Staff Pick

Road Trip Stewart-Cassiar – Highway 37, Alaska Hwy Alternative

Kitwanga Watson Lake
870
km
12h
drive
Summer
season

The Itinerary

Stewart-Cassiar Highway (BC-37) is the scenic alternative to the Alaska Highway for those reaching Yukon from BC. 870 km shorter and far less travelled, it crosses some of Canada's wildest landscapes — Coast and Skeena ranges, glaciers, ubiquitous grizzly bears.

From Kitwanga (Highway 16 junction), the route runs north through Iskut, Dease Lake and Good Hope Lake. A must-do detour: Highway 37A to Stewart (BC) and Hyder (Alaska, USA) — 65 km past Bear Glacier, a hanging glacier visible from the road. At Hyder, the Fish Creek viewing platform lets you watch grizzlies fish salmon (July-September).

Services are rare: fuel up at Iskut, Dease Lake and Jade City. Jade City — world capital of the Canadian jade industry (90% of global production) — is a surreal mini-attraction. The terminus is at Watson Lake (Yukon), famous for the Sign Post Forest started in 1942 by an American Alaska Highway soldier — 80,000+ signs from around the world today.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Bear Glacier
    Hanging glacier visible from Highway 37A Stewart.
  • ✦
    Hyder Fish Creek
    Grizzly bear viewing platform on salmon-fishing creek.
  • ✦
    Jade City
    World capital of Canadian jade, 90% of production.
  • ✦
    Sign Post Forest
    80,000 signposts at Watson Lake, started 1942.
Practical info
  • Departure Kitwanga
  • Destination Watson Lake
  • Distance 870 km
  • Duration 12h
  • Category Very long (500+ km)
  • Best season Summer
Themes
epic grizzly Glacier alaska northern-bc adventure scenic-drive unique

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