Location: Milepost 422 on the Alaska Highway and BC Hwy 97. Population: 75.
Situated in a picturesque valley, the Toad River area offers an abundance of wildlife for great viewing opportunities. Three nearby rivers, the Toad, Racing and McDonald, offer excellent fishing for arctic grayling and Dolly Varden. Exploring numerous hiking trails, riverboat tours, white water rafting and horseback riding are some of the activities that can be enjoyed.
The community and river name was likely given by Robert Campbell on his trips up river to Fort Halkett and Dease Lake during the 1830s. A Hudson’s Bay trading post was established here in 1867, with a postmaster in service from 1868 to 1878, but the site was reported abandoned by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1890.
A different naming story maintains that in 1942, when the Canadian and US armies were building the 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 River, BC” was born.
The community is mainly a travel and tourism related stop with highway maintenance, lodging, restaurant, gas station, telephone, private 3000 foot airstrip and related services. Two miles north of Toad River, the Poplars Campground offers camping and motel rooms during the summer months.
There are several outfitting businesses in the area with clients coming from all over the world to enjoy the wilderness and hunt big game. One can frequently see elk, moose, caribou, stone sheep, black bears and sometimes grizzly bears on the roadside.
After a hard day of driving, stop by Toad River Lodge with cabins right on Reflection Lake, motel rooms, full service RV sites and scrumptious home-cooked meals.
