Cassiar Highway (Highway 37)

The Cassiar cuts through some of the most isolated territory in North America, running 725 kilometers from the Yellowhead Highway junction north to the Alaska Highway near Watson Lake. Built in the 1960s to serve mining operations, this mostly gravel road passes abandoned mining towns, active jade mines, and endless stretches where you won’t see another soul for hours. The section through the Cassiar Mountains between Meziadin Junction and Good Hope Lake tests both driver and machine with steep grades, switchbacks, and weather that can turn nasty without warning.

It’s a moderate to difficult route demanding high-clearance vehicles, multiple spare tires, and serious preparation. Summer brings construction dust and occasional washouts, while shoulder seasons can mean ice and snow at higher elevations. Fuel up at every opportunity—stations are 200+ kilometers apart. What you get is pure wilderness solitude, mountain vistas that’ll make you pull over just to stare, and the satisfaction of running one of Canada’s last true frontier highways.