Snow-capped peaks instead of intrusive neon signs, calm waters instead of bars and shopping centers, eagles and moose instead of crowds of tourists - in northwest Canada, road trips become wonderful experiences of nature. If you are looking for an alternative to the well-known Alaska Highway, the "Alcan", which is famous not least for its extraordinary construction history, you will find it on British Columbia Highway 37. The road in the hinterland of the Coast Mountains is one of the loneliest and quietest in the whole of Canada.
And certainly one of the most beautiful. Endless rainforests pass in front of the window, followed later by mighty spruces, pines and poplars. Rushing rivers alternate with idyllic lakes. And between the rugged flanks of the Skeena and Cassiar Mountains, you come across the culture of the First Nations, dreamy settlements and remnants of British Columbia's gold mining past.
Until well into the 20th century, rivers were the most important transportation routes in the impassable areas of the province. Not even the completion of the Alaska Highway changed this. It was only when the extraction of natural resources became increasingly important that a year-round road connection between the Yellowhead and the Alaska Highway was considered necessary. So work began on Highway 37.

Compared to that time, the condition of the road has improved, but the highway still does not seem to have fully arrived in the modern age. Some wooden bridges date back to its beginnings. There is no cell phone reception for long stretches. You should never miss an opportunity to top up your fuel tank on the road, and checking the current road conditions is practically mandatory before setting off.

Highway 37, also known as the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, starts in Kitwanga and heads north to Meziadin Junction, from where you can turn off to Stewart and the Last Frontier base at Ripley Creek. However, if you stay on the highway, you'll cross the Bell-Irving River and follow its shoreline to the next bridge over the river. Do some quick math: One Bell and another Bell equals? Exactly - Bell 2!
Since the 1970s, Bell 2 has been offering travelers on their way to the Yukon and Alaska a warm meal and a comfortable bed. In the meantime, the former rest stop has been transformed into the luxurious log cabin village "Bell 2 Lodge". In winter, Last Frontier Heliskiing has its second home here. Continue on Highway 37 to Tatogga Lake Resort, which forms the entrance to Mount Edziza Provincial Park with its fascinating volcanic landscape, and to Dease Lake on the lake of the same name. This is where Telegraph Creek Road begins. Along this gravel road, you will discover First Nations camps, the Grand Canyon of the pristine Stikine River and numerous remnants from the gold rush era. The name of the community of Telegraph Creek also dates back to this time.

The telegraph line between Dawson Creek and Vancouver once ran here. Today, hikers use old telegraph cabins as shelters. The next attraction on Highway 37 is Jade City. The population is tiny, but the jade deposits in the region are enormous. You can learn more about the mining history of the town in various exhibitions, some of which are interactive. Cassiar, not far away, was less fortunate. The former asbestos mining town has become a ghost town. After Highway 37 leaves Good Hope Lake behind, it finally joins the Alaska Highway. Even this is not exactly known for the stop-and-go traffic of rush hour. After the solitude of the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, however, you have to get used to the sight of a truck in the rear-view mirror or a camper in the opposite lane.

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