We headed to Skagway, Alaska via Jasper B.C. next week. While I want to get much of the tourist interests for stock, it would be nice to have some insights to out of the way or unusual areas.
If anybody has done this route any tips would be gratefully received.
Dave
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on June 18, 2006 at 12:52 PM
Hi David,
I have done all or portions of that trip many times – most recently a few weeks ago. Are you taking the Cassiar or the Alaska Highway? If you are driving it round trip you could and should do both, but if you are taking the ferry back you would have to pick.
I would strongly recommend picking up a copy of the Milepost. It has mile by mile descriptions of all those roads. You will see it sitting on the dash of pretty much every vehicle on the road.
I can add specific recommendations when I know what route you are taking. This might be a little helpful in the mean time: Driving to Alaska.
We are doing the Alaska Highway. I understand the Cassiar is quite beautiful, but we are limited for time by my wife's work schedule.
My primary consideration is stock work, so I'm going through Dawson Creek for Mile One, up to the Liard, Whitehorse and Skagway returning to Yellowknife via the Liard Highway and Fort Providence. While a local publication and the stock agency want tourism type shots, the agency would like scenics and historical locations as well.
It would be great to get a few of those locations that the tourism brochures don't prominently mention.
The Cassiar is beautiful. From Prince George, the Cassiar is shorter then the Alaska Highway, but from Jasper the Alaska Highway is shorter.
The Bighorn Highway to Prairie Creek has some nice scenery, and some wildlife.
There isn’t too much to see between Prairie Creek and Fort Nelson except for the start of the highway signs etc. Be careful around Fort Nelson; last October during a half hour stretch of driving I counted 3 dead moose on the side of the road – all had been recently hit by vehicles. That was worse then the Kenai Peninsula in winter!
The good stuff starts after Fort Nelson as you make your way around the Rockies. There are lots of deer as you approach Toad River. From Muncho Lake Provincial Park on past Laird Hot Springs Provincial Park you will see tons of wildlife. There are always Stone Sheep in the road around Muncho Lake. There are usually Caribou, often in the road in that area as well. There are always bison in and around the road near Laird Hot springs. And lots of bears. I counted 13 in that area one day. Of course Laird Hot Springs is the site of one of the most will known Black Bear attacks in North America. North of Laird I have often seen moose and elk as well.
Be sure to shoot the Sign Forest in Watson Lake. That image sells and sells for me – even NG Traveler bought it. The Hot Spring photos are regular sellers as well.
This year there is a highly visible Eagle Nest just as you drop into Whitehorse.
The South Klondike Highway is awesome. Don’t miss Emerald Lake. There is tons of history and amazing country as you cross over the dramatic mountains from the Boreal Forest to the Coastal Rainforest. There is also lots to shoot in the town of Skagway.
Fuel isn’t cheap. Expect to pay as much as $1.24.9, possibly more in places.
Dave, if you are connecting to Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek from Prince George, then it may be worth your while to take the side trip to Tumbler Ridge. Tumbler Ridge gained some fame in recent years for the dinosaur tracks, discovered by two young boys near a river. The tracks are authentic.
Another side trip worth considering since you are also looking for historic sites is to Fort St. James National Historic Park. Again, from Prince George.
Discussion
4 repliesWe headed to Skagway, Alaska via Jasper B.C. next week. While I want to get much of the tourist interests for stock, it would be nice to have some insights to out of the way or unusual areas.
If anybody has done this route any tips would be gratefully received.
Dave
I have done all or portions of that trip many times – most recently a few weeks ago. Are you taking the Cassiar or the Alaska Highway? If you are driving it round trip you could and should do both, but if you are taking the ferry back you would have to pick.
I would strongly recommend picking up a copy of the Milepost. It has mile by mile descriptions of all those roads. You will see it sitting on the dash of pretty much every vehicle on the road.
I can add specific recommendations when I know what route you are taking. This might be a little helpful in the mean time: Driving to Alaska.
We are doing the Alaska Highway. I understand the Cassiar is quite beautiful, but we are limited for time by my wife's work schedule.
My primary consideration is stock work, so I'm going through Dawson Creek for Mile One, up to the Liard, Whitehorse and Skagway returning to Yellowknife via the Liard Highway and Fort Providence. While a local publication and the stock agency want tourism type shots, the agency would like scenics and historical locations as well.
It would be great to get a few of those locations that the tourism brochures don't prominently mention.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
The Bighorn Highway to Prairie Creek has some nice scenery, and some wildlife.
There isn’t too much to see between Prairie Creek and Fort Nelson except for the start of the highway signs etc. Be careful around Fort Nelson; last October during a half hour stretch of driving I counted 3 dead moose on the side of the road – all had been recently hit by vehicles. That was worse then the Kenai Peninsula in winter!
The good stuff starts after Fort Nelson as you make your way around the Rockies. There are lots of deer as you approach Toad River. From Muncho Lake Provincial Park on past Laird Hot Springs Provincial Park you will see tons of wildlife. There are always Stone Sheep in the road around Muncho Lake. There are usually Caribou, often in the road in that area as well. There are always bison in and around the road near Laird Hot springs. And lots of bears. I counted 13 in that area one day. Of course Laird Hot Springs is the site of one of the most will known Black Bear attacks in North America. North of Laird I have often seen moose and elk as well.
Be sure to shoot the Sign Forest in Watson Lake. That image sells and sells for me – even NG Traveler bought it. The Hot Spring photos are regular sellers as well.
This year there is a highly visible Eagle Nest just as you drop into Whitehorse.
The South Klondike Highway is awesome. Don’t miss Emerald Lake. There is tons of history and amazing country as you cross over the dramatic mountains from the Boreal Forest to the Coastal Rainforest. There is also lots to shoot in the town of Skagway.
Fuel isn’t cheap. Expect to pay as much as $1.24.9, possibly more in places.
Have fun!
Another side trip worth considering since you are also looking for historic sites is to Fort St. James National Historic Park. Again, from Prince George.
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada