Canada Visit Part 3 Overnight Trip to Stewart, B.C., Hyder, AK....we saw Glaciers

We've been overwhelmed with the beauty of British Columbia and Ron and Patsy still had more for us to see. They wanted to really make our visit memorable so they thought an overnight stop in Stewart, B.C. would be fun and Hyder, AK was just across the border from there so we could do some border crossing and see some new sights. Hyder is a small community on the eastern fringe of Misty Fiords National Monument, at the head of Portland Canal, a town that may be in Alaska but identifies more closely with its Canadian neighbors just across the border in Stewart, British Columbia.

Hyder has a number of gold rush-era saloons, which are popular with visitors. The Glacier Inn is the best known and features an interior papered in signed bills, creating the “$20,000 Walls” of Hyder. Next door is First and Last Chance Saloon, and both bars are lively at night. There’s also the Toast works in Stewart, a restaurant that doubles up as a toaster museum with more than 500 models on display.

As we drove to Stewart, we made a short stop to view Bear Glacier. This was our first glacier viewing and it was pretty spectacular. This was a perfect prelude to what was to come later.

The sheer massiveness of the glacier is incredible. We would come back this way again as we traveled back to Terrace the next day. More opportunities to take more photos.

BIG CORRECTION FROM THE LAST POST...We did not stop at Meziadin Provincial Park on our way to Prince Rupert. Meziadin is in the opposite direction from Prince Rupert. We stopped at Meziadin on the way to Stewart, B.C. We saw the bears on the way to Stewart. That's what I get for not checking my map and facts before posting. Bad Memory. 

After our stop at Bear Glacier we had a short drive into Stewart. We stopped at the Visitor's Center and I found a geocache. First one in B.C.

We checked out a couple hotel/motels in Stewart and decided on the Ripley Inn. Very quaint hotel made up of small buildings that have been refurbished with hotel rooms. They look like old fashion rustic rooms and they sort of smelled that way too. Nothing really bad just old. We got settled in our rooms and it was time to explore. We drove over the border to Hyder, AK to have some lunch at a little outdoor eatery called The Bus. You cross the border and drive down the main road to a side street and there it is. Well, as luck would have it the weather that far north was unusually warm...like near 90 degrees. We got to The Bus and there was a sign in front saying "CLOSED, TOO HOT TO COOK". Well there goes that interesting stop. At least we got to see what everyone talks about in Hyder. 

So the alternative was to go to the Glacier Inn. Not a bad second choice. This is where you can get Hyderized. Getting Hyderized at the Glacier Inn in Hyder Alaska is taking a shot of 150 proof everclear alcohol with no smelling, no tasting, and only one chance. We decided not to get Hyderized. They have good food and interesting décor with all the dollars bills from around the world everywhere on the walls. Definitely $20,000 walls.

They don't allow any photography in the restaurant so this is what you get.  

After lunch  we headed toward Salmon Glacier. It's a 23 mile drive on the Stewart-Cassiar Hwy then a long drive up a very dusty gravel road called the Salmon Glacier Road. Salmon Glacier is the 5th largest glacier in Canada. There is a self guided auto tour as you travel to the glacier. The first stop is Stewart, B.C. then Hyder and on to the Riverside Mine, Indian Mine Viewpoint, Premier Mine Viewpoint, the Toe of Salmon Glacier and then the Summit. The mines were started back in the early 1900's. However no active mining is taking place now. The views just got better and better as we climbed higher and higher toward the Glacier.

Then as we rounded a corner on the road there it was. the toe of Salmon Glacier. The glacier extends for miles up the mountain as far as we could see.

Two young folks admiring the view. They were from somewhere in Europe.

The Toe of Salmon Glacier

Panoramic view

We continued up a little further to the summit and stood on the edge of the road facing the glacier. I for one could not take my eyes off the view. Such an incredible opportunity to see a wonder of our world. We lingered there for sometime taking tons of photos from every conceivable angle. It was very hard to leave the area. Once we finally started back to Stewart, we made a quick stop at the Fish Creek Wildlife Viewing area. This time of year the salmon are not spawning so we didn't get to see much in the way of fish or for that matter bear trying to catch the salmon as they head up stream. They  have a very nice boardwalk to safely view the salmon run and the bears that would be there.

We did see this beaver working at making a dam along the stream. He was carrying sticks from one end of the stream to the other  as he worked to build up his home.

After our glacier viewing we made it back to Stewart and took a walk on the Estuary boardwalk and enjoyed learning about some of the flowers and animals that inhabit the area. 

Cow Parsnips

After our walk we hung out in the lounge area in our building where our rooms were. We knew we had a busy day planned the following day so we turned in fairly early. Hard to sleep since the sun is still up at 10-11 pm.

The next day we got ready and had breakfast at the Toast Works restaurant that sits just in front of the Ripley Inn. Cool décor with all the toasters and kitchen implements surrounding you.

Once we finished breakfast we started back to Terrace only to stop again at Bear Glacier for more photos and spectacular views of the glacier, waterfalls and majestic landscape. 

Make sure you ENLARGE the photos for better viewing. 

On the way back we stopped at the Pioneer Chapel. With a Memorial to Fallen Loggers. 

The Memorial

We then stopped to see the ferry and personnel carrier across the one of the interior rivers.

The ferry is set up so the current from the river moves the ferry across the river back and forth. I can't remember the name of the river but it was pretty interesting how they engineered the use of the ferry.

A couple more photos of the wonderful B.C. landscape as we traveled back to Terrace. I certainly want to return to this beautiful area but with the motorhome next time. 

 We can't thank Ron and Patsy enough for showing us the wonders of B.C. We love where they live and fully understand why they love this part of B.C. A great place to be in the summer time.

We will be back someday. That's not all to B.C. so much more to see. 

Next post we see Ron and Patsy's daughter, Jessica and her family. They live on a ranch(farm) and have many animals. Glenda loved the goats and horses.

We also take an auto tour of the tribal land and a lava field. Hope you'll follow along.