Small Towns in British Columbia Quiz

Answer: Keremeos

Keremeos has an annual rodeo and some of the best fruit stands you'll ever run across. It is right under K-mountain where rock slides form the first letter of its name.

Answer: Hazelton

Hazelton is also the one farthest north as the highway follows the Skeena River. Hazelton has an 'old town' and a 'new town', and is worth driving the extra miles from the others listed.

Answer: Sparwood

Sparwood is the last stop on Highway 3 before the Crowsnest Pass and Alberta. If you have seen the coal port near the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen south of Vancouver, most of the coal comes by rail all the way from places like Sparwood.

Answer: Dawson Creek

Dawson Creek is the subject of many postcards showing the mileage from Mile 0 to many points along the Alaska Highway. I once had a bumper sticker which said - I drove the Alaska Highway. You would need to begin and end at Dawson Creek to do that.

Answer: Spuzzum

Hell's Gate is not a town. Then again Spuzzum isn't that big either. When compared with the town of Hope, down river, Spuzzum is often referred to as beyond Hope, but not yet to Hell's Gate. Stop in at Spuzzum to go to the only cafe in town - actually one of the only structures in town!

Answer: Lower Post

Although Atlin Lake is way up there, the Yukon border at 60 degrees is just a short walk along the Alaska Highway from Lower Post.

Answer: Naramata

Yes, it is possible to get from Naramata to Kelowna on the east side of the lake - I've done it without four wheel drive. Regardless you still have to go through Naramata. However, the sane way of going is on the west side through Summerland and Peachland. Vernon is north of Kelowna.

Answer: Golden

Golden is the last major stop before heading into Alberta. Oh yes, you still have to go through Field BC at the bottom of the 'Big Hill' where a lot of trains wrecked before the Spiral Tunnel was put in at Kicking Horse pass.

Answer: Field

Banff is in Alberta. Also, if you read the interesting tidbit about the last question, you have the info about Field.

Answer: Vernon

Silver Star is a jewel in the mountains just to the east and up from Vernon. The views are stunning of the Okanagan in the summer when you're driving down.

Answer: Powell River

Powell River is a ferry ride away from the Sechelt peninsula across Jervis Inlet. As isolated as the Sunshine Coast is -ie. the Sechelt peninsula - Powell River is off on its own. You need to take two ferries to get there from Vanouver, and only one from Comox on Vancouver Island.

Answer: Alert Bay

Alert Bay is on Cormorant Island, a ferry ride from Port McNeill. It was a stop on the shipping lanes of the 20s and 30s in the 20th Century and is home to the Nimpkish first nations people. There is also a major hospital and aircraft landing strip on Cormorant Island.

Answer: Sandspit

All four are on the Queen Charlotte Islands - Haida Gwaii - but Sandspit is on the south Island. Masset is at the north end of the North Island, Queen Charlotte City is at the south end and Tlell is a jewel halfway inbetween.

Answer: Terrace

Terrace is on the Skeena River, Port Alberni is at the east end of the Alberni Canal off of Pacific Ocean tidewater, Squamish is at the north end of Howe Sound north of Vancouver, and Bella Coola is at the end of Burke Channel on the Inside Passage. between Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert.

Answer: Valemount

Valemount is south of the Tete Jeune junction which goes eastward to Jasper and west to Prince George. Vanderhoof is only an hour west of Prince George and Mackenzie is to the north - none of them farther than Valemount.

Answer: Stewart

The only road access to Hyder, Alaska, is through Stewart BC at the top of the Portland canal. Hyderized? Let's put it this way... British Columbia has liquor laws, but to Canadian sensibilities across the undefended border into Alaska, Canadians get the feeling that there are none in Hyder.

They brew a concoction of liquor for sale there that leaves you, well ... Hyderized. You would need to go through Bennett to get to Skagway Alaska.

Answer: Dawson Creek

Sorry for two answers which are Dawson Creek, but I like the town! There is a huge difference of opinion on the pronounciation of Pouce Coupe - poose (rhymes with moose) coo-pay (rhymes with toupee), or poose coo-pee?

Answer: Salmon Arm

Not exactly twin cities, but Canoe and Salmon Arm make quite a jewel on the Shuswap Lakes.

Answer: Grand Forks

At least you were forced to consider Alaska to get this one, but Grand Forks is nestled almost at the 49th parallel. Highway 3 has to climb some mountains to get there from Osoyoos because the natural valleys are all too far to the south. Make sure your brakes are good if you drive to Grand Forks.

Answer: 125 Mile House

All except 125 Mile House, which does not exist, are the stated distance from Lillooet BC as measured along the old Cariboo Trail. Of course, you could render this question wrong by pacing out 125 miles along the old Cariboo Trail and starting your own town!