Page 80 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

NORTH FROM FORT NELSON

Miles Km

Watson Lake, YK 330 525

Whitehorse YK 618 968

Dawson City YK 954 1514

Fort Liard, NWT 126 203

Fort Simpson NWT 303 487

Yellowknife, NWT 613 987

Steamboat 49 78

Tetsa River Services 74 117

Rocky MT Lodge 95 151

Toad River Lodge 122 193

See Video Northern Rockies 160 254

Muncho Lake 161 256

Lower Liard 195 310
Alaska Hwy North of Fort Nelson
photo by:
VC TRAVEL GUIDE Liard Hotsprings 196 311
Lodge
JCT. ALASKA HWY & LIARD HWY 77 TO The community and river name was likely given by
FORT LIARD IN NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Robert Campbell on his trips up river to Fort Halkett
and Dease Lake during the 1830s. A Hudson’s Bay Coal River Lodge 227 361
trading post was established here in 1867, with a
postmaster in service from 1868 to 1878, but the site
ALASKA HWY (BC HWY 97 NORTH) was reported abandoned by the Geological Survey of Fireside 241 385
Canada in 1890.
Tetsa River A different naming story maintains that in 1942,
Location: Milepost 375 on the Alaska Highway when the Canadian and US armies were building the Contact Creek 279 449
and BC Hwy 97. Alaska Highway, there were problems crossing the
many rivers and it was common to be “towed” across.
This gave way to the spelling “toad” and soon “Toad Lodge
Originally a US Army Camp during construction River, BC” was born.
of the Alaska Highway. There is excellent fishing in The community is mainly a travel and tourism
the area for arctic grayling. related stop with highway maintenance, lodging, Skagway Alaska 710 1142
Toad River restaurant, gas station, telephone, private 3000 foot Tok 998 1591
airstrip and related services. Two miles north of Toad
Location: Milepost 422 on the Alaska Highway River, the Poplars Campground offers camping and
and BC Hwy 97. Population: 75. motel rooms during the summer months.
There are several outfitting businesses in the area Fairbanks 1203 1921
Situated in a picturesque valley, the Toad River with clients coming from all over the world to enjoy
area offers an abundance of wildlife for great viewing the wilderness and hunt big game. One can frequently
opportunities. Three nearby rivers, the Toad, Racing see elk, moose, caribou, stone sheep, black bears and Anchorage 1306 2103
and McDonald, offer excellent fishing for arctic sometimes grizzly bears on the roadside.
grayling and Dolly Varden. Exploring numerous After a hard day of driving, stop by Toad River
hiking trails, riverboat tours, white water rafting and Lodge with cabins right on Reflection Lake, motel Valdez 1251 1989
horseback riding are some of the activities that can rooms, full service RV sites and scrumptious home-
be enjoyed. cooked meals.
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