CASSIAR
HIGHWAY: North
BRITISH
COLUMBIA RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS
The Cassiar Highway connects the Alaska Highway at Watson Lake, YT, with the Yellowhead Highway junction 150 miles east of Prince Rupert. The northernmost section has been straightened and pavement breaks were eliminated, but some have returned. The grade in and out of the Stikine crossing is steep, and there was construction on the north side of the crossing in 2007 to move the road back from the bank. New paving projects in recent years have all but eliminated the gravel stretches. The gravel along Dease Lake is hard packed brown clay and hard to distinguish from pavement. Be alert for new soft gravel, and washouts along the narrow shoulders. For accurate and current highway information, stop at the Northern Beaver Post, just west of the junction on the Alaska Highway. On the south end, stop at Cassiar RV Park in Kitwanga. See our NOTES page for our latest observations.
No one should hesitate to drive the Cassiar up or back from Alaska. Conditions vary, but the scenery is always incredible. Allow at least three days, and plan to stay in Stewart/Hyder long enough to drive to Salmon Glacier and visit the Fish Creek bear viewing area. These two attractions could be the highlight of your entire trip, but the bears don't come to Fish Creek until mid July, and the glacier road opens only a little before that, when the snow melts.
Campgrounds are listed from north to south. Mileage from Alaska Highway/Yellowhead Hwy. For mobile phones, call the appropriate area code operator and ask for a mobile operator to connect you. Please stay with our advertisers, identified with BOLD CAPITALS, and be sure to tell them you saw their ad on the KARO Enterprises web site. For additional info visit www.stewartcassiar.com/info.html
Mile 0/446: Junction with the Alaska Highway at Historic Milepost 649. Watson Lake, YT, is 13 miles east; Whitehorse is 282 miles west; Prince Rupert is 596 miles south at the end of the Yellowhead Highway; Prince George is 744 miles south and east via the Cassiar and Yellowhead.
Mile
0/446: Junction 37 Services (250) 636-7391 Full hookups, pull-throughs,
tents, rooms, eat, showers, laundry, dump station, gas and repairs. Mile
2.1/444: YT/BC border. Pick up map and brochures at rest area.
Watch for signs regarding fuel availability. Mile
35.2/410.9: French Creek BC Campsite Mile
52.5/393.6: Boya Lake
Provincial Park There are three very nice
Provincial Campgrounds on the Cassiar, but be advised that they are
vacations destinations for Canadians and there is likely to be little
daily turnover during peak season.
Mile 60.9/385.2:
GOOD HOPE LAKE We strongly recommend that you DO NOT drive to McDame
Post unless the road has been substantially improved. The former
trading post building, c. 1920s, burned down in 2003. There is a
pioneer cemetary. Bring bug dope! You can access the site more safely
and easily by canoeing from Dease River Crossing.
There is no gas available at Jade City.
Mile
74.8/371.3: CASSIAR
MOUNTAIN JADE STORE AND MINE
(250)
239-JADE) In business mining and selling jade since 1976. Designing
jade to go all over the world. Largest selection of Canadian designed
jade in the world. Cars, angels, Canadiana jewelry, and so much more.
Local semi-precious gems and gold nugget jewelry. Free coffee, RV
park with pull-throughs and tent sites. Outdoor interactive mining
museum; historic photo collection. Open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Use link
above for more information and head office contacts.
Claudia Bunce, owner.
Write: Box B8,
Jade City, BC, V0C 1E0 E-mail
Mile 104/342: DEASE RIVER CROSSING CAMPGROUND
A scenic campground where the Cassiar Highway crosses the Dease River. Wilderness camping, canoeing, fishing, hunting, wildlife. New cabins and other additions. Repair shop. Click on campground name above for more details. New owner in 2010. STATUS UNKNOWN
MOOSE MEADOWS CG closed in 2007 and is a private residence.
Mile
139.2/306.9: WATER'S
EDGE CAMPGROUND
771-3392
Located
on the shore of Dease Lake, just six miles north of town. RV parking
and tent camping. Great fishing with shore, pier, and boat access.
For details click name above. E-Mail
Us
Mile 145.2/300.9: Dease Lake. Junction with road to Telegraph Creek. Minimum four hour scenic side trip not recommended for large rigs or inexperienced drivers. Views of Stikine River Canyon. No facilities along route. Inquire at visitors centre.
Mile 145/301 DEASE LAKE RV PARK (250) 771-4666
Located among the many mountain ranges and large and small lakes that provide the Cassiar Highway with an unsurpassed panorama of scenic grandeur, DEASE LAKE RV offers full RV services within walking distance of downtown. Stop for supplies; you'll be amazed at the quality and variety in our local grocery. Need hardware? We've got that in town, too. From Dease Lake, arrange air or horseback access to Mount Edziza Wilderness Park to the west or Spitsizi Plateau to the east. Or drive the scenic road to Telegraph Creek, stopping to view the magnificent Grand Canyon of the Stikine. The RV Park has 29 level gravel, pull-through sites, most with full hookups, and some tent sites. There is a shower, sanidump, and car wash. Dease Lake RV Park, P.O. Box 129, Dease Lake, BC V0C 1L0 NOTE: RV park is on highway in town, not on the lake.
