Get to Know
The Hazeltons
More quaint than their neighbours and arguably the most picturesque – the Hazeltons are a collection of communities full of potential that have been shaped by their roots in First Nations and pioneer culture.
1,052
Population (2021 census)
28 km²
Area
209,900
Avg. Housing Price (2024)
Humid Continental
Climate
The Hazeltons, BC
Some of the most quaint and picturesque areas of Northwest BC are in the Hazeltons, named after the hazel bushes that grow thick in the area. Made up of several communities – the District of New Hazelton, the Village of Hazelton, South Hazelton, and Two Mile – the Hazeltons offer a unique blend of small-town charm and nature. And with several Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en communities nearby, the Hazeltons are strongly rooted in First Nations culture.
Incorporated in 1866, the Bulkley River and Skeena River flow through the Hazeltons, which sit at the base of the magnificent Stegyawden (Hagwilget Peak or Roche de Boule Mountain Range). The historic Hagwilget Canyon Bridge is a single-lane steel suspension bridge and a favorite among locals and tourists alike for its exhilarating and very scenic crossing high above the Bulkley River.
The Hazelton area has been the traditional territory of the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en First Nations for over 7,000 years.
Opportunity
There is big potential in the Hazeltons. Combined, the communities have the necessary conditions for successful tourism businesses. While more rural than neighboring communities like Smithers or Terrace, the Hazeltons have fiber optic internet and logistical infrastructure in place for prospective businesses. The Hazeltons offer you all the beauty of a rural lifestyle combined with the opportunity to work remotely, operate your home-based business, or study online.
Officials are also working to attract new businesses, permanent professionals, and specialists. Anyone looking to set up a Northwest BC hub for their business should consider the Hazeltons for office options. As the Hazeltons grow, service industry entrepreneurs would be savvy to capitalize on this growing community and open restaurants and pubs. Much-needed roles to be filled include physicians, social workers, and caregivers.
And while the population of the Hazeltons is small, the area is part of a larger population throughout the region and often sees visitors from neighboring communities like the Kispiox Valley, Two Mile, and the Kitwanga area.
Hot tip: land in the Hazeltons is relatively inexpensive! $5,000 to $10,000 can get you a serviced lot in New Hazelton. Plus, with a local hardware store in the Hazeltons and bigger supply stores in nearby Smithers and Terrace, renovations and home improvement projects are made easy!
Lifestyle
The Hazeltons are friendly, welcoming communities shaped by First Nations and early settler cultures. The Village of Hazelton is located adjacent to the village of Gitanmaax, where the original settlers in the area first arrived; over time, the Village of Hazelton grew from this early settlement. The Hazeltons’ amenities serve several neighbouring villages, such as the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en communities of Hagwilget, Gitanyow, Kitwanga, Gitsegukla, Glen Vowell, Kispiox, Witset.
Surrounding nature and wilderness provide easy access and endless adventures for outdoor enthusiasts. There are simply no words to describe the gorgeous Blue Lake. Popular activities include hiking, boating, cat skiing, heliskiing, and, of course, world-class fishing.
In fact, right up the river, there are exclusive fishing lodges, a popular attraction for fishing enthusiasts far and wide. Imagine living right near the stunning, meandering, wide rivers teeming with fish that flow through the Hazeltons that people travel the world to experience!
The Hazeltons enjoy strong, welcoming communities. Farming plays an integral role in the economy of the Hazeltons. From May through September, the Hazelton Farmers’ Market sells only what is produced or grown in the Hazeltons and surrounding communities!
Amenities
The Hazeltons enjoy a very appealing community layout.
Indoor community spaces include a library and the brand new, state-of-the-art, 54,000-square-foot Upper Skeena Recreation Centre. Wrinch Memorial Hospital provides acute, complex, and community care and assisted living to the Hazeltons and beyond.
Known as the Totem Pole Capital of the World for the many Gitxsan Laxyip totem poles spread throughout the area, the Hazeltons have many points of historical importance, including the world-renowned Ksan Historical Village and Museum, and one of the highest suspension bridges in Canada, the spectacular Hagwilget Bridge.
The Hazeltons are located just 1.5 hours east of Terrace and only 45 minutes northwest of Smithers, with New Hazelton and South Hazelton situated right on Highway 16. The Hazeltons are serviced by Transit BC, operating within and between communities all the way to neighboring Terrace and Smithers.
New Hazelton also has a Coast Mountain College satellite campus, providing access to post-secondary education.
I returned to my hometown as an adult and I can truly say the Hazeltons are rural living at its finest. My breath is still taken away when I look from any vantage point – be it my office or living room – and see the towering Stegyawden (Hagwilget Peak or Roche de Boule Mountain Range). Health care is easily accessible and a brand new recreation facility was just built. I'm only a short drive from more urban centers, which provides the best of both worlds!
Wendy Hunt, Chief Administrative Officer - District of New Hazelton
Learn More About
The Hazeltons:
Key Industries
- Public administration
- Tourism
- Forestry
Key Attractions
- First Nations historical sites
- Winter sports
- River fishing
Indigenous Territory
- Gitx̱san Lax̱yip (Gitxsan Nation)
- Wet’suwet’en First Nation
Key Geography
- Stegyawden (Hagwilget Peak or Roche de Boule Mountain Range)
