Stewart-Cassiar Highway

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The British Columbia Highway 37 is a road link in the hinterland of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, which establishes a connection between the Yellowhead Highway and the Alaska Highway. The northern section between Kitwanga and the junction with the Alaska Highway is also called the Cassiar Highway or Stewart - Cassiar Highway.

Course

The highway, which is the only road connecting the north- west of the province with the exception of the Atlin Road ( Yukon Highway 7 ), a short section of the South Klondike Highway, and a short section of the Haines Highway (Alaska Highway 7/Yukon Highway 3 ), is an alternative route the Alaska Highway. The actual Highway 37 is divided into the following sections:

  • Highway 37 South between Kitimat and Thornhill (61 miles)
  • 37/Highway Highway 16 between Thornhill and Kitwanga (91 miles)
  • Highway 37 North between Kitwanga and the border with the Yukon Territory (720 miles)
  • Yukon Highway 37 between the British Columbia border and Highway 37 Services on the Alaska Highway (4 km)

In the middle section of the highway between Thornhill and the bridge to Kitwanga the road corresponds to the Yellowhead Highway in the valley of the Skeena River.

The the system of highways 37 scoring branch lines have the following course:

  • Highway 37 A ( also Stewart Glacier Highway or Highway called ) between Meziadin Junction and Stewart / Hyder (Alaska - 65 km )
  • Salmon Glacier Road between Hyder and Summit View Point ( 37 km )
  • Telegraph Creek Road (in some sources referred to as Highway 51) between Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek ( 113 km ) and Glenora ( 130 km )

Highway 37 South

The Highway 37 beginning in had been started in the fifties of the 20th century town of Kitimat, which today has about 9,000 inhabitants and one of the most important ports on the Pacific coast. The road runs for almost 30 miles through the valley of the Kitimat River before it enters at a low pass to the valley of Lakelse River near the Onion Lake. It follows the eastern shore of Lake Lakelse ( Lakelse Lake Provincial Park ) and meets at Thornhill on the south bank of the Skeena River for a distance of about 60.5 km on the Yellowhead Highway, this he follows up Gitwangak.

Cassiar Highway / Highway 37 North

Yellowhead Highway to Meziadin Junction

At km 241 (of Prince Rupert and 479 km from Prince George ) of the Yellowhead Highway to the Cassiar Highway begins with a bridge over the Skeena River. Immediately on the north bank performs a driveway in the easternmost Gitwangak, a camp of the Gitxsan, which is known for its Church of England and its totem poles, which also have the status of a National Historic Site.

4 km after crossing the bridge, an access road west to Kitwanga, 2,5 km to the north followed by a second driveway. Just a few hundred meters further, a road leads east along the north bank of the Skeena River to Hazelton. This track was up to the completion of the bridge over the Skeena River south of Kitwanga to 1979 the main line of the highway.

The road follows for approximately 35 km to the valley of the Kitwanga River, to the east, the Kisipox rises Range, west rise the peaks of the wet Ranges.

After 21 km, the leading west access route to Gitanyow - formerly called Kitwancool - a settlement of the Gitxsan, about 3.5 km away from the street, is reached. This village is famous for the variety and the variety of forms of his totem poles in the whole province, but there are a small museum. Another approach opens at kilometer 26 for 384 km, this is the last settlement on or near the main route of Highway 37

The road passes through the Kitwancool Lake, the old route of the highway leads closer to the lakeshore, but is available only for cars with four-wheel drive. About a not very pronounced pass the route leads through the valley of the Cranberry River, which is crossed for the first time at kilometer 63.

Called Cranberry Junction - - At kilometer 76 the connection with New Aiyansh (62 km) and Terrace (159 km), directly followed by the proper second bridge on the Cranberry River - the junction of FS Road is wet - even Nisga'a Highway called.

The road climbs for a short time, crossed the Derrick Creek and leads down into the valley of the Nass River. At kilometer 86, a high-voltage line of the company BC Hydro crosses the street. From about 108 km is in good visibility in a northwesterly direction, the Cambria Icefield visible.

