Dease Lake, Gnat Lakes, Stewart BC

[CharlynnT]

Hi All,

We had a wonderful trip last week up Highway 37 to Dease Lake. Best spot was a new Provincial Park between Kitwanga and Meziadin, before Bell II. We turned right off 37 for Brown Bear Lake and followed a crushed-slate road for about 14 k, then turned right again to cross a new concrete bridge over a small fast creek.

Hmm, can this be it? The road had not been "mowed" for a long time! Three-foot high grass growing between the tire tracks. Plenty of bear scat. Low-lying areas as the marsh creeps onto the roadway, but wait! There's a sign: "BC Provincial Park Boundary". Okey-dokey.

We turn around the last bend and there it is, the campground: one picnic table, one fire pit -- I guess we'll take this spot! A short trail leads us to "the dock", four two-by-sixes, perfect for our canoe on one side, our kayak on the other. A sign advises No Gas Motors.

The next day, we are the only ones on the long narrow lake, perfect weather with intermittent clouds to keep it cool and a light breeze to keep bugs off. Some small trout skin-side down on the grill makes a nice appetizer. Free.

An SUV with Alaska plates pulls up containing a lovely young family and we chat for a short time. Later we wonder if the fact we were all wearing whistles around our necks and hubby's first question: "See any bears?" scared them off.

Gnat Lakes: way far north, at 4000 feet above sea level we are presented with alpine lakes and stunted trees. It is a strange, lush, green place with a crazy-good boon-dock just south of Dease Lake, also free.

Next day, down to sea-level at Stewart, a thriving metropolitis! We go wild and get water/power for $20, then dine at one of the many restaurants. (Kid loves the pizza, then we walk on the estuary boardwalk.)

The museum in Stewart is free and open even after supper, including historical mining artifacts on the ground floor and movies on the second: Insomnia, Bear Island, Leaving Normal and The Thing were all filmed there, fun to see the stills and those props.

Short trip for us, as we live "nearby" in the top left-hand corner of BC.

Plus it was a tour of hubby's bush-plane career, lots of landing strips to see, including two that cross the highway.

Happy camping, wherever you may be!

[Cam A]

Originally Posted by CharlynnT

Hi All,

We had a wonderful trip last week up Highway 37 to Dease Lake. Best spot was a new Provincial Park between Kitwanga and Meziadin, before Bell II. We turned right off 37 for Brown Bear Lake and followed a crushed-slate road for about 14 k, then turned right again to cross a new concrete bridge over a small fast creek.

Hmm, can this be it? The road had not been "mowed" for a long time! Three-foot high grass growing between the tire tracks. Plenty of bear scat. Low-lying areas as the marsh creeps onto the roadway, but wait! There's a sign: "BC Provincial Park Boundary". Okey-dokey.

We turn around the last bend and there it is, the campground: one picnic table, one fire pit -- I guess we'll take this spot! A short trail leads us to "the dock", four two-by-sixes, perfect for our canoe on one side, our kayak on the other. A sign advises No Gas Motors.

The next day, we are the only ones on the long narrow lake, perfect weather with intermittent clouds to keep it cool and a light breeze to keep bugs off. Some small trout skin-side down on the grill makes a nice appetizer. Free.

An SUV with Alaska plates pulls up containing a lovely young family and we chat for a short time. Later we wonder if the fact we were all wearing whistles around our necks and hubby's first question: "See any bears?" scared them off.

Gnat Lakes: way far north, at 4000 feet above sea level we are presented with alpine lakes and stunted trees. It is a strange, lush, green place with a crazy-good boon-dock just south of Dease Lake, also free.

Next day, down to sea-level at Stewart, a thriving metropolitis! We go wild and get water/power for $20, then dine at one of the many restaurants. (Kid loves the pizza, then we walk on the estuary boardwalk.)

The museum in Stewart is free and open even after supper, including historical mining artifacts on the ground floor and movies on the second: Insomnia, Bear Island, Leaving Normal and The Thing were all filmed there, fun to see the stills and those props.

Short trip for us, as we live "nearby" in the top left-hand corner of BC.

Plus it was a tour of hubby's bush-plane career, lots of landing strips to see, including two that cross the highway.

Happy camping, wherever you may be!

Thanks for the report; makes me wish.... how about a photo or two to complete the vision?