Best Places to See in BC - Kitmat Sitka Spruce

I can't get enough of the old growth trees in 

British Columbia.

Standing at the foot of this gigantic 500 yr old 

Sitka Spruce tree in Kitimat, BC

was totally awe inspiring.

This tree is the oldest known living organism

in the Kitimat Valley.

It was registered at the largest living

sitka spruce tree in BC in 1983.

It measures 50.3 meters (165 feet -- really!) tall

and 3.4 meters in diameter.

You have to imagine what this tree has seen

and been through in it's lifetime.

The age of quiet and solitude, explorers to

British Columbia, storms and unbearable 

weather changes, then dodging the cut of chainsaws

and logging. 

The feel of the bark under you fingers is rough and

textured, weather worn and vibrant.

Full of life and living.

I can only imagine what the next 

500 years will bring her.

Best Places to See in BC - Stuart Lake Pictographs

On the eastern side of Stuart Lake 

in British Columbia, Canada

are some pretty amazing pictographs.

I was lucky enough to have an idea where to

look for them from some very nice

people from the Murray Ridge

Nordic Ski Club.

Situated on a rock face of the cliffs overlooking

Stuart Lake, you can well

understand how this location

must have had some significance

the people from our past.

Not only is it beautiful and serene

but must have been rich in wildlife

and fish from Stuart Lake.

Another British Columbia moment

that I treasure.

Best Places to See in BC - Stuart Lake

Stuart Lake is one of the prettiest lakes I have 

visited in BC. Both the

Fort St. James National Historic Site

 and the town of Fort St. James

are situated on the lake near the outlet of Stuart River.

Stuart Lake is 66 kms long and 10 km wide.

In the winter months the cross country skiing

track is put in on the lake by the Murray Ridge

Nordic Ski Club.

You can ski for miles on the lake with the sun

shining on the pristine landscape,

the air crisp and clean,

and views of the distant hills and mountains

as a backdrop. Stunning to say the least.

I can't wait to see Stuart Lake in the summertime.

Best Places to See in BC - Nisga'a Lava Fields

British Columbia has some of the most

diverse landscapes on earth.

The Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park

is located in the Nass Valley region in

northwestern BC.

Because the Nisga'a do not have a written history,

the volcanic explosion is estimated to have occured

between 1750 and 1775.

This park is quite impressive, both in size (18,000 sq kms)

and in the sheer beauty of destruction.

The lava flow changed the coures of the 

Nass and Tseax Rivers, 

dammed a stream to make what is now Lava Lake,

 and killed approximately 2,000 people.

Today the park contains waterfalls, lakes, pools

and some very impressive lava features

including lava tubes, tree molds, cinder cones and caves.

Definitely a place to put on your Must Visit

List in British Columbia.

Best Places to See in BC - Fort St. James National Historic Site

One of the most fascinating places

I have visited recently in British Columbia

is the Fort St. James National Historic Site.

The fort was founded in 1806 by Simon Fraser,

the intrepid explorer, for the Northwest Company

which was later to become 

The Hudson's Bay Company.

Fort St. James has the largest

display of original wooden buildings

in Canada.

Though the tours of the site

are not operating in the winter months,

 the site itself is beyond beautiful.

Situated on the shores of Stuart Lake,

you can only imagine what the original settlers

must have thought of this paradise.

Though life would have been difficult

in this remote area, the scenery and wild life

would have well made up for it.

I spent several hours wandering

the pathways of these beautiful 

old buildings on a sunny winter day.

Visions of bygone days danced in

front of me along the pathways,

  doorways and windows

warped with time and memories.

Best Places to See in BC - Dawson Creek

One of the best places to explore in BC

is Dawson Creek, Mile 0

of the Alaska Highway.

Named in honor after Dr. George Mercer Dawson, 

Dawson Creek is also

known as the capital of the Peace River District.

The 16 foot tall iron statue of a surveyor was

created by Karl Mattson from scap metal

he found on nearby farms.

True in dress and equipment to surveryors

from the 1942 era, this surveyor 

points north along the route of 

the Alaska Highway.

The pioneer spirit of the North

is alive and well here in northwestern BC.

Things to Do in British Columbia - Milky Way Viewing

British Columbia offers us some pretty spectacular

dark nights to view the Milky Way.

The crisp clear winter skies are great for

amazing star gazing, it's almost unimaginalble

how many stars are really out there.

Always best to have some back up when

trying to photograph the winter night skies,

lots of patience, hot chocolate and boot warmers come to mind.

This particular shot was done near

Tumbler Ridge, BC at -19C.

A lot of hopping around to keep warm was

 done for this one, plus a promise

to an upgrade in the winter mittens department.

To gaze in awe at the night skies is well 

worth the effort here or anywhere 

the skies allow your mind to wander

to infinity and back.

Best Places to See in BC - Kiskatinaw Bridge

Kiskatinaw Bridge, Alaska Highway, British Columbia

 The Kiskatinaw Bridge is located before the Mile 21 marker 

along the old Alaska Highway

in British Columbia.

The Kiskatinaw Bridge was the first curved wooden bridge

built in Canada

and is still in use today.

Built in 1942-43 it stands

30 meters (100) feet above the Kiskatinaw River, 

a tributary of the Peace River.

It curves 9 degrees along its length and is 162.5 meters (534 feet) long.

Quite the view from the bridge deck, the river meanders

its way gently through the rolling hills

below bringing to mind wandering dinosaurs

in ages past. 

Best Places to See in BC - Gordon River

One of the most beautiful rivers

in British Columbia I have 

had the privilege to see is 

the Gordon River 

on the southewest coast of

Vancouver Island.

