Population: 3,000

Chetwynd is located on BC Highway 97, 188 miles northeast of Prince George and 57 miles southwest of Dawson Creek.

Visitor Information: Chetwynd Visitor Centre, phone 250-788-1943.

Originally known as Little Prairie, Chetwynd was renamed in honour of Ralph Chetwynd, the former Minister of Railways. Chetwynd is a division point on the British Columbia Railway. Forestry, mining, natural gas processing, ranching and farming and wind energy are the main industries here.

Chetwynd’s collection of chain saw sculptures makes this a fascinating stop.

Chetwynd offers easy access to all services: several motels, fast-food outlets, restaurants, banks and bank machines, post office, laundromats, gas stations, supermarkets and a 9-hole golf course. (Heavy commercial and industrial traffic often fill up local motels and campgrounds; reserve ahead.) There are private RV parks in town and on Highway 97. The public library has free internet access.

Attractions:

  • Annual Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship is held in June.
  • Moberly Lake Provincial Park, 12 miles north of Chetwynd via Highway 29, is a 9-mile-long lake with camping, picnicking, swimming and boating.
  • Tours of W.A.C. Bennett Dam, 55 miles north of Chetwynd, one of the largest earth-fill structures in the world.