Prince
George to Dawson Creek
The
Hart Highway,
(Highway 97 North) starts at Prince
George and winds its way northeast to Dawson
Creek where it becomes the Alaska
Highway. This 406 km (252 miles) highway leads through farmlands,
forests,
over mountain passes to the foothills and open prairies. Anglers
may wish to try their luck at the numerous lakes and streams along
the journey.
Prince
George to Chetwynd
Giscome Portage Regional Park: Featuring a living museum, historic
houses, barns and a warehouse, this park is located 40 km (25 miles)
north of Prince George via the Mitchell Road east for 4 km (2.5
miles).
Summit
Lake:
Summit Lake is situated on the Arctic-Pacific divide, with waters
to the north draining to the Arctic and those to the south draining
into the Pacific. There is good char and rainbow trout fishing in
the lake. Further north you will pass Crooked
River Provincial Park, Whiskers
Point Provincial Park and the small village of McLeod Lake.
McLeod
Lake:
The first European settlement west of the Rockies, Simon Fraser
established Trout Lake Fort here in 1805. Just north of Mcleod Lake
are War Falls and Lake and Carp
Lake Provincial
Park. Access is via a west turn gravel road, 26 km (16 miles)
from Mcleod Lake. Continuing along the Hart Highway is Tudyah Lake
Provincial Park with good fishing, swimming and boating. The park
is on the western edge of the Rocky Mountain Trench. Not far along
is Junction 39 to Mackenzie.
Chetwynd:
Formerly known as Little Prairie, Chetwynd's main economic stays
include forestry, oil and gas, mining with some farming and tourism.
Little
Prairie Heritage Museum:
This museum is housed in the old post office and features trapping
and farming exhibits. There are railway artifacts displayed in an
old caboose. It is located west of town.
Chetwynd
to Dawson Creek:
The road leading to Dawson Creek becomes much more open about 30
km (19 miles) north of Chetwynd as it leads into the Pine River
Valley. There is good fishing and canoeing at East Pine Provincial
Park.
Dawson
Creek:
Settled in 1912, Dawson Creek was named for pioneer geologist George
Mercer Dawson. By the 1930's this was a main service centre for
the region. In 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbour, the Canadian
and US governments agreed to build a route through the north. With
over 10,000 employees in the area, Dawson Creek prospered. The town
is located at the crossroads of Alaska and Hart Highway (Highway
97) and Highways 49 and 2.
Mile
"O" Sign Post:
This sign post is located on 10th Street, across from the Alaska
Hotel.
Walter
Wright Pioneer Village:
These restored 1940's buildings are located at the junction of the
Hart/Alaska Highways.
Northern
Alberta Railway Station Park and NAR Park:
This restored NAR station now houses the museum. Exhibits such as
a restored 1949 grain elevator, a late 1890's railway car and Beaver
First Nations artifacts are displayed here.It is located on Alaska
Avenue.