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Hudson's
Hope
Hudson's Hope is located 65 km (40 miles) north of Chetwynd
and 88 km (55 miles) south-west of Fort
St. John on Hwy 29.
W.A.C.
Bennett Dam
Situated on the banks of the Peace River, Hudson's Hope is home
to one of the world's largest earthen dam: BC Hydro's W.A.C. Bennett
Dam located just 22 km (13 miles) away.
Historic
Peace River Region
Hudson's Hope is perhaps British Columbia's oldest European settlement,
dating back to 1793 when Alexander Mackenzie used the Peace River
in his quest to find the Pacific Ocean, which he eventually found
at Bella Coola.
Later Hudson's Hope served as the main trapping post in the Peace
Region starting in 1809.
Generation
of Electricity
Today Hudson's Hope serves another purpose for the citizens of British
Columbia with the generation of electricity along the Peace River.
BC
Hydro
Flowing out of the Rocky Mountain Trench, the Peace River was dammed
during the 1960s by the electrical utility, BC Hydro with W.AC.
Bennett Dam. What was created was Williston Lake-one of North America's
largest man-made lakes.
Peace
Canyon Dam
Later, another dam, Peace Canyon Dam, was built near Hudson's Hope
just 23 kilometres (14 miles) downstream from the G.M. Shrum Generating
Station. This created another lake called Dinosaur Lake.
Tour
the generating facilities
During the summer you can take the free tour offered by BC Hydro
and visit the generating plants. W.A.C. Bennett Dam is located by
about 30 minutes from Hudson's Hope.
Dinosaur
Age
During the excavation stage of the dam's various fossils dating
back to the dinosaur age were discovered. It was soon learned that
the Hudson Hope area contained a very large selection of dinosaurs
dating back millions of years.
Dudley
Dinosaur
Today Hudson's Hope uses this fact in adopting a town mascot called
Dudley Dinosaur and presents various specimens to the public at
the Hudson's Hope Museum.
Hudson's Hope Museum
Housed in the Hudson's Bay Building, built in 1942, the museum presents
you with a very good collection of local artifacts found in the
region. If you want a taste of Hudson's Hope's past, you won't be
disappointed.
Museum's
Collection
The museum's collection features an 11,600-year-old Mammoth Tusk
and includes other prehistoric fossils from the dinosaur age, local
First Nation heritage, a North-West Mounted Police display plus
some antique mining equipment and old pictures.
Recreation
Excellent hiking, snowmobiling and exploring all exist around Hudson's
Hope. There is a small 9-hole golf course located just south of
Hudson's Hope at Moberly Lake.
Williston
Lake
Then, for real discovery, you have the incredibly large Williston
Lake giving you access into the Rocky Mountain Trench region and
the Omineca Mountains.
Official
Community Plan
Hudson's Hope has several parks within the townsite. There is an
Official Community Plan of developing a series of trail networks
in some undeveloped lands linking the parks and town together away
from the roads and traffic. This will provide some excellent trails
for biking and walking throughout the area.
Peace
River Bridge
If you have a chance, take the drive to the historic suspension
bridge across the Peace River. The Peace River Bridge is about 8
km (5 miles) south from town on Highway 29 towards Moberly Lake.
Butler
Ridge Provincial Park
If you need boat access to Williston Lake, go to Butler Ridge Provincial
Park located on the north side of the lake on the Peace Reach. Butler
Ridge Provincial Park is only 25 km (16 miles) west of Hudson's
Hope via a gravel road.
Spectacular
Panoramic Views
This is a great spot to explore. You'll have access to Rainbow trout
and Kokanee fishing on Williston Lake. Then, if you like hiking
and horseback riding, the spectacular panoramic views of Williston
Lake from Butler Ridge are incredible.
Hudson's
Hope Accommodation
There is a motel in Hudson's Hope called the Sportsman's Inn, unfortunately
the Peace Glen Hotel which featured a pub is no longer around.
Get
Reservations
If you are planning to stay here in the summer, be prepared for
construction crews staying here as well. With the latest rumours
about BC Hydro building a third dam at Site C and a possible Gething
coal project by the Vancouver based Canadian Dehua International
Mines Group, Hudson's Hope accommodation might be full.
Provincial
Parks
Some other British Columbia Parks that you might want to look at
exploring are Heather-Dina Lakes Park just north of Mackenzie
and Muscovite Lakes Park across from the entrance of the Peace Reach
on Williston Lake.
Moberly
Lake
Plus if you're coming through from Moberly Lake, there is Moberly
Lake Provincial Campground set in a very nice spruce forest off
of Hwy 29 by 3 km (2 miles) on a gravel road just 39 km (24 miles)
south from Hudson's Hope which features 109 campsites.
Excellent
Campgrounds
If you like camping there are some excellent campgrounds in the
area:
- Alwin
Holland Park - located 3 km (2 miles) south of Hudson's Hope featuring
fishing and hiking -12 sites (250) 783-9154
- Cameron
Lake Campground - located 24 km (15 miles) south of Hudson's Hope
featuring swimming, fishing, boat launch and picnic area. During
the winter you can enjoy 16 km (10 miles) of groomed trails for
cross-country or snow-shoeing 15 sites (250) 783-9154, open May
to September.
- Dinosaur
Lake Campground located 7 km (4.5 miles) south of Hudson's Hope
off Highway 29 features fishing, boating, swimming, a boat launch
and picnic area - 50 sites (250) 783-9154
- King
Gething Campground located locally at the south end of Hudson's
Hope. Firewood, flush toilets, RV sani-station, showers - 15 sites
(250) 783-9154.
- Lynx
Creek RV Park - Google - located 6 km (4 miles) north of Hudson's
Hope on Highway 29. Located on the banks of the Peace River featuring
RV sani-station, showers, boat launch, fishing, firewood and playground
for the kids - 24 sites (250) 783-5333
Information
on Hudson's Hope
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