Take a road trip where wildlife appears in and on the landscape, signs from around the world sprout in a forest and flowers grow on roofs. This is Highway 37 – the Stewart-Cassiar Highway – where you’ll discover the unexpected, experience the freedom of being off the beaten track, and be awed by dramatic northern landscapes. Here are a few photo highlights you might see on this wilderness route. (For detailed travel information,including travel tips and available services, see Highway 37 Stewart-Cassiar Scenic Route to the Yukon and Alaska).
Highway 37 offers adventurers and nature lovers a scenic route to the Yukon (and onto Alaska), with three possible side trips along the way. When you return south via the Alaska Highway, you travel the ultimate northern circle route. Set off where Highway 37 heads north from Highway 16, about 43 kilometres west of Hazelton. As the route is fully paved, with the exception of about one kilometre (and a few short stretches that are marked) it’s fine for RV travel.
Side Trip #1 – Highway 37A to Stewart, B.C and Hyder, Alaska
Highway 37A is full of surprises and spectacular scenery – you can snap a photo of Bear Glacier right from the roadside. At Stewart’s location near the fourth largest fjord in the world, the steep mountains drop straight to the ocean. Keep driving and suddenly, with little fanfare you’ll be in Hyder Alaska, the most southerly town on the Alaska panhandle. (Well, all of Alaska, actually).
Outdoor Adventure
Along Highway 37, there is infinite opportunity for outdoor adventure – hiking. fishing, bear watching and heli-skiing (in the winter). Start by exploring the many provincial parks and ecological reserves on this BC Parks map. You can overnight at provincial campgrounds, or at privately operated campgrounds or accommodations.
It’s common to see bear, caribou, moose, fox, mountain goats or other animals along the highway, especially In the late spring and early summer, when adults cross the road with their young. Admire them safely from inside your vehicle, and be sure you’re not blocking traffic.
Side Trip #2 – Road Telegraph Creek Road
Telegraph Creek Road is all gravel and has grades of up to 20 per cent, as it follows the canyons of the Stikine River. This is a route you drive carefully! (Not recommended for RV trailers). The road goes to the community of Telegraph Creek, where buildings from the late 1800s gold rush era remain.
Side Trip #3 – Atlin
You have to leave B.C. to get to Atlin, B.C. In fact, you leave and enter the Yukon and B.C. twice! See this map, to get the idea.
Hi. Glad I found this page. I worked at Cassiar Asbestos mine in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The Stewart Cassiar was mostly unpaved back in those days. I still have fond memories of the many times I drove it. Winter or summer the views are stunning with many opportunities to see moose, Dahl Sheep and even a massive wolf one time. I would dearly love to get out that way and do it again.
Cheers
BB
We hope you can do it again too, Barry. Thanks for sharing with us here. 🙂
Highway is brutal. I’m a log truck driver and I have been on a lot of neglected roads. This highway takes the cake! Absolutely brutal on our pickup and travel trailer. Couldn’t even look for these “scenic views” as you are to busy dodging pot holes.
Hi Anonymous
🙁
Anywhere in particular we can let our staff know about? We would like to follow up.
How is Highway 37 for touring bikes. How much is gravel
Hi Kevin,
We are sure we understand your question? Are you asking if bicycles can travel the route?
Bob, I rode the Stewart-Cassiar by motorcycle and it was mostly paved. There were three short sections of gravel, a few km each that were smooth and wide, no problem at all. But as always, it depends on the weather too. You’ll encounter road construction as well, especially on the Alcan in Northern BC and the Yukon where road surfaces can be rough and dirty. The ride overall is awesome and well worth any inconvenience!
Drove the hwy in 2003 and as I recall there was quite a lot of gravel. Want to do it on a motorcycle this summer and am wondering what you mean by “short stretches”. What would you estimate the total amount of gravel from the Alaska Hwy to Hwy 16 near Kitwanga in the south? Thanks
Hi Bob,
I am guessing you meant the Stewart-Cassiar Highway to Hwy 16 at Kitwanga, or do you want to know about the stretch of the Alaska Highway in BC? When this blog was written three years ago, the Stewart-Cassiar (Hwy 37) was fully paved, with the exception of about one kilometre (and a few short stretches that are marked). By the way, if you mean the Alaska Highway, then be aware that there is some road restoration underway on Highway 97 between Chetwynd and Hudson’s Hope, due to major flooding. Please confirm with me which route you wish to know about, and I’ll check with the people responsible. Thanks!
Came across your site today, and I have memories of traveling out to Stewart and Hyder. I saw a bear with her cub and took pictures of Bear glacier and the blue colour of the glacier,and many other pictures. I am going to look through my pictures. Thanks for bringing back memories.
Thanks for connecting with us Bryan! We would love to see some pictures if you find them. You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter as well!
Hey there we are looking to deliver a 24 foot boat to Tok Alaska and were planning to travel Hwy 37 to Dease Lake then to Junction 37 and Hwy 1 then to Hwy 2 into Alaska. Would you know what the current road conditions are and how much is paved? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
Hi there Don,
Most of the route is hard surface (either pavement or sealcoat) with approximately one kilometre of gravel. Road conditions vary depending on the weather and time of year; for safety travel with headlights on at all times.
Snow can occur during late spring and early fall. Information on current road conditions is available on DriveBC.
Internet connection is available in Stewart, Dease Lake and Watson Lake, however, do not expect coverage over the entire Highway 37 route.
Here’s a link to more information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/traveller-information/routes-and-driving-conditions/highway-37-stewart-cassiar