Why Stop Here?

Historic Bridge

This bridge is the first curved, banked wooden bridge trestle ever built in Canada, and the last one remaining in Western Canada.  Originally, this bridge was part of the old Alaskan Highway, built in 1943. Please see here for a short summary of the history of the Alaska Highway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Highway

As I looked at this bridge, I tried to imagine the huge US army trucks trying to manoeuvre along the hairpin curve of the Kiskatinaw River.

After WWII, The Alaska Hwy was turned over to the Canadian government, and used as  route for transporting goods and people to the remote north.  In order to provide safe transport for the larger big rigs, most sections of the Alaska Hwy were re-routed, torn up, or blocked off as new sections were built, eliminating the hairpin turns, widening the road, and bypassing some residential areas.  This bridge is one of the few areas of the old Alaska Hwy still visible.  The new highway is a pleasure to drive, and much safer.

Where is it?

Another reason to visit this park is the campground, and the proximity to Dawson Creek (28 km) on Hwy 97 (the Alaska Hwy), on the banks of the Kiskatinaw River.  It is a great place to set up camp and visit surrounding areas. Locals come here for the camping, fishing and swimming, and to enjoy being  surrounded by forests of balsam poplar, white spruce and trembling aspen.

Here is a great website outlining activities in Dawson Creek.

http://www.tourismdawsoncreek.com/visitor/do

For Bob and I, this was a quick stop to see the bridge and continue on our Great Northern Circle Route adventure.  The more parks I visit, the more excited I get about BC history.

To see more of my Great Northern Circle Route trip, check out my blog here:

https://wp.me/p8tQgM-bL

Here is my growing list of the parks visited as I continue my quest to visit all 648 BC Parks!!

https://648bcparks.ca/my-bucket-list-places-i-have-visited/