Prince Rupert: Coastal Trails, Harbour and Museums

Explore Prince Rupert on trails by the water or in museums covering subjects ranging from railway development to the history of firefighting. The Rushbrook Trail winds through coastal rainforest and open shoreline, offering views of fishing boats, floatplanes and harbour traffic along the way. If you would rather focus on individual exhibits and historical stories, you’ll find several different museum themes to explore.

Loop Trail or Coastal Trail

The Moresby Trail is a 1.6-kilometre loop trail off 2nd Avenue, behind the 2nd Avenue Bridge in Prince Rupert. As a loop, it differs in form from the Rushbrook Trail: its start and end points are not simply two named destinations. Its length and loop format give you a clear reference point when planning outings and considering a trail of this kind.

The Rushbrook Trail is approximately 2 kilometres long and runs between downtown Prince Rupert and Rushbrook Floats. Along the coast, coastal rainforest alternates with open shoreline. On the trail, you can watch fishing boats, floatplanes and harbour traffic. This makes the trail especially appealing if, on a walk, you want to take in not only the shoreline but also the activity on the water.

The two trails offer different experiences: the Moresby Trail is described as a loop, while the Rushbrook Trail connects downtown with Rushbrook Floats and combines coastal scenery with harbour watching. When planning your day, you can decide whether a loop or the route between these two named points better suits your plans.

Museums with Different Stories

The Kwinitsa Railway Station Museum in Waterfront Park explores northern Canada’s railway and the many small stations along its route. The museum shares this history with adults and children. Its exhibits also show how early Prince Rupert developed, from a tent settlement at the terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway to a town in the 1920s. Railway history and the development of the community come together in this museum’s subject matter.

The Prince Rupert Fire Museum focuses on firefighting. It houses a large collection of artefacts. Notable vehicles include the 1925 REO Speedwagon fire engine, the museum’s centrepiece exhibit. It also houses a fully restored 1958 American LaFrance fire engine. The two vehicles offer distinct, tangible points of interest in the collection: one is at the centre of the exhibit, while the other has been fully restored.

At the Museum of Northern BC, visitors can see unique artefacts representing 10,000 years of history. The museum’s offerings include a Winter Feast performance as well as Tsimshian storytelling and song. This adds artefacts and cultural performances to the railway and firefighting history covered by the other museums. The different themes can help you tailor your museum visit to the stories that interest you most.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

You can choose a holiday rental in Prince Rupert based on what you want from your stay.

If you’d like to explore other places, you can also find Tlell, Port Edward and Skeena-Queen Charlotte E here.

For the broader travel overview: Skeena-Queen Charlotte.