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Telegraph
Creek
Telegraph Creek is located 113 km (70 miles) west of Dease
Lake on the banks of the Stikine River just upstream from the
state of Alaska.
Dease
Lake-Telegraph Creek Road
Leaving Dease Lake the Dease Lake/Telegraph Creek Road originally
built in 1922 travels alongside and parallel to the Tanzilla River.
The countryside becomes very dry and arid with the ground being
made up of old volcanic geological rock formations.
'Grand
Canyon of the Stikine'
The drive in to Telegraph Creek is absolutely amazing. At one point
you're high up on a volcanic ridge overlooking where the Tanzilla
joins the Stikine River. This is at the point where you'll be able
to see a small portion of the 'Grand Canyon of the Stikine.'
Mount
Edziza Provincial Park
This section of the Stikine River is so compacted into a canyon
that it becomes non-passable for navigational travel going upstream.
From this southern section of the river to the Stikine River Bridge
on Hwy 37, it can only be seen either on horseback or by helicopter.
Most of the Stikine canyon falls into
Mount Edziza Provincial Park.
Tuya
River
As you continue on the Dease Lake/Telegraph Creek Road, the road
seems to come to an abrupt end high on a bluff. From this point
you can see this amazing panoramic view of the Stikine Canyon with
the Tuya River coming out of another gorge in the north, eventually
joining the Stikine River.
Very
Steep Road
Going down into the gorge towards the Tuya River crossing the road
is very steep and will test your brakes. There are quite a few switchbacks
that have created a few headaches over the years for the truck drivers
transporting goods in and out of the area.
Please
Be Aware
If you do pull over to get a picture, please be aware of this and
allow room for the people coming up and down. Lots of problems have
been caused in the past with careless behaviour.
Tahltan
Band Council
The region around Telegraph Creek is the traditional home of the
Tahltan Band Council. During the fishing season there is a chance
to see the local Tahltans in the process of drying the fish after
their catch when they return to the spawning grounds.
Traditional
Sites
You can see some traditional sites near the Tuya and Tahltan Rivers
confluences with the Stikine River once the road enters the valley
floor. Look for the slabs of freshly caught salmon being traditionally
smoked by local Tahltans near the river's edge.
Stikine
River Song
Once you arrive in Telegraph Creek, look for the Stikine River Song.
Located in an original 1898 Hudson Bay outpost, the Stikine River
Song offers a general store, a café, accommodation and jet
boating tours down the Stikine River.
Salmon
Fishing
To go exploring around Telegraph Creek the local experts are located
at Stikine River Song. If you enjoy salmon fishing similar to the
Skeena River, they offer a licensed fishing guide to take you into
some of the least-discovered areas of British Columbia.
Glenora
Just west of Telegraph Creek, along a dirt road next to the Stikine
River, is the abandoned site of Glenora. During the gold rush the
population of Glenora was over 5,000 with the opening of the Hudson
Bay in 1874. British Columbia's most famous architect, Francis Rattenbury,
designed the Hotel Glenora in 1898.
Forest
Recreation Site
Today Glenora is nowhere to be found except for a small area offering
a boat launch into the Stikine. There are two forest recreation
sites at around the halfway point; one at Dodjatin Creek, the other
at Winter Creek. Both campgrounds feature great fishing and wildlife
viewing but can be a little rough at times, so be prepared.
Jet
Boating
The Stikine River around Telegraph Creek is just excellent for jet
boating. Going upstream you can explore into the beginning of the
lower canyon and try to spot the mountain goats that hug the steep
slopes. Downstream is a whole other experience unto its own.
Wrangell,
Alaska
Then, when you go downstream west to Alaska, you will pass some
hunting grounds for bear up the Chutine River. With a guide's help
eventually you come to Chief Shakes Hot Springs located along the
Alaska border. After, you go through some absolutely incredible-looking
scenery on your way to Wrangell, Alaska 45 km (28 miles) away.
Russia
and the Tlingit Nation
During the late 1800's as explorers entered Telegraph Creek region
they found Russian and European goods amongst the Telegraph Creek
Tahltans. It was discovered that traditional First Nation trading
was conducted along the Stikine River with the Tlingit Nation near
Wrangell, Alaska which, at the time, was part of the Russian American
Company.
- CCTHITA
- Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
Collins
Overland Telegraph Route
With this closeness to Russia came the idea of having a communication
link with Europe. In 1866 it was decided that an overland telegraph
route would be built linking New York with London, England. The
telegraph line at the time had linked Hazelton
to New Westminster.
Unfortunately plans were abandoned when the Trans-Atlantic line
linking Europe was completed a year later.
North
to Atlin
Going through Telegraph Creek the route followed traditional Tahltan
hunting trails north to Atlin. If you are a serious hiker, there
are sections of the 265 km (165 miles) Yukon Telegraph Trail between
Telegraph Creek and north to Atlin still
in existence.
Buckley
Lake
There is a traditional hunting trail south through what is now Mount
Edziza Provincial Park from Telegraph Creek that goes to Buckley
Lake eventually reaching Iskut. Once you
cross the Stikine River from Telegraph Creek, you are now in Mount
Edziza Park. The park is made up of large volcanic areas with the
glacier-covered shield volcano, Mount Edziza, dominating the landscape
at 2,787 metres (9,144 feet) high.
Information
on Telegraph Creek
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