Cassiar Highway
BC's forgotten highway through the northern wilderness.
Highway 37, better known as the Cassiar Highway, is what the Alaska Highway used to be before they paved it and put up tourist signs every five miles. This 450-mile ribbon of mostly gravel and patchy pavement runs from Kitwanga to Watson Lake, cutting through some of the most remote country in northern British Columbia. You’ll pass through the ghost town of Cassiar, where an old asbestos mine left behind a collection of abandoned buildings and equipment that’s slowly being reclaimed by the wilderness. The Stikine River crossing at Telegraph Creek Road junction marks the halfway point, where the bridge spans one of Canada’s last major undammed rivers.
This is a moderate route that demands respect rather than technical driving skills. Stock vehicles handle it fine, but you’ll want good tires, spare parts, and extra fuel—gas stations are few and far between, with some stretches going 200+ miles between pumps. Summer brings construction crews and dust clouds thick enough to choke a moose, while winter means ice, snow, and the very real possibility of getting snowed in for days. What draws people back is the absolute emptiness of it all—you can drive for hours without seeing another soul, just mountains, forest, and the kind of silence that makes city folks nervous.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 450 mi / 724 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4072 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock SUV high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Kitwanga, British Columbia |
| Land manager | British Columbia Ministry of Transportation |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | www2.gov.bc.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Land Cruiser handle the Cassiar without modifications?
Yes, a stock high-clearance SUV is the minimum and handles the Cassiar fine under normal conditions. The surface is mixed pavement and gravel, not rock crawling — but sharp gravel sections are hard on tires, so run load-range C or D if you can and carry at least one full-size spare.
When does the Cassiar open and close for the season, and what's the snow situation?
May through October is the reliable window. Snow can hit the highway as early as September at higher elevations, and spring melt can leave sections muddy and rough into mid-May. Check BC Highway 37 conditions through the official BC Ministry of Transportation site before you leave.
Do I need any permits or pay fees to drive the Cassiar Highway?
No permits required and no fees to drive the route itself — it's a public provincial highway. If you plan to camp in provincial parks along the way, some have self-registration fee stations, but dispersed camping off the highway is free.
What's the hardest or sketchiest section to drive on the Cassiar?
The gravel sections north of Dease Lake toward the Yukon border are the roughest — washboard, loose rock, and limited visibility on corners. Speed is your enemy here; slow down, watch for loaded logging trucks, and expect the gravel to chew through sidewalls if you're running worn tires.
How far apart are gas stations, and is there cell service along the route?
Fuel stops can be 150+ miles apart in the northern stretches — Bell II, Dease Lake, and Iskut are your key stops, but hours vary and some are seasonal. There is essentially zero cell service for the majority of the 450 miles, so carry a satellite communicator, download offline maps, and do not count on calling for help.
Trail track
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