Fort St. James

Fort St. James is 67 km north of Vanderhoof on Highway 27, on the traditional territory of the Nak’azdli Whut’en. Established by Simon Fraser in 1806, the Fort St. James area is rich with historical significance. The geographically close communities of Fort St. James, Nak’azdli, Tl’azt’en, and Yekooche First Nations played an integral role in developing the north.

The area is home to the Fort St. James National Historic Site, an old fur trading post and one of the oldest settlements in British Columbia. The site displays the largest group of original wood fur trade buildings in Canada and allows visitors to see life as it was in the 1890’s, including interactive exhibits, period dressed staff, Sunday afternoon ‘High Tea’ (by booking only), bed and breakfast, a fur warehouse,cafe open daily for lunch, chicken races, and a live sturgeon aquarium.

Fort St. James is situated on the southern shores of scenic Stuart Lake, one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in BC with 275 km of shoreline to explore. Stuart Lake is connected to a chain of lakes spanning more than 300 km and is the longest migration route for Salmon and is excellent for fishing in addition to paddling, boating, and swimming. Hike (or rock climb!) up popular Mount Pope, take in the lakeside Stuart Lake Golf Club, rent a paddleboard from the Fort St. James Marina, or wander the parks and trails.