“USA 🇺🇸 Alaska ~Through Canada 🇨🇦 ~Second Leg / Returning to the Lower 48 from Alaska via Stewart, British Columbia to Prince Rupert, British Columbia”

• August 23, 2023
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

Heading Back to The Lower 48 From Alaska

This Route:
Stewart, British Columbia, to Prince Rupert: 284 Miles

On our departure day from Stewart, British Columbia, we drug our feet a little. We both could have stayed much longer. But, we are on our way back to Oregon, so must push on.

Within five minutes of leaving our campground, we saw two Black Bears. The closest one to us, as we drove by, was a youngster, probably his second summer.

As with our Haines, Alaska stop, our departures require backtracking on the road system. So, after 1.5 hours of driving, we finally left Hwy 37A and got back on Hwy 37, and heading for Prince Rupert. Almost immediately, we saw a Grizzly Bear. He stopped traffic both ways, and was unsure which way he wanted to go. He stopped and ate some grass. Then, he started to cross the road, then changed his mind. Finally, he headed back into the brush. He was sure pretty!

As we eventually changed from Hwy 37 to Hwy 16/Yellowhead, it really felt like Alaska was in our rear-view mirror and this did make me pause as I remembered all the good times, we DID have in Alaska. We were also, once again, heading towards the coast and after awhile I felt like I was in Puget Sound, Washington. It looked similar, especially since the drive day was gloomy with clouds and rain; the same weather as Washington.

After 6-plus hours, driving, we arrived at Prince Rupert and our second campground stay.

What a huge disappointment!

Originally, our plans, while staying at Prince Rupert, was to take a ferry to Ketchikan, Alaska.  We would learn, eventually, no ferries were running out of here this summer. Big bummer. So we decided to take a tour at the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, but they are not operating. About the only thing that is running, are Whale-Watching tours, which doesn’t get us too excited, since we’ve done so many of those; even around the world.
To make matters even more challenging, we were told this campground had wifi, when we reserved. It does not. It’s also muddy and dumpy. It looks a bit like a resident encampment of some kind. Apparently anything goes, here, including drug deals, and it’s just not our kind of place.
I inquired at the campground office about why the Wifi didn’t work. She was very rude and she said there wasn’t anything she could do to get us wifi. I told her she shouldn’t advertise they have wifi if they don’t. She said she pays a monthly fee to have wifi and she offers the Wifi, free of charge. I told her offering a service free of charge, when there is no such service available is a shady way to get people to come to the campground. I informed, we would be leaving in the morning; two days early. She would not give us a refund.

DO NOT STAY AT PRINCE RUPERT RV PARK.

We have been in Canada and Alaska for three months and there was only one other place; Rainbow Village Rv Park in Denali, Alaska, and now, Prince Rupert RV Campground in British Columbia we don’t recommend. The rest of our stays were great. Some stays were better than others, but we got what we were promised and the hosts were alway friendly.

I used Daryls phone, which has some Canadian cell service, to call around to find another campground, but there are 15 amp service, and those who honestly say they have no wifi available.
15 amp won’t be enough to run our refrigerator.

I called our third campground stay, in Hope, BC and asked if we could come earlier. They said yes. So, on this morning, we departed. We will boondock for however nights we need, to reach WildRose Campground and Rv Park.
I really hope, HOPE, is far enough away from this corner of Canada to be a more enjoyable stay, with not too much smoke, and including no evacuation, due to fires.

Wildlife Sightings from Stewart BC to Prince Rupert, BC:

2 Black Bears
1 Grizzly Bear

Photo Dump 

⬆️ This is the third area we have seen, where it looks like a disaster struck in a small area. No explanation. We’ve never seen such things, prior.

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About the Fires in Canada

We are aware of the wildfires in Canada, and we very much appreciate everyones concern. We dealt with same uncertainty, coming up through Canada in May. There were over 100 wildfires burning, back then. We did deal with smoke, but saw no active fires, nor evacuations.

Currently, from what I’m understanding, it is looking like we can get to our third, and final campground stay, (after several nights of boondocking and trying to stay positive) in Hope, BC. by a detoured route, which we are willing to do, by a few extra hours.
How we get further south, into Washington, on the route we planned, we no longer know, since fires have closed roads from Hope, as of this time.
Adding miles and burning fuel on further detouring doesn’t appeal to us, so if we have to, we will just wait things out. A lot can happen in a week from now, so we will see what happens, by then and make some decisions.

⬆️ We are already in the BC area mentioned, BUT at least we bring our own accommodations.

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British Columbia