| Giscome
Trail is a designated heritage
trail located north of the community of Prince George, British
Columbia, Canada. The trail is a route once used by the First
Nation people as the shortest route between the rivers emptying
into the Pacific Ocean and the rivers emptying into the Arctic
Ocean. A route used to collect berries, gather supplies and to
access rivers to go fishing.
The Lhedli T'enneh first named the trail Lhedesti.
Today the 8.5 kilometre trail is called the Giscome Heritage Trail.
Long ago the highest point in the trail separated two great nations.
An invisible boundary existed between the Lehdli and the Tse'Kenne
First Nation Villages.
In the early 1860's the route began to gain some
recognition by the European population as a transport route. The
discovery of gold in the Omineca and Peace River area drew allot
of attention to the region attracting miners and fur traders.
John Robert Giscome from Jamaica explored the trail
first with a partner and some First Nation guides. He wrote a
letter of the experience which was later published in a Victoria,
BC newspaper in 1863. But it was not until the gold rush in 1891
that the trail became popular.
In July 1997 the Giscome Portage Trail was designated
a Heritage Site. The 190 hectare park, of which the trail is part
of, also includes the Huble Homestead.
A historic site of one of the first pioneer settlements in the
region with preserved buildings, restored artifacts and plenty
of early history.
The Giscome Portage Trail is a forested route with
a mix bag of trail conditions. Some sections of the trail is trekking
along a soft grass route, while other sections of the trail is
following a hard pack earthy trail. Depending on the season, there
is mud too. Some of us like that sort of thing.. mud.
Each trailhead is identified by large log-frame
structures and fronted by historical informational signs. The
entire one way route should take between 3-4 hours on foot to
complete. This will vary based on trail conditions and mode of
transportation.
There is very little for amenities on this trail.
Following the footsteps of history is the appeal of this adventure.
However, for emergencies there is one pit toilet at the half-way
point on the trail (North Fraser River Road Crossing). There is
little for garbage cans so pack out what you pack in. Bring warm
clothing, good footwear and water.
Contact information for
the local Prince George, BC accommodations, tours, guides,
golf courses and attractions, realtors, etc. are posted
under the links listed to your right. =) |
How to get to Giscome
Heritage Trail : Travel north of Prince George
BC along Hwy 97 (John Hart Highway) for 40 Kilometres. Look for
Huble Homestead turn off on Mitchell Road. Take turn off and travel
6 km to trailhead entrance on your left just before Huble Homestead.
There is also another access point where the trail comes out at
Barney Creek Road (close to Summit Lake), which is 48 km North
of Prince George on Highway 97. |
Giscome
Trail
Prince George