Mile 295.2/150.9: Lions Club Campground at Tanzilla River bridge Mile 184.3/261.8: Morchuea Lake Provincial Campsite (rustic). Steep entrance and mud likely. Campsites in BC are likely to have brown signs set parallel to the roadway. Be alert.
Mile 190.9/255.2: BEAR PAW RANCH WILDERNESS RESORT (250) 234-3005 FOR SALE
Stop and
experience our 16 suite alpine hotel, complete with all of the
amenities (and then some), or just "rough it" in one of our
many theme guest cabins. RV parking, tent sites, and showers are
available. Join us for friendly wilderness barbecues, gourmet meals
in our "spectacular view" dining room, or on our large sun
deck, and enjoy "Old West" entertainment in our saloon. See
volcanic Mt. Edziza first hand, hike the Spatsizi Plateau, pan for
gold, feel the adrenaline rush of landing a prize rainbow trout, and
jet boat down the mighty Stikine River. It's the true northern B.C.
wilderness in all its splendor and tradition; unspoiled by man.
Your hosts:
Tony & Doris Kurz Box 69, Iskut, BC V0J 1K0
E-MAIL
US
Mile 194.3/251.8: MOUNTAIN SHADOW RV PARK & CAMPGROUND (250) 234-3333
Come and enjoy
our “Slice of Heaven in the Wilderness”. We have a quiet,
secluded, park-like setting with spectacular mountain vistas and lake
views. Away from the highway noise and traffic, but easy on and off.
Hike wilderness trails, fish for native Rainbow Trout, bird and
wildlife viewing. The RV Park has partial hookups (30amp power and
water), long pull-throughs and spacious back ins. Cabins with kitchen
and bath; sleeping cabins; dry campsites; two dump stations; hot
showers; boat rental; fly fishing instruction; gift shop. Visit our
website for complete details. WIFI available. Your Hosts: Steve and
Anne Putnam. Box 3, Iskut, BC V0J 1K0
E-Mail
Mile 195.9/250.2: Iskut, BC. All services available.
Mile 197.9/248.2: RED GOAT LODGE (250) 234-3261
Visit our lovely treed lakeshore setting with partial RV hookups and roomy tent sites. Modern cabins and B&B rooms. Our B&B has an unparalleled reputation. Wilderness hiking and fishing. Llamas. Visit web site for complete details. Jacquie and Mitch Cunningham welcome you. Box 119, Iskut, BC V0J 1K0 E-mail
Mile 205.4/240.7: TATOGGA LAKE RESORT (250) 234-3526
Teena and John Wright welcome you to "A Wilderness Oasis" deep in the scenic Cassair District. Air tours of the wilderness parks and Stikine Canyon depart from our dock. Remote hunting and fishing trips can be arranged on site. Fly fishing in Tatogga and nearby lakes is always good, but in July, August, and September it's great! Hike, fly, or ride horseback to Mt. Edziza or Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Parks. See wolves, grizzlies, moose, stone sheep, and caribou. Restaurant. Our spacious RV park has partial hookups, dry sites, showers, laundry, pull-throughs, tent sites, WIFI. Gas, diesel, towing and minor repairs available. For further information click name above or write Box 59, Iskut, BC V0J 1K0 New owners in 2007
Mile 221/225: Kinaskan Lake Provincial Campground
Mile 228.3/217.8: WILLOW RIDGE RESORT JJ37280 Whitehorse Channel or 800-663-3576 CLOSED Being prepared for reopening. 2008 status unknown.
Mile
292.5/153.6: BELL
II LODGE
Call toll free
in North America: (866) 793-2355 or (604) 639-8455
Bell ll is a
full service wilderness lodge with chalets, dining room, lounge, hot
tub, sauna, RV sites with hookups, diesel, gas, propane, minor and
tire repairs. Set against a background of the snow-capped Skeena
Mountains, Bell ll offers a wide range of summer and winter
activities. Hike, bike, photograph wildlife, fish and hunt through
the summer, then return to ski the challenging Skeena Mountain
terrain in winter. "Last Frontier Heliskiing" offers
limitless opportunities to access remote skiing areas. Located midway
between Kitwanga and Dease Lake, and just 100 scenic miles from the
glacier and bear viewing at Stewart/Hyder. Click above for our website,
or E-mail us
at info@bell2lodge.com
Hodder Lake Rest Area (above) is just a few miles south of Bell ll.
Mile 349.9/96.2: MEZIADIN JUNCTION ESSO (250) 636-9240 CLOSED IN 2007 AND FOR SALE. PLAN AHEAD FOR GAS Check your gas! Summer hours 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Gas, diesel, tire repairs. Home cooked meals at the cafe. RV hookups. Stay here and take your toad to Hyder to see the bears. Friendly tourism information. Caravan fuel discount. Write: Box 100, Stewart, BC V0T 1W0
Go straight
for Stewart/Hyder (40 miles)
Turn left for South
Cassiar and Yellowhead Highway.