Cassiar Up and Down

The variety of scenery and experiences you can get by driving both makes it an easy choice for me. I'm getting VERY sick of the heavy/crazy industrial traffic down in the Peace District, but with tens of thousands of layoffs because of low gas prices it may not be as bad this year. We'll be doing both routes again this year in any case.

Thank you all for your input. Alaska going north and Cassiar coming back was my initial plan. I may reconsider that. I've had copies of the Milepost now for many years. :) I have also bought editions of the Church's book, Traveler's Guide to Alaskan Camping on camping in Alaska, which my friend and her husband found even more valuable than the Milepost. Not as much info on the lower section of the trip, though. Hope to leave around the end of May.

The Alcan is history. You have to do it! :) As others have stated, go up on the Alaskan Hwy and return on the Cassier. You won't be disappointed.

Same as the rest - my vote is for using both highways - to miss either one is to miss a lot.

Jay

Ditto on going up the Alaska Highway and down the Cassiar. More wildlife visible in the Spring on the Alaska Highway than in the fall. The Northern part of the Cassiar is the worst road, get it out of the way first.

Liard Springs in itself is worth driving the Highway! Especially pretty in the Spring if there is still snow on the ground around the spring! Salmon Glacier outside Hyder makes driving the Cassiar worth the trip.
As for the trucks, when we made the drive in 2014 trucks were not a problem on either highway. Just pull over and let them pass. They will be going at a higher rate of speed than you will feel comfortable driving!
Suggest you purchase a Milepost and read about both routes. I think you will find a lot of things to see and do.

In our 3 trips we have taken the Alaska Hwy up and the Cassiar back. Have always seen a lot of wildlife on the Alaska but very seldom saw any on the Cassiar. It may be because we go in June and return in September.

If you are leaving out of Washington state, and depending on from where, then it may be a bit further to go through Dawson Creek, but the route you take to get to Alaska and back home should be as important and adventurous at the destination.

No matter how you go, have a great time.

I thought the Alaska was far more scenic than the Cassiar. We saw more bears on the Cassiar however. Saw at least one every day, most right along the road.
Saw more of a variety of wildlife on the Alaska highway however. Porcupine, buffalo, reindeer, and moose.

I've taken both routes recently and it's a hard decision to make. Cassiar is great for it's remoteness and fantastic BC provincial parks. The drive into Stewart / Hyder is breathtaking as you weave along a glacial valley. Not so great is all the damage done to the highway by heavy construction trucks putting in that eyesore of a HV power line project... what a scar on some truly beautiful and remote land.

Yellowhead from Jasper to Kitwanga is more scenic in my opinion than 40/97 between Jasper and Dawson Creek (or Fort Nelson for that matter.)

AK Highway does have some gems on it, but also many many MANY boring miles, it gets better the farther North / West you travel, but there's a lot of miles to cover before "the good stuff".

I vote that you take the two different routes. I prefer going up the Alaska Highway and returning on the Cassiar. I love the scenery and wildlife going through BC and YT. I also really like Hyder and would not want to miss that area. I suggest that you do both. Looking at the big picture, when you are driving so many miles you want to be sure to see/do as much as possible. You never know if/when you will be able to return.

The Alaska Hwy has a lot of things to see and do. Scenery is beyond belief.
Laird Hot Springs with the flowers, Muncho Lake. Stone Mountain.
Last time we were on the Cassiar, there was far more heavy trucks then on the Alaska Hwy.
I would suggest going one way up and the other back.
When are you planning on going? We are heading north in mid May.