Cassiar Highway Travel Guide

The Cassiar Highway — officially British Columbia Highway 37 — runs approximately 730 kilometres (450 miles) through the northwestern corner of British Columbia, connecting the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16) at Kitwanga in the south to the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake, Yukon, in the north. It is one of the most remote paved roads in Canada and arguably the least-travelled of the two main routes linking southern BC to the Yukon and Alaska.

The highway passes through the traditional territories of several First Nations, including the Tahltan, Tlingit, Nisga'a, and Gitxsan peoples, whose presence on this land extends thousands of years. The route traverses spruce and pine boreal forest, alpine meadows, glacier-capped mountain ranges, and river valleys largely untouched by industrial development.

Services along the highway are sparse — fuel, food, and lodging are available only at a handful of small communities and roadside stops spaced many kilometres apart. Travellers should plan fuel stops carefully and carry emergency supplies. Despite (or because of) this remoteness, the Cassiar draws overlanders, cyclists, photographers, and anyone seeking a genuine off-the-beaten-path Canadian road trip.

Visas and Entry

Entry requirements for Canada depend on your nationality and how you arrive. Check the TravelerPulse Visas section and the official Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for current requirements before booking.

Vehicle Preparation

This is the most important pre-trip step. A significant portion of the highway, particularly around the Bell-Irving River and Iskut areas, can include unpaved or chip-sealed sections under repair. A full-size spare tyre (not a space-saver) is strongly advised; many travellers carry two. Ensure your vehicle has a working jack, tow rope, jumper cables, and basic mechanical tools. A high-clearance vehicle is helpful but not strictly required for the main highway.

Fuel Planning

Gaps between fuel stops can exceed 150–200 km in some sections. Carry a certified jerry can with extra fuel. Verify which service stations are open before you depart, as hours and seasonal closures change — ask locally or check BC road condition resources.

Communications

Cell coverage is largely absent along most of the route. A satellite communicator (such as a SPOT or Garmin inReach device) is strongly recommended for safety. Download offline maps before leaving.

Road Conditions

BC Ministry of Transportation publishes road condition updates for Highway 37. Check DriveBC (drivebc.ca) before and during your trip, particularly after heavy rain or in early and late season when frost heaves and mud can affect sections of the road.

Southern Entry

The southern terminus at Kitwanga (also spelled Gitwangak) is reached via Highway 16, the Yellowhead Highway. Kitwanga is roughly 500 km east of Prince Rupert and about 250 km west of Smithers. It is a small community, so fill up and buy supplies before heading north.

Northern Entry

The northern junction with the Alaska Highway is near Watson Lake in Yukon Territory. Travellers coming from Whitehorse head southeast on the Alaska Highway (Hwy 1) to reach the Cassiar junction. Watson Lake has the services needed to prepare for or recover from the southern drive.

Flying In

The nearest commercial airports with regular scheduled service are in Terrace (YXT) to the southwest and Whitehorse (YXY) to the north. Both offer connections to Vancouver and other major Canadian cities. Car rentals are available at these airports — verify in advance that your rental agreement permits travel on gravel or partially unpaved roads, as many standard rental contracts prohibit this.

From Prince Rupert

Travellers arriving by BC Ferries from Port Hardy or the Alaska Marine Highway from southeast Alaska can disembark at Prince Rupert and drive east on Hwy 16 to the Kitwanga junction, making this a natural start to a larger northern loop.

There is no scheduled public bus or shuttle service along the Cassiar Highway. Self-driving is the primary means of travel, and the vast majority of visitors arrive in their own vehicles or campervans.

Cyclists do complete the Cassiar, and it is considered one of Canada's classic long-distance touring routes. Traffic is light, which can be both a benefit (less dust and danger) and a risk (less chance of assistance if something goes wrong). Cyclists should carry multiple days of food and water and be fully self-sufficient for mechanical repairs.

Hitchhiking is practiced on the Cassiar, though traffic is infrequent and waits can be very long — sometimes a full day between vehicles in the quieter sections. It is not recommended as a sole strategy.

Once you leave the main highway for any community or side road, conditions vary considerably. Some side roads to lakes or trailheads require 4WD and high clearance. Ask locally before deviating from the main route.

Accommodation along the Cassiar is limited to a small number of lodges, motels, and campgrounds scattered along the route. Key service points include Meziadin Junction, Bell II, Iskut, Dease Lake, and Good Hope Lake. Each has at minimum a fuel station and some form of basic lodging or camping — though not all operate year-round or on predictable schedules.

Provincial campgrounds and forestry recreation sites provide rustic camping with pit toilets and fire rings at various points. Many are first-come, first-served. Check BC Parks (bcparks.ca) for sites along or near the corridor, but be prepared for some to be unserviced.

Bell II, roughly in the middle of the highway, is a well-known helicopter skiing and fly-in wilderness lodge that also serves highway travellers in summer. It has become a reliable mid-route rest point with fuel, food, and lodging — verify current services before arrival.

