Salmon Glacier Road — Hyder to the Salmon Glacier Summit Viewpoint via Fish Creek and the Premier Mine Road
Gravel to a glacier in a border town's backyard.
Hyder, Alaska, is a handful of buildings at the end of a fjord, and it only gets reached by driving through Canada. From there the Salmon Glacier Road follows Fish Creek, passes the bear-viewing boardwalk, and crosses back into British Columbia on the old mine haul road toward Premier and Granduc. It climbs steadily on one-lane gravel past abandoned mine workings and waterfalls, and over rock slides. Then the trees open up and the Salmon Glacier appears below you, a river of ice twisting through the Coast Mountains. The drive up is about twenty miles. The view at the top has no business being reachable in a rental sedan, but here we are.
It’s graded gravel with steep drop-offs, blind corners, loose shoulders and the occasional washout. High clearance isn’t mandatory in dry weather, but good tires help, and a 4×4 earns its keep when it’s wet or snowy. Plan for slow going, pullouts for oncoming traffic, and no cell service past Hyder. The road is usually clear from July through September. Bring your passport for the border crossings, and plenty of fuel from Stewart. You get a glacier view you can park beside and nobody selling you a ticket. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 20 mi / 32.2 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4300 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance vehicle; 4WD advised in wet or snowy conditions |
| Nearest town | Hyder, Alaska |
| Land manager | Tongass National Forest / British Columbia Ministry of Transportation |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Tongass National Forest |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock SUV or crossover handle Salmon Glacier Road?
In dry weather, a careful driver in a stock high-clearance SUV can usually do it. The surface is gravel with washboard, potholes, and some rocky stretches. Wet or snowy conditions call for 4WD and decent tires.
When is Salmon Glacier Road open, and can I drive it in winter?
Plan on July through September. Snow can linger on the upper road into early summer, and the high sections are not realistically drivable in winter. Check conditions locally in Hyder or Stewart before you commit.
Do I need a passport or permit to drive Salmon Glacier Road?
No permit is needed for the road itself, but the route crosses between Alaska and British Columbia. Carry a passport, because you clear Canadian customs when returning to Stewart, BC. The Fish Creek wildlife viewing area charges a fee during the summer salmon run.
What is the hardest part of the drive?
The upper climb toward the summit viewpoint. The road narrows to a shelf cut into the mountainside with steep drop-offs, little room to pass, and loose gravel on the edges. Nothing here is technical, but the exposure and oncoming traffic are what rattle people.
Where do I get gas and what about cell service?
Fill up in Stewart, BC, before heading to Hyder. Don't count on fuel on the road itself. There's no cell service on the route, so bring a paper map or offline navigation, a spare, and extra water.
Trail track
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