Stewart-Cassiar Highway is 725 km long and runs between the Yukon Border and the Kitwanga Junction on Highway 16. You really are off the beaten track. For most of the highway, cell service doesn’t exist. And except for basic fuel, food and accommodation stops, it’s rare to pass others on the drive.
The highway offers a glimpse into the lives of rural British Columbians and First Nations, who live a more rustic, slower-paced life, in which wilderness dominates the landscape.
At the junction of Highway 16 and Highway 37, Kitwanga marks the southern gateway to the Stewart–Cassiar Highway. The village is home to significant Gitxsan totem poles and serves as the starting point for the 110-kilometre Hands of History self-guided circle route through The Hazeltons. Here, carved cedar poles stand as living stories of lineage, law, and land.
Continue your self-guided tour at the Gitwangak Battle Hill National Historic site, once the site where the Gitwangak peoples defended their territory. Set on a high grassy knoll, it offers a spectacular vantage point over Kitwanga and its namesake river. As you head north, be sure to stop and see the famed 140-year-old “Hole in the Sky” totem pole.
Gitanyow is home to one of the largest collections of original totem poles in British Columbia. More than 50 carved poles can be found within an hour’s drive of this area. Each pole tells a story of clan identity and governance. Walking among them offers a powerful encounter with living history and craftsmanship that continues to shape northern communities.
Meziadin Lake Provincial Park is a popular campsite along this route and a favorite of anglers thanks to its ample stock of Rainbow Trout, Mountain Whitefish and Dolly Varden. With nearby salmon spawning creeks that feed the lake, it’s one of only three places in the province where salmon spawn in the bays and inlets of a lake with four species returning yearly. (There is a convenience store where you can buy a fishing license and gear.) Spend the night camping by the lake before detouring to Stewart in the morning.
Note: Meziadin Junction marks a key fork in the highway. Highway 37 continues north toward Dease Lake, while Highway 37A branches west for 60 kilometres to Stewart and Hyder.
Bear Glacier spills dramatically toward the highway, its blue ice framed by steep mountain walls. Clearly visible from the road, it’s an easy and memorable stop along Highway 37A. Designated pullouts allow for safe viewing and photography, offering a close look at the glacier’s scale and the rugged coastal mountains that surround it.
Tucked at the head of the Portland Canal, Stewart is a historic mining town with colourful wooden storefronts and a quiet, frontier feel. Visit the Stewart Museum to learn about the 1898 gold rush era, stroll the compact downtown, or stop at local cafés and bakeries. Fishing charters and heli-tours offer access to glaciers, grizzlies, and the vast coastal mountains that rise around town.
Just across the border, Hyder is known for Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site, where elevated platforms provide seasonal viewing of grizzly and black bears feeding on salmon. Border requirements apply, and travellers should carry proper identification.
Located north of Hyder and Stewart, the Salmon Glacier is one of the largest road-accessible glaciers in the world. The gravel road climbs to a viewpoint overlooking a massive river of ice stretching deep into the Coast Mountains. Travel restrictions and road conditions should be checked in advance, as access routes cross into the United States.
Return to Meziadin Junction, then continue your way to Iskut. Situated between the Skeena and Coast Mountains, Iskut is a small Tahltan community surrounded by sweeping alpine terrain. Wildlife sightings—moose, Stone sheep, mountain goats, and bears—are common along this stretch of highway. Nearby Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park offers paddling, fishing, and access to Cascade Falls via a short trail.
Covering more than 230,000 hectares, Mount Edziza is a remote volcanic landscape of lava fields, cinder cones, and alpine lakes. There is no road access; most visitors explore via guided fly-in tours. Book a floatplane tour with Alpine Lakes Air to explore Mount Edziza’s unique volcanic landscape and lakes The park’s scale and isolation reflect the extraordinary wilderness that defines northern BC.
Spanning 260,000 hectares, Spatsizi is one of British Columbia’s largest protected areas. Known as the “Serengeti of the North,” it is home to caribou, moose, wolves, and grizzlies. Spend a week at Spatsizi River Adventures’s remote fly-out lodge angling for trout on mountain streams rarely fished. Spatsizi River Adventures also offers hunting and guided horseback expeditions in the park. For a budget-friendly option, make the multi-day trek into the park and stay at BC Parks-managed cabins at Cold Fish Lake. Bring your own rod and tackle for easy fishing off the dock.
Dease Lake is the primary service hub along this northern stretch of Highway 37. Travellers can refuel, restock groceries, and access amenities before continuing north. The lake itself offers fishing for Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, northern pike, and trout. It’s a practical and welcome pause between vast wilderness corridors.
Located in Tahltan territory, Telegraph Creek sits above the Stikine River, often referred to as Canada’s “Grand Canyon.” The road into town is narrow and dramatic. Guided whitewater expeditions on the Stikine are considered bucket-list journeys for experienced rafters. Local museums and small accommodations reflect the area’s rich mining and river-running history.
Stay at the charming Stikine Riversong Café and General Store, and enjoy the warm hospitality of this wonderful little BnB on the river. Or check out Hyland Creek cabins 5 minutes out of town. And be sure to stop in at the Stikine Museum, a meticulously-curated showcase of the area’s rich history.
Named for the jade deposits found in the region, Jade City is a small roadside stop offering locally sourced jade souvenirs. Nearby Cassiar, a former asbestos mining town, stands as a reminder of northern resource history, with remnants of buildings and infrastructure still visible.
Known for its vivid aquamarine water, Tā Ch’ilā (Boya Lake) Provincial Park is one of the most photographed lakes in northern BC. The striking colour comes from marl deposits on the lakebed reflecting light upward. Canoeing and paddling are popular ways to explore the calm waters, and short interpretive trails circle portions of the shoreline.
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