Butze Rapid Trail — Attraction in Prince Rupert

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,...

Relative to Tall Tree Trail, Butze Rapid Trail was well kept and easy-going. For the most part, the slopes were gentle and I didn't come across any significantly muddy areas. The walk through the trail was littered with bite-sized scenic stops, taking my girlfriend and I approximately 2.5 - 3 hours (including a picnic, and stopping every few minutes to take pictures) to complete.

Unlike Tall Tree Trail (where the hike sometimes got grueling and offered comparatively little to see until the end), Butze didn't have much of a singular breath-taking 'wow' moment to offer, and getting through it offered little in terms of feeling a sense of 'accomplishment'.

If you want a relaxing 'walk' type of a hike where you can stop every now and then to admire neat formations/views, this trail is perfect for that pace (especially if someone very young or not at peak health is involved). If you're looking for a more rigorous challenge and an epic view at the top, Tall Tree Trail would be a better match, and it's practically right across the street (*I wrote a review coupled with images for that one too, so feel free to check it out for comparison).

NOTE: I did not encounter any wild animals throughout...

What an absolute treasure for the locals! For having to work near Prince Rupert, it was going to be an overall new experience.

I was happy to have passed the Butze Rapid Trail sign a few times, and in passing, the curiosity finally peaked.

Went out for a mid to late day hike through the winding footpath, and it was an absolutely awe inspiring experience.

The pathway is well maintained / there were a couple steeper spots throughout the trail, but as long as you have some good tread on your soles, you should do fine.

The viewpoints, and vistas of the certain areas you get to see are breathtaking, especially when you get the sunset backing the view of the mountains and river / Rapids.

As an amateur hiker, I was expecting the journey (with photo opportunities) to take around 2-2.5hrs. I was able to take as many photos as my heart could desire, and stop at the amazing rest stops / side views that dot this trail in about 1.5hrs.

This is one spot in BC I will absolutely be bragging to all my friends about having the...