Dease Lake is the largest community along the highway and has the widest range of services, including motels, a grocery store, a health centre, and a gas station. It makes a logical overnight stop. Always confirm bookings in advance during peak summer months, as options are limited and fill quickly.

Wildlife Watching

The Cassiar corridor is one of British Columbia's best wildlife-viewing roads. Black bears and grizzly bears are commonly seen, particularly in spring and near salmon-bearing streams in late summer. Stone sheep, moose, woodland caribou, wolves, and bald eagles are also frequently encountered. Drive slowly through forested sections and near rivers — and always observe wildlife from a safe distance without feeding or approaching animals.

Jade City

Near Good Hope Lake, the small community known as Jade City has become a modest attraction in its own right, linked to the jade-mining operations of the Bunce family and the reality television series that documented them. A small store sells locally mined jade products. It is a brief but interesting stop that illustrates the resource extraction history of the region.

Tatlatui and Spatsizi Wilderness

Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park — one of BC's largest — and the adjacent Tatlatui Provincial Park lie to the east of the highway, accessible only by floatplane or multi-day backcountry travel. These parks protect vast alpine wilderness and are popular with experienced wilderness travellers and hunters. Contact BC Parks for access information well in advance.

Mount Edziza Provincial Park

Accessible via a rough side road near Iskut or by floatplane, Mount Edziza is a volcanic landscape of lava flows, cinder cones, and craters that is genuinely unlike anywhere else in BC. Day hiking is possible near the park boundary, but most visits require backcountry camping permits and careful preparation. Verify access and permit requirements with BC Parks before your trip.

Stikine River

The Stikine, one of the great rivers of the northwest, crosses beneath the highway near the community of Telegraph Creek (reached by a side road from Dease Lake — note this road is steep and unpaved). River float trips and guided fishing are available; ask locally for current outfitter information.

Dining options along the Cassiar are functional rather than varied. Lodges and service stops typically offer simple diner-style meals — burgers, sandwiches, soups, and breakfast plates — often served at the same counter where you pay for fuel. Do not expect consistent hours; some kitchens close early or open only for peak season.

Dease Lake has the most reliable food options, including a grocery store where you can resupply fresh produce, canned goods, and camping staples. Prices will be noticeably higher than in southern cities, reflecting the cost of remote supply chains.

If you are camping or self-catering, plan your resupply carefully before leaving Kitwanga in the south or Watson Lake/Whitehorse in the north. Carry non-perishable food for at least two or three extra days beyond your planned itinerary in case of road closures, vehicle trouble, or unexpected delays.

Emergency Services

BC Emergency Health Services covers the highway, but response times in remote sections can be extremely long. A satellite communicator capable of sending SOS signals is strongly advised. The non-emergency RCMP detachment for the area is based in Dease Lake — verify the current number locally.

Health

The nearest hospitals with full services are in Terrace (to the southwest) and Watson Lake or Whitehorse (to the north). Dease Lake has a health centre with limited services. Carry a well-stocked first-aid kit and any prescription medications you need for the entire trip plus contingency days.

Money

ATMs are not reliably available along the route. Carry sufficient Canadian cash before you leave a major centre. Some lodges and stops accept credit cards, but connectivity for card terminals can be unreliable.

Season and Closures

The highway is generally open year-round but snow and ice make winter travel hazardous and require winter tires. The practical travel window for most visitors is late May through early October. Some services close entirely outside June–September. Confirm current road status at drivebc.ca.

Wildlife encounters are the most common safety concern for highway travellers. Bears are present throughout the corridor; store food, waste, and scented items properly when camping and be alert when walking near water or in brushy terrain. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Road conditions can deteriorate quickly. Loose gravel causes windshield chips and tyre damage; reduce speed when passing other vehicles. Construction zones are common in summer. Dust can reduce visibility significantly behind other vehicles — leave a large following distance on unpaved sections.

Weather in this region is unpredictable. Snow can fall at any elevation in any month. Always carry warm layers, rain gear, and an emergency blanket regardless of the forecast.

If your vehicle breaks down in a remote section, stay with the vehicle — it is far easier for rescuers to locate a vehicle than a person on foot. Use your satellite communicator to signal for help. Vehicle fires can spread rapidly in dry summer conditions; carry a small fire extinguisher in your vehicle.

The Cassiar Highway passes through the ancestral territories of several First Nations, and travellers are guests on this land. The Tahltan Nation holds title to much of the northern interior through which the highway passes; the Tahltan have been active stewards of this region and are engaged in resource management and land rights processes. Approaching interactions with these communities respectfully and with genuine curiosity is appropriate.

If visiting any communities along the route, be aware that some First Nations communities have their own local rules around photography, access to certain sites, and behaviour near culturally significant areas. When in doubt, ask before photographing people or entering areas that may be private or ceremonially significant.

The fur trade, gold rushes, and mining booms of the 18th through 20th centuries all left marks on this landscape and its people. The highway itself was developed largely in the second half of the 20th century. Understanding this layered history — Indigenous, colonial, and industrial — gives the drive considerably more depth than simply treating it as a scenic corridor.