At kilometer 139, the road reaches the Elsworth Logging Camp, which also provides services for travelers. At kilometer 142, the highway crosses a one-lane 122 -meter-long bridge over the 40 m deeper Nass River. Two other bridges at kilometer 151 and 153 cross the Tintina Creek and Hanna Creek South, in particular, provides the second bridge in July and August an optimal view of spawning sockeye salmon here and they are shown below the grizzly bears.

At kilometer 156 is Meziadin Junction - a small service area - achieved the Highway 37A to Stewart and Hyder turns to the west in the valley of the Strohn Creek off of Hwy 37 bends toward Dease Lake on the right.

The Highway 37 offers in the region between its junction with the Yellowhead Highway and Meziadin Junction access to some nature parks and some places of cultural and historical significance:

  • Kitwanga Mountain Provincial Park
  • Gitwangak Battle Hill - a stronghold of the Gitxsan, now a National Historic Site of Canada
  • Gitanyow - a village of the Gitxsan, now a National Historic Site of Canada
  • Swan Lake Kisipox River Provincial Park
  • Meziadin Lake Provincial Park

The supply of the traveler, the following facilities are available:

  • Km 0 - Gas Station, repairs, shopping, telephone
  • Km 139 - Meziadin Lake General Store - gas station, restaurant, motel, camping, shopping, phone, mail
  • Km 156 - Meziadin Junction Esso - Gas Station, repairs (tires), restaurant, camping

Meziadin Junction to Dease Lake

The section between Meziadin Junction and Dease Lake is one of the loneliest roads in Canada, in this section there are the only two sections that are not attached. The first striking milestone is reached at 165 km with the bridge over the Hanna Creek North, the latter is also known for salmon and bears. West of the line the Mount Pattullo ( 2729 m) rises after 189 km of the Bell - Irving River is crossed for the first time, the Cassiar Highway follows the course of this tributary of the Nass River for about 60 km. West of the road is the Bowser Lake; the Valley of Bowser River, which is fed by the Frank Mackie Glacier, represents a compound of Granduc at the end of the Salmon Glacier Road

Some of the opening into the west of the road running Bell - Irving River rivers to cross on wooden bridges from the construction of this highway, at km 246 is a parking lot at Hodder Lake is reached at which an information stand and a way to pier for boats in the lake offers. The second crossing of the Bell - Irving River takes place at kilometer 249, the street turns briefly to the west and runs along the north bank of the river to Bell II Lodge.

The road climbs now in the narrow valley of the Snowbank Creek the Ningunsaw Pass ( 275 km, 466 m), which separates the river systems of the Nass River and the Stikine River from each other, through the valley of the River Ningunsaw the valley of the Iskut River is reached. The achieved at kilometer 289 Echo Lake offers remnants of the Yukon Telegraph Line and a great view of the Coast Mountains. The Bob Quinn FS Road at kilometer 294 branches off to the west and opened in its extension as Iskut Mining Road an all-weather access to the gold fields southwest of the Ningunsaw River and in the Eskay Creek. Between kilometers 294 and 297 are different facilities that are associated with these mining activities partly as a landing pad for light aircraft and road maintenance, which is in an emergency for repairs.

From km 314, a distinct change in vegetation is visible, while in the previous course dominated the Pacific, temperate rain forest with giant trees of life and hemlock trees, the vegetation of the boreal zone is now visibly in the above, which dominated by black spruce and white spruce is sporadically show lodgepole pine and American aspen. On both sides of the road show the signs of the so-called Iskut burn, a fire that was triggered by a lightning strike, and which in 1958 destroyed an area of ​​about 320 km ² and the largest inventory of blueberries created space. The highway runs through the valley of the Iskut River, east rise the Skeena Mountains, whose peaks - as the RN Mountain ( 2106 m) and Mount Pinhorn ( 2236 m) - partially fall into steep cliffs, to the west, the Spectrum Range rises with the Hankin peak ( 2576 m), at the end of the valley is visible on a clear day in the northwest of Mount Edziza ( 2787 m). The highway will increase slightly, in the upper valley of the Iskut River some larger lakes are reached, a car park is located at kilometer 358, at the starting point of a short trail to Natadesleen Lake, at kilometer 392 opens a road on a twelve kilometer Ealue a Lake.

