Liard Highway North — Fort Liard to Fort Simpson via Checkpoint
Boreal gravel, one ferry, zero cell bars.
Highway 7 north of the Checkpoint junction is the kind of road that earns its miles. You’re threading through black spruce lowlands and muskeg country with the Liard River as your constant companion before swinging northeast toward Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie. The Liard River ferry crossing at the Checkpoint junction — seasonal and weather-dependent — is the trip’s pivotal moment, and if you miss it or it’s down, your route changes dramatically. Potholes, frost heaves, and soft shoulders are standard issue, especially through spring breakup. Fuel up hard in Fort Liard before you leave; there’s nothing between there and Fort Simpson except trees and mud.
This is a high-clearance gravel road run, not a gnarly rock crawl, but don’t mistake that for easy. A stock 4WD pickup with all-terrain tires handles it fine in summer, but loaded trailers and low-slung rigs suffer. Best window is July through September before the fall rains turn the shoulders into quicksand. Cell service is nonexistent from Checkpoint onward. The payoff is genuine subarctic isolation — woodland caribou, wood bison, and the kind of silence that makes you check if your radio’s still on.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 163 mi / 262 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1150 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Fort Liard, NWT |
| Land manager | Government of Northwest Territories — Department of Infrastructure |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | inf.gov.nt.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this route without modifications?
Yes. A stock high-clearance 4WD is sufficient for normal conditions. The gravel can be washboarded and rough, but nothing here demands a lift — just solid all-terrain tires and a skid plate wouldn't hurt on the looser sections.
When is the highway open and what happens in spring breakup?
The road is generally drivable June through September. Spring breakup (roughly April–May) turns sections into deep mud and can close the route entirely. Winter driving is possible on frozen ground but requires serious cold-weather preparation and local knowledge.
Do I need any permits or does it cost anything to drive Highway 7?
No permit required to drive the highway itself. The Liard River ferry crossing is free and operated by the GNWT — check the Department of Infrastructure site for current operating hours, as the ferry doesn't run 24/7.
What's the hardest part of this route and what should I expect?
The difficulty isn't one dramatic obstacle — it's sustained remoteness on rough gravel for 163 miles with no services. If the ferry is down for weather or maintenance, you're not crossing. Washboards, soft shoulders after rain, and the occasional deep pothole are the real challenges.
How much fuel do I need to carry and where can I get gas along the way?
Fort Liard has fuel at the start and Fort Simpson at the end — there is nothing in between. Carry enough reserve to cover the full 163 miles plus a buffer; 5–10 extra gallons is smart depending on your rig's consumption. Don't gamble on finding fuel at Checkpoint — it's not a reliable stop.
Trail track
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