Houston

The Steelhead Capital of the World — a northern BC town on the legendary Bulkley River.

Houston is a small city in the Bulkley Valley of north-central BC, sitting on the banks of the Bulkley River about 70 kilometres west of Smithers. It calls itself the Steelhead Capital of the World — a claim backed by the extraordinary quality of the steelhead fishing in the Bulkley River and its tributaries, which consistently produce some of the largest wild steelhead in BC. The Bulkley River at Houston is one of the premier fly fishing rivers in North America. The river runs clear and cold through a valley of spruce and cottonwood, and the steelhead that run here in fall are legendary for their size and fighting spirit. The Houston area has produced numerous world-record steelhead, and the river draws serious fly fishers from around the world every September and October. Beyond fishing, Houston is a gateway to the wilderness of the Bulkley Valley and the surrounding mountains. The Telkwa Range to the south offers excellent hiking and backcountry skiing, and the Morice River system to the south provides remote fishing and paddling opportunities. The area is rich in wildlife — moose, black bear, grizzly bear, and wolves are all present in the surrounding forests. Houston has a strong forestry heritage and a practical, community-minded character typical of northern BC resource towns. The community has invested in its outdoor recreation infrastructure, and the network of trails around town makes it a pleasant base for exploring the Bulkley Valley. The world's largest fly fishing rod — a 18-metre fibreglass replica — stands in the town centre as a monument to Houston's fishing heritage.