Chetwynd

The small community of Chetwynd is located in the Alaska Highway Region of Northern British Columbia and is a popular area for outdoor enthusiasts. The many lakes and rivers provide fishing for trout, pickerel, Dolly Varden and Northern Pike. Hiking trails and nearby parks including Hole in the Wall Provincial Park, Moberly Lake and Gwillim Lake attract visitors and in the winter snowmobiling offers deep powder and lots of virgin territory to explore.

Chetwynd is also well-known for its 120-plus intricate chainsaw carvings and the annual  International Chainsaw Carving Championship that is held every June, attracting carvers from all over the world.

Chainsaw Carving, Chetwynd

Location

Chetwynd is situated on Hwy 97, 101 km (63 mi) west of Dawson Creek, 135 km (84 mi) south-west of Fort St. John. Hudson’s Hope lies 67 km (41 mi) north on Hwy 29.

A Step Back in Time

The community was originally known as “Little Prairie” but with the advent of the Pacific Great Eastern (PGE) Railroad in 1957, the name of the community was changed to Chetwynd in honor of the Minister in charge of railroads, Ralph Chetwynd.

In 1958 hundreds of people from the area came out to celebrate the arrival of the first train with many having waited 30 years for a rail outlet to the west coast.

With rail service established, a lumber industry developed bringing prosperity to the region, and the Westcoast Transmission pipeline was built. With strong signs that the Peace River hydro-electric project would proceed, businesses and investors moved to the area.

Today over 3,000 people live in the Chetwynd area.