This was one of the most beautiful stops on our entire trip. Bear Glacier, even in the fog was visible and very beautiful. I have never seen so many waterfalls in one area. There had to have been, easily 1000 waterfalls in the area when we turned off the Cassier Hwy and in the glacier area past Hyder Alaska. The US does not have a Customs stop on the way into Hyder Alaska from Stewart. There is no where else to go beyond Hyder, but the Canadian government chose to put a Customs stop in on the way back to reentering Stewart British Columbia. Talking with one of the residence of Hyder, he told us the Canadian Customs used to close at 10pm and they would close the gate. Making it impossible for the residence of Hyder to leave town at night. They rallied together and got the Canadian government to agree to put in a phone for after hours so they could video call an agent, show their ID, and get the gate opened when needed. Crazy government rules.
The big draw, for us, to Hyder is the Salmon run that was going on and the possibility of seeing bears. WE SAW BEARS!!!! First day there we had to stop for a Black Bear and her cubs crossing the road. Yah! They have a great decking bridge on the side of the river so people and bears can safely observe each other with no risk. "Jaws" came to eat both days we went to the observation deck. He is a 20+ year old male Grizzly that was in a fight with another bear 8+ years ago and his lower lip and chin were cut and just hang to the side. He is the father to most of the bears in the area. He would eat 3-5 large salmon a day and then just wander off, to return the next day. The Grizzlies will only eat the female Salmon (they love the eggs) so Jaws caught a male, took a bite and dropped it quickly. We saw 3 different Grizzly eating the salmon. The one incident when 2 bears were at the river, at the same time - when they saw each other - both got up and ran in opposite directions. No fighting at dinner time!
There is a beautiful glacier drive for 19 miles past Hyder. Very rough, pot hole road - drive up and turn around to drive back the same way. Gorgeous sunset, glacier, and worth the bumpy drive. I can not imagine how this would look on a sunny day. Our rainy, cloudy day was so beautiful. Sunset included!!
We chose to stay in a pull off area, 9 miles from Stewart. Couldn't beat the views, waterfalls, mountains, and streams next to the pull off area. And it was free!! Campground in town was $45 per night and more like a parking lot with minimal room between sites. We can handle camping without power/water/sewer for about 3 weeks. So 3 nights in a Pull off was fine with us!
On our way to Stewart we came across an ingenious way to keep the town budget under control and still help with speeders.......Make a plywood police car (Royal Mounted Canadian Police RMCP) and put it along the roadside! Loved it. It threw us off at first glance. I bet it helps slow people down, until they see its royal flatness.
Prince Rupert was a bit of a drive and not a very interesting town, for us. Beautiful dock area and watched the fisherman come in and filet their catch of the day on the dock. Then came the Harbor Seals to get the leftovers. So we can at least say "Been there, done that" but don't need to by the t-shirt or return.
This was one of the most beautiful stops on our entire trip. Bear Glacier, even in the fog was visible and very beautiful. I have never seen so many waterfalls in one area. There had to have been, easily 1000 waterfalls in the area when we turned off the Cassier Hwy and in the glacier area past Hyder Alaska. The US does not have a Customs stop on the way into Hyder Alaska from Stewart. There is no where else to go beyond Hyder, but the Canadian government chose to put a Customs stop in on the way back to reentering Stewart British Columbia. Talking with one of the residence of Hyder, he told us the Canadian Customs used to close at 10pm and they would close the gate. Making it impossible for the residence of Hyder to leave town at night. They rallied together and got the Canadian government to agree to put in a phone for after hours so they could video call an agent, show their ID, and get the gate opened when needed. Crazy government rules. 
The big draw, for us, to Hyder is the Salmon run that was going on and the possibility of seeing bears. WE SAW BEARS!!!! First day there we had to stop for a Black Bear and her cubs crossing the road. Yah! They have a great decking bridge on the side of the river so people and bears can safely observe each other with no risk. "Jaws" came to eat both days we went to the observation deck. He is a 20+ year old male Grizzly that was in a fight with another bear 8+ years ago and his lower lip and chin were cut and just hang to the side. He is the father to most of the bears in the area. He would eat 3-5 large salmon a day and then just wander off, to return the next day. The Grizzlies will only eat the female Salmon (they love the eggs) so Jaws caught a male, took a bite and dropped it quickly. We saw 3 different Grizzly eating the salmon. The one incident when 2 bears were at the river, at the same time - when they saw each other - both got up and ran in opposite directions. No fighting at dinner time!
There is a beautiful glacier drive for 19 miles past Hyder. Very rough, pot hole road - drive up and turn around to drive back the same way. Gorgeous sunset, glacier, and worth the bumpy drive. I can not imagine how this would look on a sunny day. Our rainy, cloudy day was so beautiful. Sunset included!!
We chose to stay in a pull off area, 9 miles from Stewart. Couldn't beat the views, waterfalls, mountains, and streams next to the pull off area. And it was free!! Campground in town was $45 per night and more like a parking lot with minimal room between sites. We can handle camping without power/water/sewer for about 3 weeks. So 3 nights in a Pull off was fine with us!
On our way to Stewart we came across an ingenious way to keep the town budget under control and still help with speeders.......Make a plywood police car (Royal Mounted Canadian Police RMCP) and put it along the roadside! Loved it. It threw us off at first glance. I bet it helps slow people down, until they see its royal flatness. 
Prince Rupert was a bit of a drive and not a very interesting town, for us. Beautiful dock area and watched the fisherman come in and filet their catch of the day on the dock. Then came the Harbor Seals to get the leftovers. So we can at least say "Been there, done that" but don't need to by the t-shirt or return. 
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