Current Travel Info

Come and Play in the Great Outdoors

Princeton (pop 2,826), the largest community in the Valley, sits at the junction of the Similkameen and Tulameen Rivers. Princeton is also at the junction of BC Highways 3 and 5A. It’s a 90-minute drive from the Okanagan Valley and a three-hour drive from the Lower Mainland via Hwy 3-Crowsnest Hwy. In a hurry to be here? Fly charter or private planes into the Princeton Airport.

Heron sculpture and fountain
Heron sculpture and fountain

Recognized as the Bronze Statue Capital of Canada, Princeton and its surrounding areas are known for excellent outdoor recreation. Choose from many trails including the Hudson’s Bay Company Trail, China Ridge Trails, and the historic Dewdney Trail. Snap photos of wildlife at the Swan Lake Nature Reserve. Fish in nearby lakes. Learn about the rich mining and pioneer history at the Princeton Museum. Experience the welcoming local hospitality at the many family-operated restaurants and unique shops. Pan the river for gold – that you can keep!

Stop at the Visitor Centre & Gift Shop for location maps and more information on all activities. Some sections of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail are closed near the Princeton area due to flooding damage in 2021. Contact the Princeton Visitor Centre for the latest information and, when you are there experience the Virtual Reality Room where you can kayak the Similkameen River and view the Red Ochre Bluffs.

Princeton Top 10 List

  1. Play 18 holes of golf.
  2. Go bird watching at the Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary.
  3. Enjoy BC’s largest Jet Wind Vane at the corner of Hwy 5A and Airport Road.
  4. Fish at one of the nearby 49 lakes and 2 rivers for rainbow and brook trout.
  5. Meander down the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers by canoe, kayak, or tube.
  6. Hike or bike the Kettle Valley Rail Trail / Great Trail and China Ridge Trails. (Check with the Visitor Centre for what’s open)
  7. Discover First Nations heritage and learn about fur traders at the Princeton Museum.
  8. Take in the Princeton Traditional Music festival or the Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo.
  9. ATV and snowmobile in the backcountry (check with Visitor Centre for assigned areas).
  10. Snowshoe or cross-country ski in the winter and hike, mountain bike or horseback in the summer at China Ridge.

View Princeton Location Map

Princeton map
Princeton walking tour
Princeton sculpture tour

Visitor Info Centre
Princeton Area

105 Hwy #3 East, Princeton, BC
250-295-3103

Bridge of Dreams, Princeton
Bridge of Dreams, Princeton

Get Out and Play!

Folks come to Princeton to get away from it all. It’s where our region gets its “wild west” character. Being surrounded by ranchlands, you might even run into a real, live cowboy!

Rivers, mountains, and lakes are all a stone’s throw from the town centre. There is an abundance of outdoor recreational activities here: legendary fishing, cycling the Kettle Valley Rail Trail portion of the Trans Canada Trail, hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding on the China Ridge Trails. Pack the clubs and get in a round or two of golf at our 18–hole course. Slow down and take a leisurely float down the Similkameen River, or paddle your way to bliss on the lakes and rivers in the area. At night, sit back, relax and count the stars.

Welcome to Princeton
Welcome to Princeton

Ready for a winter adventure? Perfect. Playing outside is what it’s all about. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are big here. The Thompson Plateau at China Ridge is ideal for cross-country skiing, just 8.5 km (5 mi) from downtown Princeton. Deep powder on the surrounding mountains makes the town a snowmobiling destination from November to April.

Cross Country skiing China Ridge
China Ridge

Road trips are another great way to explore the area. Make sure you fuel up before leaving Princeton to explore local backcountry roads.

Electric Car Charging

PRINCETON – LEVEL 2 AND DC FAST
  • Princeton Plaza, 114 Tappton Avenue, CHAdeMO DCFC, CCS DCFC ports. Open 24 hours, $0.35/kWh. Greenlots RFID or App required. Station ID #33084
  • Princeton Visitor Centre – 169 Bridge St., EV Plug
(J1772), CHAdeMO DCFC, 2 Tesla Model S / Model Xs, CCS DCFC ports.
  • The Copper Pit Restaurant – 157 Vermillion Ave., Tesla Model S / Model X ports.

