As Ralph Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
It’s one reason I always prefer a road trip in our region to an international flight; flying all that distance seems like a wasted opportunity. Much rather drive across some of the most phenomenal landscapes on the planet, right here in our backyard.
Here’s a few for the bucket list:
Dawson City. It’s got a great music festival, an arts scene, the Tombstone Mountains, and the Snake Pit, a bar that hasn’t closed a day since the gold-rush, thereby keeping it’s out-of-compliance, derelict charm grandfathered in.
There are two routes to get to Dawson City from Prince George and I’d do a loop to hit both.
On the Cassiar, you’re hemmed in by mountains most of the way but if you make a two-day side-trip to Telegraph Creek and home of the Tahltan, you’ll break out into some more open country. The Stikine Canyon is world-class. Camp along the river and bring a copy of Edward Hoagland’s Notes from a Century Before.
On the Alaska Highway, heading back, spend a day or two at the Liard Hot Springs. Rare orchid species and hot-water minnows are some of the local ecological attractions. Further along witness the epic aspen forests of the Fort Nelson and Fort Liard region. The biggest aspen in North America are located here. Consequently, the wildlife abundance is through the roof.
Prince George-Calgary via Icefields Parkway. This is probably the finest mountain drive you could imagine. From the inland rainforests east of town to the high alpine passes through the spine of the Rockies, you’ll also pass Mount Robson, the Columbia Icefields, and Lake Louise.
Calgary-Yellowstone-Utah. From Calgary head to Waterton Park and take the Chief Mountain border crossing to Butte Montana via Augusta for the first stretch, then over to Yellowstone Park, south to Rock Springs, and down to Fish Lake National Forest in Utah to see the world’s biggest and oldest living creature, the aspen forest called Pando. The picturesque town of Torrey is nearby and from there you could travel south on Highway 12 or east through the Capital Reef National Park to the Henry Mountains and Moab.
This region is like being on another planet.
Chilcotin/Big Bar Ferry. A little closer to home we have our own version of Utah. Off Highway 20, take the Farwell Canyon road and check out the lower Chilcotin River. Keep going to Gang Ranch and down into the benches of the Fraser River where you will cross over on the suspension bridge, south to Jesmond and then to the Big Bar cable ferry to cross over the Fraser yet again, which will lead you on poorly-marked back roads to Lillooet. Bring fuel, food, water, and a good backroads map.
This route is the lifetime goal of many German tourists for some reason. Let’s not let them enjoy their little secret without us.
If you like this one, I’ll do another version closer to home.
James Steidle is a Prince George writer.