 The Gordon River is

known by white water kayakers

with its many rapids, pools,

and drops.

The day I saw her, the Gordon

River was sodden in torrential rains

and autumn colours, sinuous

mists and the haunting cry of white swams

and loons.

I was lucky enough to spend a few hours

here. Reveling in the

intimate bond with Mother Nature

 as she revealed her 

timeless spirit and infinite beauty to me.

Best Places to See in BC - Botanical Beach

Botanical Beach Provincial Park 

 on the west coast 

of Vancouver Island

is a magical place to visit

and should be on everyone's Best Places

To See in BC list.

It is a fabulous location for

watching storms that roll in off of the Pacific Ocean as

 well as sea life galore. Several species of 

bird life soared on the strong winds and rain while I

stood in awe of this vast ocean scape.

Bull kelp lay in long yellow rope like strands along  the

rugged coastal rockscape and

the feel of being here and alive were present 

on the tang of the salty air.

Best Places to See in BC - Houston Trail

I've just discovered what will soon
become one of my favorite places for a quick
Mother Nature fix here in British Columbia.
Located in Derby Reach Regional Park,
Houston Trail is 4 km's of
pathways connecting the heritage area
of Derby Reach to the Houston Trailhead
parking lot.
Beautiful gnarled old trees
line the pathway and there are
even glimpses of the Langley Bog along
the way.
Birds and squirrels were busily flitting
in amongst the ripening blackberry
bushes, every so often peeking out
to see what I was doing on
my hands and knees peering back at them.
The sights and sounds of Mother Nature
are everywhere here and I am sure
there are a few trees that stand sentinel
over this heritage farm area
with a few tales to tell of days past
and present.

 To see other photos 

from fabulous British Columbia

please visit my other website:

karencoopercanada.com

Best Places to See in BC - Green Point, Sasquatch Provincial Park

Only 6 km's north of Harrison Hot Springs,
Sasquatch Provincial Park is an
easily accessible day trip from Vancouver.

The Green Point Day Use area
is right on Harrison Lake and
offers up those glorious turquoise
waters that the lake possesses.

There is something for everyone here.
From wind surfing, kayaking,
hiking or merely just relaxing with your
toes dipping in one lake or another
Sasquatch Provincial Park is
a must see for everyone.

Sadly, I've never seen the elusive Sasquatch
on the various trips I've made along
the lake.
I never give up looking, though.
Mother Nature likes to hold her secrets
quite close to her heart.

To see other photos
from fabulous British Columbia
please see my other website:

karencooperphotography.com

Best Places to See in BC - DeBoville Slough Wetlands

There's no better time to experience
British Columbia's wetlands
than on a hot summer day.
DeBoville Slough Wetlands in Port
Coquitlam is a perfect place
to inhale the sights, sounds
and smells of what summer opens
up to our senses.
No doubt it's hot in British Columbia right now.
27 C translates to 81 F.
For us British Colombian's that's a tad warmish.
The humidity makes for some dramatic
cloud formations in the afternoons.
The water becomes stiller than still making
it a better than perfect mirror.
The lazy buzz and chirp of the insects
combines with the smells of summers
ripening fruits and berries.
The hot grasses sway and rustle in the slight breezes that
caress their way through the wetlands.

Truly a rich world enfolding before us.

 To see more photos

from fabulous British Columbia

please visit my other website:

karencoopervancouver.ca

Best Places to See in BC - Your Back Yard

By far my favorite place to visit in BC
is my own back yard.
There are times when you just can't get away
for a few hours to totally immerse yourself
in the charms of Mother Nature.
Your home-away-from-home
in the back yard is the perfect quick fix.

I like to be surrounded with as much
nature as possible without actually
having it creeping over the door sill.
Though that happens more frequently that
you can imagine. I've had to relocate a few
multi-legged critters back to their own enviroments.

There's just something special about stepping
outside on a warm summer morning,
the sharp fresh air making you feel alive
with the sounds and smells of life
surrounding you.
It only takes a few moments to reconnect
with the natural rhythms of our world.

 To see more photos

from fabulous British Columbia

please visit my other website:

karencoopervancouver.com

Best Places to See in BC - The Painted Hills

Sometimes you run across a scene
that defies your senses.
It's so perfect and peaceful
that you feel you belong there,
your soul has been waiting for it
and now its come home.

The Painted Hills
is a few miles north of Cache Creek
in the Cariboo Country of British Columbia.
There is a draw to the Cariboo ...the dry sage brush
encrusted landscape is vast, has huge huge skies
and feels open and wild.

There are large cattle ranches and working cowboys
here. You can well imagine the old
Cariboo Wagon Trail Days of the 1850's.

Come, smell the sage brush and let the
skies carry your soul away to places you could never imagine.
BC can do that to you.

 To see more photos

from fabulous British Columbia

please visit my other website:

karen-cooper-photo.com

Best Places to See in BC - Kane Valley

One of my favorite places
to see in BC is Kane Valley.
Kane Valley is about 17 km east
of the city of Merritt.
Portions of this valley have
been farmed since the 1890's
and there are telltale signs
of this at every turn.
Ponderosa pine and cattle,
big skies and the rich
cries of hawks greet
you at every twist and
turn of the road.
A joy to wander
and savor a way
of life that few of us
ever experience.
Kane Valley is part of
the Nicola Valley.
The Kane and Nicola Valley's should be on
everyone's "need to visit" list
here in British Columbia.

 To see more photos

from fabulous British Columbia

please visit my other website:

karencooperdesigns.ca