Take your time, get a bite to eat, take a walk in the town, or stretch your legs and take a short hike along the Similkameen River on the Trans Canada Trail.

Billy's Family Restaurant, Princeton
Good Eats in Princeton

Eateries Galore

You’ll find plenty to eat here too! Many top-notch chefs and bakers can be found creating amazing dishes for the locals and visitors alike. Take your pick from funky coffee shops, quaint bakeries, traditional pubs and restaurants. Don’t be afraid to ask the locals about their favourite restaurant. They’ll be happy to share…and probably see you there for a drink later on!

Bronze Sculpture Capital of Canada
Bronze Sculpture Capital of Canada

Discover 22 magnificent bronze statues on a walking tour that has made Princeton the Bronze Sculpture Capital of Canada. Envision a dramatic episode in the life of an Indigenous trapper captured in “The Mountain Man” and imagine a past life. Get up close and personal with a variety of full-sized wild animals common in the area. Finish your tour at a local bistro or café. Start at the Princeton Visitor Centre where you can pick up your tour map or download the “On This Spot” app.

Rich in History

History buffs will love the rich history of Princeton. This area was home to First Nations for many millennia before the arrival of the first settlers. Known today as the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the original inhabitants were hard-working miners and traders of ochre and chert. As far away as the prairies, Washington and Oregon, people brought goods to the Similkameen to trade for the sacred ochre, used for making ceremonial paint.

There is evidence the Similkameen People were here 7,500 years ago. First Nations legend has them here from the beginning of time. Visit the Princeton Museum and discover portraits and exhibits of the Similkameen People.

The first non-indigenous settlers moved here in the 1800s, looking for gold and platinum. Once the gold rush died out, many stayed and began ranching in the area. Colourful characters, like cattle rustler Jack Budd and train robber Billy Miner, both lived here.

Downtown Princeton
Downtown Princeton

Come Celebrate with Us

Key Annual Events for the Princeton Area

  • February – Family Day Fun
  • May – Crimson Tine Players Small Town Theatre Production
  • May – Meadowlark Nature Festival
  • June – Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo
  • July – Rotary Parade, Princeton Ambassador Coronation, Auto Show & Shine, Ball Buster Tournament, pancake breakfast & duck race, dance, and more!
  • July – Canada Day
  • August – Princeton Show & Shine
  • August Long Weekend – Tulameen Family Fun Days
  • August – Princeton Traditional Music Festival
  • September – Princeton Agricultural Fall Fair
  • October – Halloween Family Festival
  • November 11 – Remembrance Day at Veteran’s Square
  • November – Crimson Tine Players Small Town Theatre Production
  • November – Christmas Light-up at Veteran’s Square

Where to Stay in and Around Princeton

For accommodations, Princeton and the surrounding area have family run hotels and motels, as well as countryside B & Bs, RV resorts, Provincial park campsites and cabin rentals.

In Case of Emergency

Medical emergencies of the human kind are looked after at the Princeton General Hospital and for emergencies involving pets, there is the Cascade Veterinary Clinic.

Contact us or visit our service directory for a complete listing of businesses and services in the Princeton area.

Operator Directory View Map

 
A & W Princeton
235 Hwy 3, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Ace Motel
130 Bridge Street, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Ace Motel is situated in downtown Princeton where it is conveniently located close to the town's restaurants, supe […]

Bull & Butterfly
Box 1242, 213 Bridge St Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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We welcome you to our Boutique Home Décor and Gift store located in the heart of Princeton, BC. Open Tuesday thro […]
 
Cedars Motel
139 3rd Street (PO Box 567) Princeton BC Canada V0X 1W0
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Single or two level motel. Clean and modernized. Off Highway but central to restaurants. Air conditioned with frid […]

China Ridge Recreation Area
8.5 km NW of Princeton, BC
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The China Ridge all season recreation area is a unique gem and true wonderland located near Princeton British Colu […]

