Scenic Views · British Columbia
Witset Canyon
A narrow canyon on the Bulkley River beside Highway 16 at Witset, BC, where visitors can watch Wet'suwet'en fishers harvest salmon in the traditional way during the summer runs.
What visitors say
Witset Canyon, long known as Moricetown Canyon, is where the Bulkley River forces its way through a narrow rock gorge right beside Highway 16. Visitors describe fast, loud water, carved rock walls and clear pools, and many say it's worth stopping even outside the salmon season.
The canyon is a traditional fishing site of the Wet'suwet'en people. During the salmon runs, travellers can watch local fishers working with long poles and nets at the rapids and fish ladders, and see fish being cleaned and smoked nearby. One visitor noted the salmon isn't for sale.
This is a community fishery, not a public angling spot. BC's freshwater regulations bar angling from boats in the canyon and just below it, and the Bulkley is a classified steelhead river with a bait ban. Anglers who want to fish nearby should check the current regulations and ask the Witset First Nation about access below the canyon.
Parking is across a small single-lane bridge on the far side of the canyon, and there appears to be an outhouse. A museum on Wet'suwet'en life and art and a small church are nearby. Take care near the edge: one reviewer warned that footing is uneven and a slip could be fatal, so keep children and dogs close. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 313 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.