The first settlement on Highway 37 north of Gitanyow - Iskut - is reached at 406 km. Just a few kilometers north of the approximately 1100 m high pass between Zechtoo Mountain ( 1782 m) and Mount Poelzer ( 2169 m) is overcome, which separates the valleys of the Iskut River and the Stikine River from each other. A viewpoint 17 km north of Iskut offers in good weather a beautiful view of the inactive volcano Mount Edziza and the cinder cone in the solid. Shortly after the descent begins to the Stikine River, which is crossed 437 km for kilometers.

Across the river begins the ascent to the Gnat Pass ( 1241 m, 468 km), east of the highway becomes visible path is from a 1977 discontinued project of the BC Rail Dease Lake to connect to the railway network in Fort St. James. Here, the track bed has been built over long distances, tracks were not laid. The road falls after crossing the pass, which is the highest point of the entire course of the road, steeply towards the Tanzilla River from which is crossed at kilometer 479.

Some roads to serve the local mining projects and forestry, go shortly after crossing the Dalby Creek from the east. The subsequent hill whose summit is crossed at an altitude of 820 m, is the continental divide between the Pacific and the Arctic Ocean. Just one kilometer further north is the town of Dease Lake reached at kilometer 488.

The highway touches on some nature reserves:

  • Ningunsaw Provincial Park
  • Iskut Hot Springs Provincial Park
  • Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park
  • Todagin South Slope Provincial Park
  • Stikine River Provincial Park

In addition, some provincial parks, which reached no access to the road system from the Cassiar Highway from:

  • Mount Edziza Provincial Park
  • Spatsizi Plateau Provincial Wilderness Park

The number of services is limited:

  • Km 249 - Bell II Lodge - gas station, restaurant, motel, camping, shopping, telephone
  • Km 353 - Willow Ridge Resort - motel, camping, shopping
  • Km 391 - Tatogga Lake Resort - gas station, repair, restaurant, motel, camping, shopping, telephone
  • Km 403 - Red Goat Lodge - Motel, Hostel, Camping, telephone
  • Km 406 - Iskut - gas station, repair, restaurant, motel, camping, shopping, post office, telephone
  • Km 408 - Mountain Shadow RV Park & Campground - Motel, Camping, telephone

Dease Lake to the Alaska Highway

North of Dease Lake, the Highway pulls east of the lake, about 40 km long along through a broad valley of the Tanzilla plateau, about 20 km north of the village there is a nice view of the lake, which is up more than ten -pound char at anglers will be appreciated.

At kilometer 532 you can see the remains of the village of Laketon across the lake near the mouth of Dease Creek, which was during the Cassiar gold rush from 1872 to 1880 the seat of the local administration. Even today will be searched in numerous tributaries of the lake for gold. From the northern end of the lake, the road runs for about 50 km in the valley of the Dease River, which forms a transition on the Cassiar Mountains here. This river is a destination for many anglers who here readjust char grayling and pike in the summer.

At kilometer 556 you cross the here for Joe Irwin Lake Dease River widened and changed to its northern shore, at kilometer 563 of the Pine Tree Lake can be reached at the feet of Skree Range. A turn to the west leads to the highway from the valley of the Dease River in the the Cottonwood River, this river is crossed at kilometer 581. The road now leads north over an unnamed pass to a valley in which numerous small lakes such as Lake Simmons, and the Vines Lake, Twin Lakes can be found.

From km 600 amplifies sign of mining activities in the vicinity of the highway are visible again. The massif of the Blackfox Mountain demonstrates the Cusak gold mine, the gold is mined in the area enriched here. Jade City, with the summer around 15 inhabitants, the second largest settlement of this section of road is reached at kilometer 602. The exhibited blocks of green jade come from mostly the Princess Jademine, one of the world's biggest mining areas in the Stikine Ranges of the Cassiar Mountains, approximately 130 km southeast.

After two Cassiar kilometers Junction is reached from here, the Cassiar Road about 15 km to the northeast of the former city Cassiar, which was abandoned in March 1992 after the closure of the local asbestos mine. The city in which another 20 people live, may not be entered. The mine yielded highly pure chrysotile, the current inhabitants are engaged in guarding the property and the reclamation of the mine.

