Nature Parks

Cottonwood Island Nature Park is year-round destination for residents and tourists alike. The 32-hectare park is a starting point for - or point of interest on - the 11km Heritage River Trail System and connects a number of parks along the Nechako and Fraser rivers. The trails wind along the Nechako River's shoreline and lead into a forest containing many century-old trees.

One of the park's many highlights include a series of tree bark carvings on mature cottonwood trees by Prince George resident Elmer Gunderson. The carvings of faces and other subjects were sponsored by the City in 2005 and 2016 with a new set of eight added 2017.

• Learn more about the Cottonwood Island Park Tree Bark Carvings
• Learn more about the Heritage River Trail system and other trails
  

Other Cottonwood Island Nature Park features and amenities include:

• Canoe/Boat launch
• Viewing platforms
• Picnic shelter
• Multi-Use trails
• Outhouse washrooms

Cottonwood Island Nature Park has multiple access points off River Road, which can be reached from Highway 16 near the Yellowhead Bridge and Grand Trunk Railroad Bridge on the east side of Prince George.

Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve is located in the Hart off Highway 97 North and Kelly Road North. The Nature Reserve's unique trail system is suspended on a plank walkway over the lake, which gives visitors a chance to observe plant an aquatic life up close. Features and amenities at Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve include:

• A fishing dock and canoe launch.
• Rustic, lakeside trails and boardwalks.
• A picnic and old homestead site.
• Interpretive signage at points of interest.
• Outhouse washrooms.
  

Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve is possible thanks to the support of the Ivor Killy families, the Nature Trust of British Columbia, Employment & Immigration Canada, and the City of Prince George.

Forests For the World is a 106-hectare demonstration forest with 15 km of nature trails. It is located on Cranbrook Hill at the end of Kueng Road just off Foothills Boulevard and Cranbrook Hill Road. It is adjacent to the University of Northern British Columbia and can also be accessed from the Greenway parking lot at UNBC.

The park was created to commemorate the City of Prince George's 70th Anniversary and to celebrate the City's participation in Expo 86. The undulating topography and elevated high point of land (at approximately 880m) at Forests for the World provides scenic views of the Prince George area and many of its trails are multi-use and feature interpretive routes.  

Features and amenities include:

• Two (2) viewing lookout points.
• Fishing dock
• Fifteen (15) kilometres of hiking trails.
• BBQ and fire pits with picnic shelters.
• Multi-use trails with interpretive signage.
• Outhouse washrooms
• Connection to the Cranbrook Hill Greenway and Shane Lake.
  

Shane Lake is a short, 10-minute walk from the main Forests For The World parking lot. This small lake is features a picnic area, dock, and observation deck.

The Cranbrook Hill Greenway, a year-round multi-use trail system with over 25 km of trails is connected to Forests For The World.

Visit the Cranbrook Hill Greenway website

LC Gunn Park meanders along the bluffs of the Fraser River through a forest with various viewpoints of the city. The trail follows a similar route travelled by earlier surveyors who were planning the railway line. Dog walkers, joggers, and mountain bikers share the rustic trails at LC Gunn Park. The park can be reached by following Highway 16 East across the Yellowhead Bridge, turning right onto Guay Road, and following the gravel road to the parking lot where the entrance is located.

Features and amenities include:

• Three and a half (3.5) kilometres of rustic trails and elevated viewpoints.
• Multi-use trails with interpretive signage.
• Outhouse washrooms

Moore's Meadow is a 60-hectare nature park situated within a glacial kettle - a unique geological feature formed after the ice age - and named after adventurer Charles W. Moore. The park boasts a forested hillside area that provides a viewpoint for many different ecosystems, including a large meadow area at the bottom of the glacial kettle. The meadow area can be accessed by a five-kilometre rustic trail system that is popular with birdwatchers, hikers, and dog walkers.

Moore's Meadow is one of the City's three off-leash pet areas. Pet-owners must note the trails in the park are on-leash for pets, while the open meadow is off-leash. See the Pets and Off-Leash Areas page for more information.

Features and amenities include:

• Five (5) kilometres of rustic trails.
• Unique glacial kettle landforms.
• Open meadows
• Off-leash pet area
• Outhouse washrooms

Moore's Meadow Nature Park is located off Foothills Boulevard and south of Otway Road. It is part of the City's Centennial Trail System.

Learn more about Pets and Off-leash areas

Nechako Riverside Park will be an upgraded nature park located at 2042 Foothills Boulevard. This undeveloped, 9.3 hectare park is situated along the Nechako River north of Foothills Boulevard Bridge at a current popular riverfront destination. The development of the park will include:

• A formal trail to the lower riverfront area.
• An open lawn with added landscaping and picnic area furnished with new picnic tables and seating.
• A new parking lot off Foothills Boulevard with solar lightning and gated access.
• A new canoe launch for paddlers and tubers.