Bask in natural hot water

One of the chapters in my book, The Alaska Highway: An Insider's Guide, lists my 10 favorite stops along the Alaska Highway. Leading the hit parade is Liard (locally pronounced leerd) River Hot Springs in northern British Columbia, about 500 miles from the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek.

This is a beautiful Provincial Park with an extensive campground (no hookups). From the main parking lot a well-designed boardwalk leads about a quarter mile to the lower pool, shown here. Changing facilities for men and women are available at the pool. The water is slightly warmer than you would have in your bathtub and makes for a wonderful soak after a long day behind the wheel.

An upper pool is another quarter mile or so up the hill, but it is not always open because bears wandering in the area cause park rangers to close this lesser-used trail from time to time. The upper pool is much more secluded and if you do visit it late in the evening, be sure to give warning of your approach. Although nudity is supposedly prohibited, not everybody necessarily obeys the rules. Changing facilities are available at the upper pool, as well.