On the reached at kilometer 618 Centreville refers an inscription on left behind on the roadside mine equipment, it was once one of the most important centers of gold mining in the region, the largest nugget of pure gold in British Columbia in 1877 found by Alfred Freeman here, it weighed 72 ounces ( about two kilograms ). Even today this number is still gold mines.

Good Hope Lake, a settlement of the cascade, which was subjected to a significant population decline in recent years - from 75 residents in 2001 to 32 inhabitants in 2006 - is achieved at kilometer 625, long a 14.5 km, unpaved road can McDame Post, a former trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company are achieved at the confluence of McDame Creeks in the Dease River, which is suitable for fishing and hunting.

Along the highway, which again feeds the broad valley of the Dease River, there are several picturesque lakes, Aeroplane Lake ( km 628), Mud Lake ( 632 km ) and Boya Lake ( 639 km ). From km 639 gives an outlook on the Horse Ranch Range ( 2333 meters), an existing rocks from the Cambrian mountain range, which is rich in rare minerals, such as tourmaline, garnet, feldspar and beryl. From km 650 the Cassiar Mountains recede, the highway reaches the valley of the Dease River, which forms the border of the Yukon Plateau here.

In the following section crosses the well-developed road several rivers that flow through the rolling countryside towards the Dease River, leaving the western bank of the Highway from approximately 680 kilometers. The main watercourses that are crossed the road of Baking Powder Creek ( km 653 ), the French Creek ( km 665 ), the Twenty Eight Mile Creek ( km 677 ), the Blue River ( km 691 ), the Mud Hill Creek ( km 700 ) and the Cormier Creek ( km 714).

At kilometer 720, the border between the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory is achieved on the sixtieth degree of latitude, from here to the junction with the Alaska Highway 22 kilometers west of Watson Lake are back down another 4.5 km.

In this 236 km long section of Highway 37 just the Boya Lake Provincial Park is touched, the Tuya Mountains Provincial Park consist of Dease Lake from options to arrive by bush plane.

The number of service areas is also limited in this section:

  • Km 556 - Dease River Crossing RV & Campground - gas station, motel, camping, shopping, telephone
  • Km 572 - Mosse Meadows - Camping, telephone
  • Km 602 - Jade City - Petrol, camping, shopping, telephone
  • 724 km - Junction 37 Services - gas station, motel, camping, restaurant, shopping, telephone

Maybe fuel is also available in Good Hope Lake ( 625 km ).

Highway 37A and Salmon Glacier Road

The Highway 37A runs in a westerly direction from the Meziadin Junction on Stewart to the border with Alaska.

Telegraph Creek Road

The Telegraph Creek Road is a non- paved road leading from Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek Glenora or on the Stikine River. It shall apply with its narrow, steep sections as a challenge, but can be driven normally with normal vehicles. However, a minimum travel time of two hours in each direction should be scheduled.

After five kilometers, ending the blacktop, but the road is also available from here, except in the winter and after heavy rains for normal vehicles. The road crosses the Tanzilla plateau, which is largely covered with dense coniferous forest, on the northwestern shore of Tanzilla River, which often runs right next to the road. The flat road is repeatedly interrupted by tributaries which overcome on partially single-lane bridges - Tatsho Creek ( 12 km), 16 Mile Creek ( 26 km), August Childe Creek ( 28 km), 19 Mile Creek ( 30 km) and 22 Mile Creek ( 32 km). At kilometer 58 starts Cariboo Meadows, the area of a forest fire, which extends for almost 20 km on both sides of the road that enters at kilometer 59 in the Stikine River Recreation Area. Here is an excellent vantage point on the northerly trending Tuya River on a small hill above a parking lot. At kilometer 73, the steep and narrow slope begins to Tuya River, which is crossed at kilometer 76. At kilometer 82 the driveway turns to the Golden Bear from mine, right behind it begins the descent into the valley of the Stikine River above Day's ranch.

At kilometer 89, there is another viewpoint from where you can overlook the western end of the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River and the basalt formations on the south bank. Until the beginning of the descent to the Tahltan River, the highway runs along a few meters wide ridge above the impressive canyons of Stikine and Tahltan River, the latter is crossed at kilometer 91. The river there are Räucherhütten the resident Tahltan, in season fresh and smoked salmon are offered here.

