Butze Rapid Trail - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

Martine M.

Une forêt magique, beau sentier

Jessica W.

Beautiful trail away from the cruise terminal to get some great views and quiet time in nature. Only a 10 minute taxi ride to the trailhead from the cruise ships. The trail is a rock paved path with lots of inclines/declines with scattered steps throughout. The trail follows a hair pin path, that loops through. Depending on what direction of the loop you start with, you won’t miss any scenery. Only took us about 1.5 hours. If you’re a slow hiker, plan for 2-2.25hrs. There are areas to lookout and walkout to the water. Highly recommend if you’re visiting Prince Rupert!

Nancy L.

This is one of our favorite parks to hike whenever we're in town. The trails are well maintained with a few hilly sections that add a bit of a challenge. We especially love Grassy Bay, a peaceful spot where we spotted an eagle and a couple of Great Blue Herons wading along the shoreline. It’s a beautiful place to slow down and enjoy nature. The mix of forest, water, and wildlife makes each visit feel special, no matter the season. This park never disappoints.

Rozalyn A.

I was a bit disappointed with this trail. We walked it specifically to see the rapids. It was a very nice walk thru the woods on a well maintained gravel path usually 2 to 3 feet wide, with only a few roots, but lots of moss covered trees and interesting ferns and plants. It had rained the previous two days so there were a few small mud puddles that were hard to avoid. It was slightly downhill on the way to the rapids so of course uphill on the way back. We just did an in and out to the rapids, we didn't do the loop, so I can't comment on the rest of the trail.

I had checked several websites about the best time to see the rapids and they all just said to check the tide tables, but they didn't say what to check for. I asked at the visitors center and they said try to be there an hour after the tide changes. A high tide of 19 ft was at 4:40 pm, and we got to the view point at 5:30. There was a very small ripple in the water. A sign at the view point (which would be more helpful at the trail head) said the best time to see the rapids is with a high tide of 15 to 19 feet. We met a local who was walking by and she said the water stays pretty calm for the first hour after the high tide and we need to wait at least another hour to see the rapids. We waited until 6:40 pm and finally left as we were getting hungry. By that time there was a little bit of white water, but it was pretty far away so hard to see. So I don't know if this will be true every time but based on our experience I would suggest to arrive 60 to 90 minutes after a high tide of at least 15 ft, and maybe bring binoculars.

If you are just looking for a nice walk in the woods, then this is good for that, at any time.

Haley S.

My family and I did this hike today in the pouring rain. It's a spectacular hike if you're prepared. However, we did not find the rapids to be the highlight of the hike; but our timing was not good to catch the reverse flow so perhaps at a different time of day this would have been more stunning.

We hiked about 3.7 miles/5.9km and did about 650 ft./200m. in elevation gain. We had an 18mo. old toddler and a 6yr old kid with us and it took us 3hrs with many stops. The trail is mostly gravel and has many roots and larger stones. We would rate it as a moderate hike with many ups and downs. We don't think even a rugged stroller like a BOB could have traversed the entire trail. There were SO many red and black huckleberries as well as salmon berries which kept the little ones going looking for more! There are also several beach access points which are very fun, especially at low tide. We also discovered some rope swings which were secure and fun to use. Overall it was a scenic, beautiful hike and we would recommend it!

David W.

Nice easy walking trail that leads to the rapids. Downhill from the parking lot with a bit of a climb back up. Good trail for walking or running with beautiful views in the forest and along the water. Definitely worth a visit if in Prince Rupert.

Bryson H.

Excellent trail, listed at 5.2km. trail is very well maintained, with minimal roots and large rocks. Well built bridges and wooden features where required. We completed it in around 1.5 hrs

The scenery was quite varied, offering views of many different plant species and ecosystems. Some informative signage along the way.

Mark D.

Great trail some steep parts but an absolute great vibe through the forest.