Day 24 - Liard River Hot Springs

Today our destination was Liard River Hot Springs via Watson Lake. In the morning we rugged up as it was quite cold but by lunchtime the sun had warmed us up and we were doing the usual midday strip of layers of clothing.

The trees are becoming taller and the leaves are turning yellow and orange and some are starting to fall.

We saw some bison around the Watson Lake area most of which were just lying around on the grass and not at all interested in us and a dead small bear. Watson Lake was our morning tea stop and a chance to grab a couple of groceries. We previously camped here on our way north when we left the Alaska Highway to go to the Arctic Circle. We were now about to travel over the same road that we had driven on some weeks previously but would now be travelling in the opposite direction.

We crossed the BC/Yukon border and Contact Creek where the US Army Engineers working southwards and northwards met on September 24, 1942 marking the completion of the highway.

The traffic is increasing with lots of semi's and tourists all in a hurry. The risks that some of these drivers take to get in front of you is crazy. Passing on double yellow lines, corners, bridges, mountains etc etc.

Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park is the site of a natural hot spring where the waters bubble from the ground at water temperatures ranging from 42 - 52 degrees C year round. It was about a 10 minute walk from our campground along a wooden boardwalk that meanders through a warm water swamp and boreal forest which supports rich and diverse plant communities as well as mammal and bird species. Due to the lush plant life influenced by the warmth of the springs, the area was originally known as the "Tropical Valley". There were quite a few people relaxing in the pools one of which was hotter than the other. I put my toe in the water of the hottest one but it was far hotter than I would have for a shower.

When we arrived at the park we were told that there was a bear wandering around the grounds and there were signs warning people to be careful. We were lucky enough to see the bear, our first on the trip, in the park grounds. Apparently the ranger chased it away and it ran up a tree so the park was closed until the bear was removed.