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Meziadin
Junction
Meziadin
Junction is located 156 km (97 miles) north of Kitwanga
(Gitwangak) and 94 km (58 miles) south of Bell
II on Hwy 37 and 65 km east of Stewart
at the junction of Hwy 37A.
Meziadin
Junction Esso
Meziadin Junction made its name on Hwy 37 with an Esso Service Station
supplying gas, diesel, towing and tire repairs for the travelers
driving Hwy 37. Meziadin Junction was also the point where the Arrow
Transport asbestos trucks coming from Cassiar
made the turn to go to the Port of Stewart.
Armond
For years, Meziadin Junction Esso was owned by a French Canadian
by the name of Armond. Armond was very famous in this neck of the
woods for his unique behaviour when greeting the customers. Armond
also had a small camp set for the loggers and miners who were working
in the nearby woods.
Grocery
Store and Restaurant
Today at Meziadin Junction there are some RV hookups, a small grocery
store and a restaurant. At certain times Meziadin Junction still
serves as a meeting point and temporary trailer camp for the various
workers from the forest industries and mining companies who are
working in the area.
Meziadin
Lake Provincial Park
Located just 3 km (1.9 miles) from Meziadin Junction is Meziadin
Lake Provincial Park. Here you can find a very nice campground which
features salmon spawning creeks near the lake. Just remember to
be 'animal aware' and expect to see bears during the salmon spawn.
Bear
Country
Just remember if you are enjoying the countryside around Meziadin
Junction, please remember this is Bear Country as is the rest of
BC. Try to avoid the rivers during heavy salmon spawning times unless
you feel comfortable with bears around. There is also the possibilities
of encounters with wolves or cougars so please play it safe and
practice good outdoor wildlife procedures.
Bear
River Pass
Just 22 km (13.5 miles) from Meziadin Junction on Hwy 37A towards
Stewart is the Bear Pass and 2,360 metre (7,743 feet) high Mount
Disraeli. Here you can find the Bear River Glacier and the Cambria
Icefield which peaks are highlighted by the Otter Mountain to the
Mount Pattullo saddle.
Bell-Irving
River
If you are travelling north on Hwy 37 towards Bell II, the road
tends to take a long sweeping curve about 15 miles from Meziadin
Junction. This is near the point where Hwy 37 crosses the Bell-Irving
River. There are two forest service roads that travel in either
direction, north or south.
Bowser
Lake
If you take the forest service road towards the north, it will take
you into Bowser Lake. Bowser Lake is fairly large about the size
of Meziadin Lake with a large 'dog leg' around the halfway point.
At the west end is Bowser River with the Frank Mackie Glacier and,
farther west, the great Leduc Glacier in the background.
Nass
River
Also located near the Bell-Irving River crossing on Hwy 37 is a
forest service road that goes towards the south. If you take this
road it will lead up into the head waters of the Bell-Irving River
behind 1,569 metre (5,147 feet) Mt Bell-Irving. Eventually this
road will come to the Nass River, then travels up the Nass River
towards the Taylor River.
Swan
Lake Kispiox River Provincial Park
As you travel south from Meziadin Junction, you will come to Ellsworth
Camp, a small settlement for a forestry operation. Just south of
here is the Brown Bear Forest Service Road that can take you towards
the north side of Swan Lake Kispiox River Provincial Park. This
is a backcountry park, most of which is inaccessible except by canoeing
or kayaking.
Bonney
Lake Canoe Route
For people who like to kayak or canoe there is also the Bonney Lake
Route which takes you through a series of 5 lakes starting and ending
in Bonney Lake. Take the Brown Bear Forest Service Road off Hwy
37 for 34 km (21 miles) to find Bonney Lake. You can expect portages
of between 30 metres (100 feet) to 700 metres (2,300 feet) plus
allow yourself at least two to four days to complete depending on
your skill level.
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