Fort Liard to Kotaneelee River Road — Pointed Mountain Backcountry

Pointed Mountain sits at the trijunction of Northwest Territories, Yukon, and British Columbia — one of the more obscure corners of Canada, accessible via an old gas field service road that branches southwest from Fort Liard. The Kotaneelee River drainage is dramatic country: the Liard Range rises sharply to the west, the forest is dense Boreal and sub-alpine, and wildlife traffic on the road (black bears, wood bison, moose) is constant enough that you’ll slow down for animals more than for the road condition. The route follows the original gas field access corridor built in the 1970s, and maintenance has been irregular at best since production wound down.

Call this a Difficult run that can slide into Expert territory after rain — clay-heavy sections become axle-deep grease when wet. A locker front and rear, high clearance, and winch are the practical minimum if you’re pushing to the Kotaneelee River crossing. The nearest fuel and services are in Fort Liard, roughly 60–80 kilometres back depending on your turnoff point. No cell service, no rescue infrastructure. Best window is July to early September; snowfall at elevation can arrive by mid-September. You get genuine wilderness, virtually no other traffic, and one of the most overlooked tripoint approaches in the country.