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While there are many dramatic sights near Stewart and Hyder, two of the most astonishing are Bear Glacier and Salmon Glacier. Bear Glacier is one of the world’s few blue glaciers located by a roadside, while Salmon Glacier is one of North America’s largest. Stewart’s main claim to fame for many years was as a boom-and-bust mining town – walking through the area’s magnificent coastal forests or hiking alongside mountain streams and through alpine meadows often reveals the remains of old gold and silver mines.
Anglers can choose freshwater fishing in the area’s numerous lakes and streams or saltwater fishing for salmon, Halibut, prawns and crabs along the Portland Canal. Be sure to watch bears feeding on spawning salmon at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. You’ll also want to take a walking tour of historic Stewart.
Hiking is a popular sport around Stewart and Hyder, and one well worth the effort. Many trails lead to stunning views of the towns, the Portland Canal and its surrounding peaks. Some routes even lead to historical mining sites or to thrilling, close-up views of glaciers. Visitors also enjoy strolling the boardwalk that looks down on the Portland Canal. There is terrain for all levels of cyclists as well.
Those wanting to explore the area's natural attractions often head to Meziadin Lake Provincial Park at the Hwy 37/37A junction. Just under a one-hour drive from Stewart, this park is a great camping spot. This is also an ideal spot for canoeing, boating and fishing. In late summer, you can observe spawning sockeye salmon fighting their way up nearby creeks.
Stewart's colourful past is on display at the Stewart Historical Museum, located in the town's original fire hall. Here you can experience the story of Stewart through tales of the area's early residents and miners. Also on display are props from Hollywood movies that have been filmed in the area, which include Insomnia, The Thing, Bear Island, Iceman and Leaving Normal. Be sure to explore the town on Stewart's Heritage Walking Tour, which passes by many of the community's original buildings, such as Klondike Kate's home and the Empress Hotel. Stewart also has a museum dedicated to toasters that celebrates a century of electro-mechanical ingenuity and, well, toast.
No trip to Stewart and Hyder is complete without a visit to: the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site, where you can observe bears safely from close-up; Bear Glacier, one of the world's few blue glaciers located by a roadside; and Salmon Glacier, one of North America's largest glaciers and one of BC's most spectacular sights.
Stewart's colourful past is on display at the Stewart Historical Museum, located in the town's original fire hall. Here you can experience the story of Stewart through tales of the area's early residents and miners. Also on display are props from Hollywood movies that have been filmed in the area, which include Insomnia, The Thing, Bear Island, Iceman and Leaving Normal.
There is an abundance of natural sights, parks and wildlife in the Stewart/Hyder area, but three in particular are absolute "must-sees." The Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site near Hyder, Alaska was developed as a bear-viewing area that safely separates people from bears. Here, bears are comfortable enough to pursue their normal behaviour, and people are safe enough to watch this from a close distance. Both grizzly and black bears can be observed and photographed from an elevated platform as they fish for chum and pink salmon in the clear, shallow waters of Fish and Marx creeks. Bears use the site from mid-July through early September, following the arrival of spawning salmon.
Bear Glacier, located at the crest of Bear Pass on Highway 37A, is one of the only roadside, blue glaciers in the world. This dramatic glacier descends into Strohn Lake, almost reaching the highway. There is a rest area along the road from which to view and photograph the glacier as well as to picnic.
Salmon Glacier is one of North America's largest glaciers and one of BC's most spectacular sights. Getting there is half the fun: you'll travel over 40 km (25 mi) from Stewart along the rugged Granduc mining road (usually accessible July through September), which winds through magnificent scenery, skirting the eastern edge of Salmon Glacier and Summit Lake. In mid-summer the entire 5-km (3-mi) lake drains under the glacier, leaving behind an iceberg-littered lake bottom. Guided tours to the site are available. Please note that this trip requires crossing the Canada/US border into Alaska; visitors must report to Canada Customs upon their return to Canada.
The Stewart area is a freshwater angler's delight. Numerous lakes, streams and rivers are filled with trout, salmon, Dolly Varden and steelhead. For those who prefer the saltwater catches of salmon and halibut, charter boats are available from the Portland Canal. Salmon here reach sizes as large as 23 kg (50 lbs). There is excellent prawn and crab trapping here as well. Head to Meziadin Lake Provincial Park for exceptional canoeing and boating opportunities.
Stewart is world-renowned for its expansive and pristine heli-skiing terrain. Exhilarating runs abound - in trees, over glaciers and through alpine bowls. This area experiences abundant snowfalls, with an average snow base of 5-6 m (15-18 ft). This is snowmobiling country, too, with thousands of square km (mi) of wide, open terrain that features glaciers, powder bowls and hill climbing.
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