Chetwynd: Chainsaw Carvings, River and Hiking Trails

More than 120 chainsaw carvings are found in various parts of Chetwynd. The town is also home to a museum about local history, the Pine River and nearby hiking trails. This mix makes it an interesting destination for travelers who want to combine cultural discoveries with time outdoors. Which of these aspects appeals to you most may also influence your choice of vacation rental or vacation home.

Chainsaw Carvings and a Public Competition

With a map, you can walk around Chetwynd and explore handcrafted carvings for photo opportunities. The subjects include Indigenous animals, local scenes and other themes. The works are located outdoors or inside local businesses. The Visitor Centre provides a map of the Chetwynd Chainsaw Carving Tour as a visitor download, so you can make the carvings a focus of your exploration.

The competition is also part of the town’s chainsaw art scene: the Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship Invitational takes place every year on the second weekend in June. The International Chainsaw Carving Championship in Chetwynd lasts four days and takes place every June. During the event, twelve woodcarvers work on eight-foot western red cedar logs in front of an audience, turning them into sculptures. If you want to plan your trip around this date, keep it distinct from the museum and nature activities, which are more flexible to schedule.

Local History and Tradition

The Little Prairie Heritage Museum shares the history of Chetwynd and the Peace Region. A small, community-run museum, it is dedicated to local history, including the town’s deeply rooted forestry tradition. It complements the visible wood sculptures with another perspective on the town’s identity: here, the focus is not on the competition, but on the history of the community and its region.

One historical event illustrates how businesses and community groups considered how to represent the town together. On December 31, 1990, a meeting was called to discuss commissioning three bears for Chetwynd’s welcome signs.

The Pine River and Nearby Trails

The Pine River flows through Chetwynd. There are numerous rest areas and access points along the river, giving it a distinct connection to nature within the town. For hike planning, the District of Chetwynd provides an online map showing the community’s trails for exploring the natural surroundings. The Visitor Centre also offers a Chetwynd Greenspace Trail accommodation map as a download.

There is a selection of different hiking trails near Chetwynd. The Centurion Trail is a four-kilometre-long natural-surface trail, and the natural-surface Community Forest Interpretive Trail is 700 metres long. Hiking offers a different kind of trip from visiting the museum or viewing the town’s chainsaw carvings.

Activities for Different Outing Ideas

In summer, the outdoor water park behind the Chetwynd Recreation Centre at 4552 North Access Road offers free, accessible recreation for families and residents. The Chetwynd Leisure Pool was built in 1990 and includes a large hot tub and a wave pool. At the climbing wall in the lobby of the Chetwynd & District Recreation Centre, you can climb to the roof under the supervision of belay staff; public climbing times and private rentals are available. These activities are quite different from a hike or a cultural history visit, and offer more topics to consider when planning your trip.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to add more places to your trip plans, you can also explore Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek, Taylor, Hudson Hope and Pouce Coupe.

For the broader travel overview: Peace River.