Stewart, BC and Hyder, Alaska Travel Guide
Stewart, Canada’s most northerly ice-free port, and Hyder, the friendliest little town in Alaska.
Stewart, BC, and Hyder, Alaska is a spectacular side trip on Highway 37 A, also known as the Glacier Highway. The gorgeous 59 km drive to Stewart and Hyder takes you past towering, snow-capped mountains and through the impressive Bear Pass with its chilling glaciers. On a clear day, over twenty glaciers are visible from the road.
The border towns of Stewart and Hyder were once booming mining towns at the head of the Portland Canal. The two communities are only 3.3 km and an international border apart.
Today, Stewart still has all the major amenities with a year-round population of 800. From here, a short drive takes you to Hyder. Hyder, on the other hand, has a year-round population of about 60 but gets busy in summer.
Although there is no US Customs office at the border, on the way back from Hyder you have to stop at Canada customs and show valid identification.
Getting There
Driving on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway 37, turn onto Highway 37A at Meziadin Junction. The nearest transportation hub for connecting to buses, trains, and flights is Terrace, 337 km south. It takes you about 4 hours to drive to Terrace.
Things to See and Do
Fish Creek
An 8 km drive along a gravel road from Hyder takes you to Fish Creek where you can watch the bears feeding on salmon.
Salmon Glacier
Unless it’s rainy and fogged in while you’re in the area, the drive to Salmon Glacier is a must. Salmon Glacier is Canada’s largest glacier accessible by road and accessible by 32 km of driving a winding, narrow gravel road.
Where to Stay
Among several campgrounds and motels, there is Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart, with 40 rooms in various heritage buildings.
Where to Eat and Drink
In Stewart, the only year-round options are the King Edward Hotel and the Silverado Coffee Shop. In Hyder, stop in at the Glacier Inn for a drink and get “hyderized”. Eat at the unique Seafood Express, where you get the tastiest seafood ever cooked on a school bus.
That’s Hyder for you!
The town also has two grocery stores on its main street where you can stock up on food. Harbour Light General Store, the smaller one of them also sells coffee and is a great place to meet locals. You can also use their WiFi.
Stewart Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre in Stewart, British Columbia is located at the scenic entrance of the boardwalk. From here you can take a walk and enjoy the view of the Portland Canal.