Page 90 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

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Watson Lake Sign Post Forest
photo by:
VC Travel Guide

SPECIAL EVENTS
Yukon Open - Alpine Ski Competition: March
Northern Historical Display: June-August
Kaska Days: June
Canada Day Festivities, Lucky Lake: July 1 st
Discovery Days Celebration: mid-August
Arts in the Park & Community Market:
June-Sept

JCT. ALASKA HWY 1
& ROBERT CAMPBELL HWY 4

JCT. ALASKA HWY 1 Teslin
& BC STEWART-CASSIAR HWY 37 photo by:
Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre
Swift River
Location: Alaska Highway 1 Milepost 733, on a summer camp and meeting place for Tlingit from
the 60th Parallel, approximately 100 miles west coastal Alaska and BC. The name Teslin is derived
of Watson Lake. from the Inland Tlingit word tás ten, or “long sewing
sinew”, referring to the 78-mile long lake. There is a
Visitors will find lodging, fuel, free RV parking, day-use area and boat launch at the north end of the
a restaurant and gift shop at the Continental Divide impressive Nisutlin Bay Bridge, which has the longest
Lodge. The river provides great fishing for Arctic span on the Alaska Highway at 1916 feet.
grayling and bull trout. The Swift River eventually Eleven species of fish populate the lake, with lake
joins with the Yukon to drain a great portion of Alaska trout being the most popular. In late summer, chinook
into the Bering Sea. and chum salmon travel up the Teslin River to spawn.
The area is also good for duck, goose and moose
Teslin hunting.
Location: Milepost 804 on Alaska Highway 1, During the 1898 gold rush, Teslin became a
167 miles northwest of Watson Lake and 107 stopover point on the Canadian route to the Klondike.
fishing, photo safaris, horseback rides, and hiking and miles south of Whitehorse. Population: 450. The Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading
camping. Visitor Information: Information Kiosk, Village post, which closed down by 1903 but was replaced by
The upper reaches of the Liard River created of Teslin, PO Box 130, Teslin, Yukon Y0A 1B0; the historic Nisutlin Trading Post.
a mini gold rush as early as the 1850s. Today, any Phone: (867) 390-2530; Email: info@teslin.ca; Teslin continued to grow with the arrival of the
sand bar along the river will produce fine gold for the Website: www.teslin.ca. Northwest Mounted Police. Still in use as a parish hall,
amateur panner. It is advised to check with the mining an Anglican Mission was built in 1906, and the Roman
recorder’s office first. This community on Teslin Lake was originally Catholic Mission was established in 1938.
Today the community has an airport, restaurants,
RV camping and accommodations. There are also
boat rentals, houseboat tours, charter fishing outfitters
The First Stop In The Yukon and an air charter service. The well-stocked Nisutlin
Trading Post offers motel rooms, groceries, gear and
service station. The Northern Wildlife Gallery in the
Town Prices
Souvenirs • Snacks Yukon Motel houses an impressive display of wildlife.
Teslin has the largest Tlingit artifact collection in
Soft Ice Cream • Internet Service Open Year Round the Yukon. Located on the highway 1 km west of the
Towing For AAA & BCAA Gas • Diesel Nisutlin Bay Bridge, the George Johnston Museum
Fishing Licenses Caravanʼs Discount preserves the photography of the Tlingit elder, trapper,
Milepost 590, Alaska Highway • Yukon fur trader and entrepreneur who captured the life of the
TOWING inland Tlingit people of Teslin and Atlin between 1910
(867) 536-2262 and 1940. Johnston (1884–1972) also brought the first
car to Teslin where it is now on display, along with
E-Mail: rhair@lincsat.com Tlingit ceremonial robes and trade goods.

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