Liard Hotsprings Lodge and RV Park is situated at Mile 497 of
the Alaska Highway, just over 300 kms (190 miles) northwest of
the Town of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, and 140 kms (85 miles)
from the BC-Yukon border.
This location is just north of the intersection of the Alaska
Highway with the Liard River which winds its way from Canada’s
Yukon Territory through northern British Columbia before merging
with the MacKenzie River at Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories.
The word “Liard” comes from the French word for the
poplar trees that grow in abundance along sections of the river.
Wildlife abounds throughout the region, sometimes referred to
as the Serengeti of North America. Deer, moose, bears, and elk
can frequently be seen in clearings alongside roads as they forage
for food. In some areas, salt licks have been placed near the
road to attract ungulates.
A surprise for many visitors as they drive through Liard are
wild bison roaming freely along the roadside. Indeed, please drive
with care...these neighbours of ours are frequently ON the road!
Be careful when driving this section of the Highway, particularly;
if you were to hit a bison or moose, you can expect your vehicle
to come out of the encounter in worse shape than the animal.
In addition to bison and moose, the area's spectacular wildlife
also includes other grazing animals such as stone sheep, mountain
goats, elk, caribou, and deer, both white-tailed and mule. However,
there are also several species of carnivores in the area, including
wolves, coyotes, foxes, grizzly bears, black bears, lynx and wolverines.
These are wild animals and visitors are cautioned to take personal
care, especially with young children and pets.