Dease Lake

Dease Lake is located on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway 37 in Northern British Columbia and is a popular place for travelers to stop and stock up on supplies. It offers a range of amenities, including a store, post office, gas station, restaurants, hotels and RV parks. Dease Lake is also the gateway to the breathtaking landscapes and scenery of northern BC. This area of vast wilderness is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

The Dease Lake area has an abundance of lakes and rivers which paddling enthusiasts flock to. Many enjoy paddling down the Stikine River along the border with Alaska. Paddlers embark on this journey in Telegraph Creek west of Dease Lake and continue down the Stikine River to Wrangell, Alaska. Spatsizi Plateau Provincial Park also boasts a number of lakes that are excellent for both canoeing and kayaking.

Whitewater rafting is popular on the Dease River with some 265 km (165 mi) of waterway to navigate as well as class 1, class 2 and some class 3 rapids.

For fishing enthusiasts, Dease Lake and nearby Boya Lake boast burbot and white fish. Anglers can also enjoy a relaxing afternoon of grayling fishing while taking in the fantastic scenery. Hunting is also popular and Dease Lake has several hunting guides who are headquartered in the town.

Dease Lake and the surrounding area are known for their abundance of magnificent wildlife. Visitors can view many animals in their natural habitats, including grizzly and black bears, moose, caribou, wolves, beavers and over 140 species of birds.

Location

Dease Lake is located 65 km (40 mi) north of Iskut on Highway 37, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, at the junction of the road to Telegraph Creek and 257 km (160 mi) south of Watson Lake in the Yukon.

A Step Back in Time

In approximately 1839 the Hudson’s Bay Company created a trading post in the northwestern corner of BC, which became known as Dease Lake. The small community emerged and was originally an important transportation route, on route to the Yukon, for trappers and prospectors. Gold was discovered in the nearby Stikine River during the 1860s, which led to the influx of fortune seekers to Dease Creek in the early 1870s. Today this small town is home to over 650 residents and being the largest community in the northwest it serves as a supply hub and government centre for northern BC.