The road rises again to a level of about 120 meters above the Stikine River and passes through the above preferred settlement Tahltan, which may not be entered ( 97 kilometers ). After 100 km, the Eightmile Creek Bridge is passed by it and a nearby vantage point to give beautiful views of the valley of the Stikine River, the massif of Mount Edziza in the southwest and a waterfall that plunges spectacularly into the river on the south bank. At kilometer 111 Telegraph Creek is reached, the road into the center of this settlement leads in some hairpin bends in the direction of the river, the road towards Glenora, which is reached after a further 19 km runs, further up the river.

History

The oldest road link in the system of the Cassiar Highway is the Telegraph Creek Road, whose construction was completed in 1922 and should allow an easy transition between the systems of the Stikine River and the Liard River. Even until well after the opening of the Alaska Highway remained in the northwest of the province of British Columbia rivers, the major pathways. Only the increasing exploitation of natural resources on an industrial scale and the development of the pristine forests brought the need for a used year-round road access to the systems of the Alaska Highway and the Yellowhead Highway. So was in the fifties of the 20th century, first the expansion of the road from the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake to Cassiar to bind the local asbestos mines on the road network; this road was hesitant expanded in subsequent years to Dease Lake. From the south - where on Highway 25, a connection of the north of the Skeena River villages by Hazelton was - was the expansion of the existing Forestry Service Roads to the area of Meziadin Junction.

In the late 1960s the systematic expansion of the route until 1972, the highway was down to a short distance south of Iskut and the bridge over the Skeena River began completed, closing the gap in the Iskut took place in 1973, which was built in 1979 bridge at Kitwanga spared having to use Hazelton.

The southern section for connection of Kitimat on the Yellowhead Highway was not completed until 1986.

The in the early years, yet adventurous journey was made ​​much easier by the increasing expansion of road and infrastructure, only a few sections still give the appearance of the highways of the 1970s again.

Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Stikine Region British Columbia Highway 16 Prince Rupert, British Columbia Prince George (British Columbia) Nisga'a Highway British Columbia Highway 37A Stewart (British Columbia) Dease Lake (British Columbia) Cottonwood River (Dease River) Blue River (Dease River) Hyder (Alaska) Hazelton (British Columbia) Terrace (British Columbia) Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic Site Boreal ecosystem Vaccinium Lake trout Kaska Dena Watson Lake, Yukon List of British Columbia provincial highways British Columbia Highway 1 British Columbia Highway 2 British Columbia Highway 4 British Columbia Highway 5 British Columbia Highway 6 British Columbia Highway 9 British Columbia Highway 8 British Columbia Highway 10 British Columbia Highway 11 British Columbia Highway 12 British Columbia Highway 13 British Columbia Highway 14 British Columbia Highway 15 British Columbia Highway 17 British Columbia Highway 18 British Columbia Highway 19 British Columbia Highway 20 British Columbia Highway 21 British Columbia Highway 22 British Columbia Highway 23 British Columbia Highway 24 British Columbia Highway 26 British Columbia Highway 27 British Columbia Highway 28 British Columbia Highway 29 British Columbia Highway 30 British Columbia Highway 31 British Columbia Highway 33 British Columbia Highway 35 British Columbia Highway 39 British Columbia Highway 41 British Columbia Highway 43 British Columbia Highway 49 British Columbia Highway 52 British Columbia Highway 91 British Columbia Highway 93 British Columbia Highway 95 British Columbia Highway 97 British Columbia Highway 99 British Columbia Highway 101 British Columbia Highway 118 British Columbia Highway 395 British Columbia Highway 1A British Columbia Highway 3A British Columbia Highway 3B British Columbia Highway 5A British Columbia Highway 7B British Columbia Highway 17A British Columbia Highway 19A British Columbia Highway 22A British Columbia Highway 91A British Columbia Highway 95A British Columbia Highway 7A Crowsnest Highway List of Yukon territorial highways Robert Campbell Highway Dempster Highway Canol Road Tagish Road Top of the World Highway Nahanni Range Road Silver Trail
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