Alcan or Cassier Highways

[stiffnecked]

If you're spending more then a day in Hyder it's worth driving out the road to the Salmon Glacier. It's the 5th largest in the US.

Salmon Glacier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Destinations - Stewart-Cassiar Region - BC Canada

[Glacierx]

Originally Posted by warptman

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=O...ia=1,2&t=m&z=9

I've done both. If I were to do it again, I'd take one up and the other down just to mix it up. The Cassiar is shorter and quicker, but you travel slower. If you take the Alcan, go through Hudson's Hope instead of Dawson Creek.

One note about starting from Oroville is that I would take hwy 3 over the Princeton, then 5a up to Merritt (hwy 97 north of Osoyoos is quite slow and congested in the summer).

[takuriver]

Originally Posted by warptman

The Cassiar is only 120 miles shorter. There are more services on the Alcan and you have Liard Hot Springs. I have yet to do the Cassiar, but I drove the Alcan 17 times and absolutely love it.

Cassiar is much more scenic. Both are a lot of fun, but given the choice I'd do the Cassiar.

[4theluvofgold]

An old one dug up. I did a post with lots of pictures of both routes. Alcan is faster because higher KPH most of the way 100 and fewer slow down places. Hwy 16 from Prince George west is mostly 90 KPH and you go then slow for town, go then again slow for town. But Cassiar is scenic. My favorite part is the Jade store. I love minerals and rock hounding. I always carried extra fuel in my truck so I could get from Prince George to Teslin without the need to fuel up. If I headed to Prince Rupurt to stop by the coast or meet a Ketchican friend then I would top off.

[GeorgiaPeach71]

How is the Alcan in the winter time?

[raemarti]

This post is several years old now and I thank everyone who responded to my questions! I drove the Alcan as
indicated in July, 2013. Had a ball! I am a retired Alaskan and originally took my convertible out on the ferry from Whittier, Alaska in April, 2013. The ferry was/is very expensive and time consuming but enjoyed that ferry ride to Bellingham very much. I am still friends with several Alaskan couples taking their motorhomes out for months of sightseeing the U.S. I spent time with family in the Spokane/Coeur d'Alene and Lewis and Clark Valley for several months. Had a ball with family driving around the PNW too! Drove the Alcan back up in July through the Okanagan valley and it was a great trip! Had some car trouble right out of the gate(Coulee Dam, WA.) but nothing too big once I knew the situation. My gas tank hose gee-hawed loose from intake nozzle(in that area) and when I would make sharp right-hand turns, I could see the gas trail on the ground behind. Learned not to fill it up all the way and stopped for gas every chance I got. Otherwise, it was a great trip up the highway. I plan to do it again soon! Stayed in motels along the way, none more than about $75 per day. Nothing fancy but clean. Had a great week long drive back with books on CD keeping me company(something I don't take time for in my day to day life). I was so impressed with lower British Columbia! Stopped at a Costco for gas and to look around in Kamloops. Further up, of course, less populated and less concrete, more dust, as you go. They did have a 12% general sale tax on everything but ice. I bought a bag in Fort Nelson and no tax. Maybe that was exclusive to Fort Nelson? Went into a Walmart and prices comparable to Alaska less the 12% GST. Didn't buy anything but it was interesting to look around. I think Yukon Territories is considerably less at 5% tax. This was my 3rd time up the highway, 1975, 1987 and 2012. Have always flown out to the lower 48 because of time constraints. Thank you all for all your good posts here!

[raemarti]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeach71

How is the Alcan in the winter time?

Have never been over the highway in winter. Always summer.

[Glacierx]

My father-in-law lives in Alaska. He says winter is the best time for driving because all the frost heaves flatten out, and the road is smooth.

As for the 12% tax, there's no tax on groceries including ice. It's 5% federal tax + 7% provincial.