Cool Beanz Coffee House
#9-136 Tapton Avenue, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Whether staying in Princeton or simply passing thru, stop in for a specialty coffee, tea, latte, brewed coffee and […]

Copper Mountain Inn & Suites
169 BC-3, Princeton, BC, Canada
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Stay with Us in Comfort! Enjoy the comforts of easy travel while you stay in Princeton. Welcome to Copper Mountai […]

Deerview Lodge & Cabins
398 Highway 3 W BOX 748 Princeton BC V0X 1W0
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The Deerview Lodge and Cabins are designed for short term or long term rentals. We rent by the week or the month o […]

Evergreen Motel
250 Highway #3 E (P.O. Box 59) Princeton BC V0X 1W0
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Whether spending a weekend in Princeton or traveling through, we invite you to stay at our quiet, family owned and […]
 
Everything Pets
#4 - 136 Tapton Ave, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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JamBusters!
34 Bar St, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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Home-based business producing jams, jellies and preserves with an emphasis on peppers in the recipe (hot and not). […]
 

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Jellicoe Station Inn Bed & Breakfast
3462 Princeton Summerland Highway, RR#1, Site 8, Compartment 7, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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PROPERTY FOR SALE Welcome to Jellicoe Station, a luxurious Inn nesting on the edge of a mountain with spectcular […]
 
Little Creek Grill
117 Bridge St, Princeton, BC, Canada
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Pizza Place, Gluten-Free Restaurant, Steakhouse

Looseink Freelancers
34 Bar Street (PO Box 956), Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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Freelance web content writing service with an emphasis on SEO. Established in 2014 and featuring a client base in […]

Princeton ATV Tours
2813 Old Hedley Road, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Engage in a scenic guided ATV tour through the beautiful Similkameen Valley! We offer hourly tours, special beginn […]


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Princeton Country Kitchen
245 Vermilion Ave, Princeton, BC, Canada
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Princeton Golf Club & RV Resort
365 Darcy Mountain Road (PO Box 1346) Princeton BC Canada V0X 1W0
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Established in 1928, the Princeton Golf Club has developed into one of the BC Interior´s best hidden secrets. Loca […]
 
Princeton Municipal RV Park and Campground
365 BC-3, Princeton, BC V0X1W0
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Nestled along the Similkameen River the Princeton Municipal RV Park and Campsite hosts is open year-round and has […]
 
Princeton Museum
167 Vermilion Ave (PO Box 281), Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Take a walk-through time with presentation exhibits that are interactive and engaging, see gallery exhibits that S […]
 
Princeton Visitor Centre
169 Bridge Street (Box 670) Princeton BC Canada V0X 1W0
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Stop in for a visit. We are situated right in the heart of downtown Princeton with a large parking lot at the rear […]

Reflection Creek Ranch
422 Huey Rd, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Reflection Creek Ranch holds an intention, and a rather bold one. We like to think of it as a container. A Space h […]

RockRidge Canyon Camp and Conference Centre
2000 Willies Ranch Road (Box 1299) Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Group retreats of 50-350 can be accommodated at our lakeside resort. Family reunions, corporate team building, and […]

Sandman Inn Princeton
102 Frontage Road, Princeton, BC V0X1W0, Canada
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Nestled between fresh-flowing Tulameen and Similkameen rivers, and surrounded by the nearby Cascade Mountains, Pri […]

Subway Princeton
245 Hwy 3 (PO Box 1408) Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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The Copper Pit
157 Vermillion Ave, Princeton, British Columbia, Canada
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We are a full service restaurant serving Southern style BBQ as well as many of your other favourite entrees, appet […]

The Winking Pedlar
8 - 136 Tapton Avenue, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0, Canada
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Known as ”The Little Store with Character” we are your one stop shop for giftware, souvenirs, jewelry and many ite […]

Thomasina's
279 Bridge St, Princeton, BC V0X 1W0
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Inspired by the Danish film “Babette´s Feast”, Thomasina's offers a quiet spot to connect...with yourself, your co […]

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