Dawson Creek

Around Dawson Creek

Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · British Columbia · 17k people

Dawson Creek

Locals say South Peace · “Mile 0 City”, “Capital of the Peace”

The friendly start of the Alaska Highway.

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Welcome to Dawson Creek, where the Alaska Highway begins and the Peace Country stretches wide. Come for the small-town charm, stay for the big skies and friendly faces.

Clubs for Dawson Creek

No clubs for Dawson Creek yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Dawson Creek. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Dawson Creek. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Alaska Highway Mile 0 Monument The official starting point of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek.
  • Kiskatinaw Bridge Historic curved wooden trestle bridge on the original Alaska Highway route.
  • Walter Wright Pioneer Village Open-air heritage museum with pioneer-era buildings and artifacts.
  • Tumbler Ridge Museum Showcases local paleontology, including dinosaur fossils and trackways.
  • Tumbler Ridge Geopark A UNESCO Global Geopark with waterfalls, canyons, and dinosaur sites.
  • Dawson Creek Art Gallery Local art exhibitions in a historic building near the Mile 0 monument.
  • Outdoors Hike the Tumbler Ridge Geopark trails to Kinuseo Falls
  • Outdoors Camp and fish at Kiskatinaw River Provincial Park
  • With kids Explore Walter Wright Pioneer Village
  • With kids See dinosaur trackways at Tumbler Ridge Geopark
  • Evenings Catch a concert or hockey game at the Ovintiv Events Centre
  • Evenings Stargaze at the Tumbler Ridge Geopark
  • Locals love Lakes and reservoirs
  • Locals love Hiking trails

Through the year

  • Dawson Creek Fall Fair August Agricultural fair with livestock, exhibits, and midway rides.
  • Chetwynd Chainsaw Carving Championship June Carvers compete to create sculptures from logs, with works displayed around town.
  • Tumbler Ridge Dinosaur Discovery Days July Family-friendly weekend of fossil hikes, talks, and kids' activities.
  • South Peace Regional Rodeo Summer Rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and chuckwagon events.

Continental climate with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. Best time to be out is June through August. Best: Summer (June to August) is the best time to be out, with warm days and long daylight.

Talk like a local

“Mile 0”
The start of the Alaska Highway; often used to refer to Dawson Creek itself.
“The Peace”
The Peace Country region, especially the South Peace.
“Bush”
The wilderness or forested backcountry.
“Muskeg”
Boggy, swampy ground common in the area.

Getaways

  • Fort St. John The neighbouring Peace Country city, 66 km north.
  • Grande Prairie Larger city in Alberta, 112 km east, with more shopping and dining.
  • Prince George Regional hub to the west, 261 km, with airport and big-city amenities.

Local flavour

Rooting for Vancouver Canucks (NHL), Edmonton Oilers (NHL), Calgary Flames (NHL), BC Lions (CFL), Edmonton Elks (CFL), Calgary Stampeders (CFL)

Eat and drink

  • Perogies
  • Bison burgers Local ranching and wild game influence.
  • Saskatoon berry pie Prairie berry used in desserts, common in the Peace region.

Where people go

  • Mile 0 markers The iconic start of the Alaska Highway, a symbol of the town.
  • Grain elevators Classic prairie sentinels that dot the landscape.
  • Northern lights viewpoints Dark skies away from town for aurora watching.
  • Wilderness lodges Rustic getaways for hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling.

Heritage and traditions

The South Peace is proud of its frontier spirit, the Alaska Highway heritage, and the rugged natural beauty of the Peace River country, from dinosaur tracks to the northern lights.

This time of year in Dawson Creek

  • Hunting season fall Moose and deer hunting in the fall.
  • Harvest festivals fall Community celebrations of the fall grain harvest.

Say it like a local: “Toque” — A knitted winter hat.

Landmarks with a story

  • Alaska Highway House An interpretive centre in Dawson Creek telling the story of the highway's construction.
  • Northern Alberta Railway Park Features vintage railway cars and a station, recalling the rail era.
  • Peace River The mighty river that gives the region its name, a natural heritage landmark.

Food traditions

  • Bannock Traditional Indigenous bread, often cooked over a fire at community gatherings.
  • Cabbage rolls (holubtsi) Brought by Ukrainian settlers, a staple at family dinners and church bazaars.
  • Moose stew Wild game from the northern forests, slow-cooked with root vegetables.
  • Chokecherry jam Made from wild berries, a sweet-tart treat spread on toast or bannock.
  • Freshwater fish fry Pickerel (walleye) from local lakes, fried over an open fire in summer.

Music and arts

  • Chainsaw carving Chetwynd is renowned for its annual carving championship and public sculptures.
  • Country and western music A strong local scene with dances and jamborees.
  • Indigenous art and crafts Traditional beadwork, carving, and storytelling are part of the region's heritage.
  • Northern lights photography The aurora borealis inspires local photographers in winter.

A little history

  • 1942 Construction of the Alaska Highway begins, making Dawson Creek Mile 0.
  • 1919 Dawson Creek is founded as a farming community.
  • 1920s Ukrainian and Scandinavian settlers arrive, shaping local culture.
  • 1980s Dinosaur trackways discovered near Tumbler Ridge.
  • 2014 Tumbler Ridge Geopark receives UNESCO Global Geopark status.

Rivalries

  • Dawson Creek vs Fort St. John Friendly argument over which is the true hub of the Peace Country.
  • Game day Hockey
  • Game day Curling
  • Outdoors Ice fishing on Swan Lake
  • Outdoors Snowshoeing in the boreal forest
  • With kids Feeding ducks at the local park
  • With kids Building snowmen in winter

People speak with a Canadian accent, tinged with prairie influences. They often say 'eh' and use 'pop' for soft drinks. Winter gear is called a 'toque', and the wilderness is 'the bush'.

Only here

  • The Mile 0 marker of the Alaska Highway.
  • The northern lights visible in winter.
  • Dinosaur trackways at Tumbler Ridge.
  • The chainsaw carvings in Chetwynd.
New here? A few tips
  • Dress in layers; winters are cold and long, with temperatures often below -20°C.
  • Learn to drive on icy roads; studded tires are common from November to March.
  • Try perogies and bannock at local events and community dinners.
  • Explore the Tumbler Ridge Geopark for dinosaur tracks and stunning waterfalls.
  • Get a library card; it's a great way to meet people and learn about local events.

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Nearby

Every area
Fort St. JohnBritish ColumbiaThe heart of the Peace River CountryGrande PrairieAlbertaWhere the prairies meet the north, and the sky goes on forever.Mackenzie and the Robson ValleyBritish ColumbiaA quiet place with a big viewPeace CountryAlbertaWhere the river runs wide and the northern lights dance.

Dawson Creek. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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