An Explorer's Guide to Telegraph Creek, BC

Northern Highways - Alaska, Yukon & Northern BC

Video - the Telegraph Creek Road by Motorcycle (15 min. long)

Mileage points are based on mileposts along the highway.

Click on each photo to enlarge it

The Telegraph Creek Road runs approximately 70 miles (113 km) from Dease Lake, on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, to Telegraph Creek. At Km 4.7 the pavement ends, then you cross over a cattle guard and head into the wilderness.

This view is looking back towards Dease Lake at Km 65.9.

Here's the first indication of why it's recommended that large RVs and trailers stay off the Telegraph Creek Road. This 18% drop westbound at Km 74.8 looks pretty impressive until you see what's ahead!

Looking west from Km 75.1 with the Fall colours starting.

Starting up the 18% grade at Km 76 eastbound. The GPS gives a look at the route as only an aircraft could until recently.

Crossing the Tuya River eastbound at Km 76.

Heading east along the Tuya River at Km 77.7.

Day's Ranch as seen from Km 84, half-way down the first 20% grade on the road.

Dramatic Fall colors, seen from the rest area at Km 88.

One of the most famous mountain goat habitats along the Stikine River. Just below the long "cave," you may be able to make out eight goats in the enlarged photo. This photo was taken in 2000 - I haven't seen any goats in subsequent trips.

A 20% grade at Km 90.8 drops you down to the Tahltan River crossing. This hill isn't as long or as winding as the other 20% grade at Km 83.

BC's most scenic garbage dump, along the Stikine River. It's not an official dump, but everything from household garbage to appliances has been dumped down this slope over a fairly long period.

Looking up the Stikine River from Km 90 on the Telegraph Creek Road. This is a dramatic section of the road, with sheer cliffs on both sides of the road - down to the Stikine River on one side, the Tahltan River on the other.

The Tahltan River, from the lava cliff opposite the one where the photo above was shot. This panorama was made by stitching 2 photos together.

Looking down the Tahltan River from Km 90. Part of Tahltan Village, a seasonal fishing camp, can be seen in the distance. This panorama was also made by stitching 2 photos together.

A cabin with unique decorating at Tahltan Village, a seasonal fishing camp along the Telegraph Creek Road.

After crossing the Tahltan River, seen entering the Stikine River at the bottom of this photo, the road climbs steeply out of the canyon.

A close-up of the section of road seen in the photo above, looking back down the hill at Km 92.4. It is down to a single track for much of the climb, with a few tiny pull-outs for passing.

Climbing the steep hill at Km 94 eastbound. The Stikine River is at the bottom of the steep cliff on the right.

Looking up the Stikine River at Km 96.

The same location as the photo above in the Fall.

Climbing up to the small cemetery at 9 Mile (it's about 9 miles from Telegraph Creek, but is now Km 97.6 on the road) affords a beautiful view of the Stikine River valley. Some of the grave markers and fences at this cemetery are quite unique.

Looking up the Stikine River from Km 102.

Looking down the Stikine River from Km 110.

This Google Earth image shows the area from the Telegraph Creek Airport to the historic downtown. Click on the image to open an interactive map in a new window.

One of the best views of Telegraph Creek is from the cemetery at Km 111. This view is looking west down the Stikine River towards Glenora.

The one-lane Bailey Bridge over Telegraph Creek. This panorama was made by stitching 2 photos together.

Historic downtown Telegraph Creek.

St. Aidan's Church.

The west end of downtown Telegraph Creek. The large white building is the Stikine Riversong Lodge, formerly the Hudsons Bay Company trading post.

This scene was captured on the road to Glenora, looking down the Stikine River. Established in the early days of the Klondike Gold Rush, Glenora is about 20 kilometers past Telegraph Creek. All traces of the community vanished many years ago.

This photo was taken on the Glenora road, looking towards Glenora.

This cemetery between Telegraph Creek and Glenora was first used during the Klondike Gold Rush, and graves from that era can still be seen. It isn't marked and is off the road far enough to be almost hidden by foilage, so takes some care to find, but the access trail is at Km 131.3.

The end of the road to Glenora is at Km 132.2 (looking at the Glenora road as an extension of the Telegraph Creek Road). Here you'll find a boat landing for the people who live down the Stikine River (as well as other boats). This photo was taken from down the river, looking at the landing.

Among the places that used to be found down the Stikine River was the Glenora Guest Ranch. Although it closed permanently in 2012, this was the modern incarnation of the Ball Ranch, a world-famous big game guiding operation in the 1950s and '60s in particular. This photo was taken on June 25, 2008.

Scottish actor/comedian Billy Connolly shooting part of a northern Canada travelogue on September 14, 2008. He is seen here looking down the Stikine River valley with Nancy Ball, owner of the Glenora Guest Ranch.

When the Telegraph Creek Road gets wet, extreme caution is required to drive it. The mud is thick and greasy, and dries like concrete. I pressure-washed the car when I got home, but had to pull all the wheels off and scrape the mud off the inside of the wheels because the mud had thrown them badly out of balance.