One of the most spectacular scenic drives in North America, the Alaska Highway offers panoramic mountain views, wildlife along the roadside, and an experience traveling through untouched wilderness that is unparalleled. It definitely isn’t the quickest way to get to Alaska, but the experience makes the journey worthwhile. The Alaska Highway actually begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, stretching over 1,390 miles to its end in Delta Junction, Alaska. Three of the highlights along the highway are Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Liard River Hot Springs, and the world famous Signpost Forest in Watson Lake. These three can all be seen within a day’s drive, beginning in Fort Nelson, BC and ending in Watson Lake, YT.
The first of these sights that you’ll encounter is Stone Mountain Park, which is located about 47 miles west of Fort Nelson, in northern British Columbia. This stretch of the highway makes for a fun drive, with lots of twists and turns to get up and around the mountain, with a different view of the landscape around every bend. Stone Mountain is also a good chance to see wildlife, with Stone sheep, mountain goats, caribou, moose and black bear all frequenting the area.
Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is the next must see destination along the Alaska Highway. Set right off the highway, there is a day use parking area (picnic tables, bathrooms, playground available), and they have campgrounds available. From the parking area, you have to walk down a boardwalk trail about a quarter of a mile, across a thermal swamp, to reach the two main thermal pools (the main hot springs). Moose can often be spotted along the trail, grazing in the thermal waters. Temperatures of the pools are 107-125 degrees year-round, but there are some spots where cold water springs pop up to help even out the heat. The hot water is a nice relief on tired driving muscles, so it makes this the perfect place to stop along the highway, where you can soak in the hot springs, and have a picnic lunch.
The last destination of the day is the Signpost Forest in Watson Lake. Situated in the Yukon Territory, this is a very remote part of the highway. Because of its location, this is usually the only place to find lodging and supplies for several hundred miles, and so you get people from all over that have to stop through for that very reason. The Signpost Forest is a testament to all those travelers that have seen the Alaska Highway, with license plates, signs, and keepsakes, all left as markers to those that have been on the same journey along the highway. It’s a traveler’s garden to commemorate the road.
If you are interested in driving the Alaska Highway and learning more information, check out The Milepost. It is considered to be The Bible for the Alaska Highway, and provides any and all information, mile by mile, along the road.
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