Yukon Sights by Sue Thomas

Cassiar Highway to Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park
Northern British Columbia

12 to 14 June, 2008

We left Vancouver Island on Thursday, June 12 and overnighted near Vancouver.

Friday we travelled Hwy 1 to Cache Creek; then Hwy 97 to Lac La Hache and overnighted at Lac La Hache Provincial Park.

On Saturday continued north on Hwy 97 to Prince George then headed west on Hwy 16 (Yellowhead Hwy). Drove west to Burns Lake where we stayed in a commercial campground as there wasn't a provincial park in the area.

Sunday 15 June 2008

Left Burns Lake at 9 a.m then started north on the Cassiar Highway. The Cassiar Highway is a highway with few services. The south end of the Cassiar is easy driving with painted lane lines and some shoulder area.

Picture of south end of the Cassiar Hwy, BC
Northbound on the Cassiar Highway

Our overnight destination was Meziadin Lake Provincial Park where the truck and fifth wheel enjoyed a lovely waterfront site and a private canoe launch!

Camping at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park, BC
Site 41 at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park

Steve did some fishing with a fellow from Sweden who was on a 10-week honeymoon to Canada & Alaska. This young couple were driving a 4x4 truck with a small camper that they rented for $8,900 plus $0.34/km after the first 100 km per day, plus their fuel cost.

Monday 16 June 2008

We decided to not take the scenic drive into Stewart as the sky was overcast. If it was overcast at Meziadin Lake it would likely be even more overcast around the community of Stewart.

The highway north from Meziadin Junction to Bell II continued to be good.

Northbound on the Cassiar Highway, BC
Northbound on the Cassiar Highway, south of Bell II

We looked forward to a short day as our destination was Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park. Unfortunately, the highway was closed a few kilometres south of Bell II due to a serious accident: a transport truck had overturned around the corner pictured below.

At accident scene on Cassiar Hwy, BC
Line of traffic waiting for accident to clear a couple kilometres south of Bell II

We arrived at the accident spot at 11:00 a.m. and were told the accident happened at 8:00 a.m. Two injured men were transported to hospital by helicopter with the highway remaining closed until about 1 p.m.  It was re-opened after investigators arrived from Terrace to complete an accident assessment.

Cassiar Highway, BC
Looking east from the Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway scene, BC
Scene along the Cassiar Highway

The Cassiar Highway gradually faded from a well-marked two-lane highway to a well-worn asphalt road with no shoulders. Even so, the road was in reasonably good driving condition.

Cassiar Highway northbound
Northbound on the Cassiar Highway north of Bell II

The scenery continued to improve.

Northbound on the Cassiar Highway, BC
Northbound on the Cassiar Highway, north of Bell II and south of Kinaskan Lake

The camping sites at Kinaskan Lake provincial park are mostly along the lake's edge. We opted for a very private site with a view of the lake. Other sites were open and offered expansive views.

Camping at Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park, Cassiar Highway, BC
Campsite at Kinaskan Lake provincial park

Our dog needed to exercise so we hike along the south end of the lakeshore.

Hiking at Kinaskan Lake, Cassiar Highway, BC
Kinaskan Lake shoreline, looking north east

Hiking at Kinaskan Lake, Cassiar Highway, BC
Kinaskan Lake shoreline looking east

Next page - 17 June 2008