Dawson Creek BC to Fort Nelson BC -Alaska Highway Road Trip

Yukon Road Trip 2020 – Part 1 of 7

The Maple Leaf RV departs Dawson Creek BC with the “Brothers of Tourism” and the Arctic Circle in their sights

Dawson Creek BC – Our 2 week Yukon Road Trip along the Alaska Highway and then Dempster Highway to the Arctic Circle begins in Kamloops, BC, Canada. This first leg leads us to Mile “0” of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, BC, Canada. 

WATCH VIDEO – Day 1

Yukon Road Trip In The Making

Respecting others wearing our mask

Why a road trip to the Arctic Circle you say? Because in today’s new travel reality, we are obliged to follow the new Government travel restrictions put in place on where we could go to explore during COVID 19. Therefore the travel destinations available to us in the low season, was limited, but not any less exciting. We wanted to explore where wearing masks, respecting other’s space and following safety protocols would all come easily to us. However, because our Base Camp is located in British Columbia that limited our destinations to the Yukon Territory and Alberta. 

Maple Leaf RV Yukon Road Tripping

The Maple Leaf RV

Road tripping in the Maple Leaf RV enables us to explore at our own pace, avoid busy areas and travel in comfort. Not to mention the many great brother moments created along the way.  This would be our second Yukon Territory road trip. Yukon 2.0! We knew going in that the travel itinerary would include a high probability of wildlife sightings, our 2 favorite long haul highways, endless jaw dropping Fall Season colors and a sleep over in the Arctic Circle. Sitting on top of the world. It was clear to us the Arctic was calling us back again.  

Oil & Gas Country

Maple Leaf RV mobile office

On this leg of our journey we would drive 1012 kilometres of pavement. The journey would take us through wildlife corridors (wildlife sightings included 3 Bald Eagles), endless tunnels of trees and a self guided tour through the oil and gas country of Dawson Creek BC and Fort St. John, BC, Canada. We had 2 days to reach Dawson Creek BC Canada from Kamloops BC. Dawson would be the official starting point of our Arctic Circle Expedition. 

When The Rubber Meets The Road

Co Founder Colin (aka Captain Canada of the Maple Leaf RV)

It was a long 2 days of driving for Captain Canada (my brother and co founding partner Colin) in the Maple Leaf RV. However, no matter how much driving Colin did, the kilometres continued to painfully tick by slowly like a broken minute hand on a watch.  “Are we there yet?” 

From Kamloops we headed up Highway 16 through the backcountry of Northern BC along the eastern border of  Wells Grey Provincial Park and into the villages of Barriere, Little Fort, Clearwater, Blue River, and Valemount, BC. We stopped at gas stations and Tim Hortons mostly. These were deemed the essentials in our road-trip journey to Mile “0”. Eventually we connected with the City of Prince George, BC, Canada – the centre and commercial hub of Northern British Columbia. From Prince George we drove the highways through “Oil and Gas Country” and then onto Dawson Creek BC Canada. 

OPS! Rock Chip Alert in Dawson Creek BC

Speedy Auto Glass in Dawson Creek BC

Traveling paved roads, side roads, back roads and road construction for just over a 1000 kilometres increases our chances of rock chips. Although, Captain Canada (Co Founding brother Colin, our Maple Leaf RV driver) was joking he was rock-chip proof. Not so much we find out. Near the end of our first leg a big rig kicked up some gravel and we got sprayed in rocks. One rock hit the bulls eye and left a chip. Off to Speedy Glass Dawson Creek (view video). 

Mile 0 Morning Departure

Time was running late. We decided to hunker down in Dawson Creek, BC. But where? Tim Hortons of course! With coffee in hand the next day, we headed to the Mile O marker located in Downtown Dawson Creek BC (10th Street and 102nd Avenue, Dawson Creek). The official starting point of the Alaska Highway. I cannot describe how excited we were. For us, this was like opening presents as a child on Xmas Day!

Historic 1942 wooden curved Kiskatinaw Bridge

History buffs, engineers, photographers make a note of the detour route, 30 kilometres north of Dawson Creek BC, onto the Old Alaska Highway. This short side route connects to the 190 foot historic wooden Kiskatinaw Bridge. The large trestle bridge has a 9 degree banked curve built right into it. A marvel at the time. 

On The Road to Fort Nelson BC

Xmas decoration? Tribute memorial?

Bro and I continued our journey to Fort Nelson BC on the Alaska Highway. Along the way we would utilize the highway pull-outs to take a photo, bathroom breaks, stretch our legs and anything else we needed to do. At one pull out there was a Xmas display? Time was tight so we decided not to investigate it but we did take a photo. And then we jumped back into our Maple Leaf Sleigh and we traveled into the horizon. In the distance you could hear us say, “Merry travels to all and to all a happy road trip!” 

Dawson Creek BC to Fort Nelson BC

Yukon Road Trip Part 1 of 7

***

Yukon Road Trip Day 1 – Kamloops to Dawson Creek BC – Photo courtesy of Google Maps

“Leave No Tourism Business Behind”

18,000+ pages & 16,000+ photos/videos

Small Town Canada Community Consultant / Co Founder at eh Canada Travel

Greg Girard is a co founding brother of the award winning adventure and travel website and blog ehCanadaTravel.com. Greg is also a top ranked Canadian travel blogger who enjoys public speaking, and working with as many small and rural Canadian communities as possible. Greg is an avid outdoor enthusiasts and amateur photographer who enjoys backpacking, road trips, wilderness camping, snowboarding and what he calls hacking (what others would call golf).

Top 20 Canada Travel Websites to Watch – FeedSpot (ehCanadaTravel.com)

#23 Top 1000 Global Travel Bloggers – Global Rise

Best Canadian Blogger — Expertido 

#4 Top 60 Canadian Travel Bloggers – BlogSpot

#7 Top 100 Canadian Travel Bloggers – Flight Network

FEATURED ON: CBC, Canada.com, Huffington Post, Nature Conservancy of Canada, TravelTV.com, Travel Industry Today, Cottage Life Magazine, Yukon Life, TAPS Magazine, HUB Magazine and many community public