freshwater Fishing Regulations (this is in hard copy or available online) for restrictions since they vary depending on the body of water.
We hope you enjoy exploring the Peace River and the beautiful sites that Fort St. John has to offer. Come and visit the Fort St. John Visitor Centre for more activities in the community.
Dining & Shopping
Fort St. John has a small city feel with big city amenities! Explore all the options for your shopping and services needs. There is a diverse restaurant scene in Fort St. John. No matter what your taste buds are interested in, we have a place that will tempt your palate!
Getting Here
Fort St. John is accessible year-round by air with daily flights to and from major Western Canadian markets or via ground transportation on major highways, including the scenic Alaska Highway. Today, hundreds of thousands of tourists travel this historical route to Fort St John and beyond. Now completely paved, the highway offers a fantastic display of wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and adventures sure to excite the young and the young at heart!
The North Peace is well connected! Highway 97 runs along the Peace River, connecting the North Peace Region to Highway 16 and the Northern Corridor.
Highway 97 North, also known as the Alaska Highway, provides a vital link for communities and resources throughout central and northern B.C. as well as connections to US Route 97, Highway 16, Highway 49 and 2, and the Yukon Highway 1.
Fort St. John is:
- 1212 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, British Columbia
- 654 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, Alberta
- 930 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Alberta
Flight Information
Fort St. John has daily, scheduled flights to Calgary and Vancouver from commercial carriers Air Canada, Central Mountain Air and Westjet. Charter flights are also available through North Cariboo Air. The Fort St. John Airport maintains a website with a full description of their services, including car rentals. To learn more about getting to and travelling around Fort St. John and the area, check out Tap, Know & Go, our Tourism Fort St. John connection!