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Lower
Post
Lower
Post is located 23 km (14 miles) south-east of Watson Lake on the
Alaska Highway (Yukon Hwy 1/BC Hwy 97) and 189 km (118 miles) north-west
of Liard River on BC Hwy 97 at mile
post sign 620 on the Alaska Highway.
Hudson's
Bay Company
Lower Post has the distinction of being the northern-most community
in BC after it was established by an American named Rufus Sylvester,
in 1872. Originally called Fort Liard, Hudson's Bay took ownership
in 1876 and established other trading posts along the Liard and
Dease Rivers. These posts where an important aspect when the Hudson's
Bay traded with trappers in the late 1800's and the early 1900's.
Dease
River
Lower Post gets the name from being a fur trading post or the 'lower
post' in relation to it being around half a mile from the mouth
of the Dease River where it flows into the Liard River. 'Upper Post'
fur trading post was located upstream on the Dease River
Daylu
Dena Council Aboriginal Community
The land in northern BC and parts of the Yukon is the traditional
territory of the Kaska Dena First Nations. Lower Post is home to
the Daylu Dena Council or previously called the Lower Post First
Nation, a member of the Kaska Dena. The former Liard River No.3
Reserve is home to around 115 inhabitants that make up Daylu Dena
Council.
Small
Community
The road around Lower Post forms a half a circle loop with the Alaska
Highway. Most of the small community faces the Liard River to the
south. There is no shopping and services found in Lower Post right
now but in time a fuel station will be open. For anything, you have
to travel 23 km (14 miles) to Watson Lake, Yukon, where there is
a larger community of around 1,500 people.
Canoe
Trip from Dease River Crossing
For experienced people in the backwoods and who love to canoe or
kayak, there is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure trip to Lower Post.
Starting north of Dease
Lake on Hwy 37 at Dease River Crossing, the trip takes you through
the Cassiar Range meandering downstream to Lower Post. Remember
this trip is very dangerous and is completely at your own risk.
Dease
Lake
For more adventurous people, the canoe trip can be extended from
the start of the river where it flows out of the north end of Dease
Lake. The 265 km (162 miles) route is comprised of Class 1 and 2
river conditions, with some Class 3 rapids in certain spots. You
can usually expect to take about 7-10 days to complete the one-way
paddle to Lower Post.
Denetiah
Provincial Park
Denetiah Provincial Park is also accessible from Lower Post. This
wilderness park can be done by either hiking or horseback riding
on the historic Davie Trail. The Davie Trail contains numerous river
crossings and must be attempted by only the experienced. The rugged
wilderness trail goes from Lower Post to Kwadacha
(Fort Ware) and you must be well prepared for all encounters
and can be extremely dangerous and is at your own risk.
Bear
Country
Just remember if you are enjoying the provincial parks and the countryside
around British Columbia, please remember this is bear country. Try
to avoid the rivers during heavy salmon spawning times unless you
feel comfortable with bears around and take the usual precautions.
There is also the possibilities of encounters with wolves or cougars
so please play it safe.
Information
on Lower Post
Information
on the Yukon
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