Salmon Glacier in Hyder, Alaska
(the 5th largest glacier in the world)
July 24, 2015

Salmon Glacier is located 16 miles north of Stewart, British Columbia, and is reached by driving through Hyder and onto a curvy, dirt, rough road. Although the road seemed to be in better shape on this trip than it was when the two RV Gypsies were here in 2009. (Those photos can be reached through the Alaska button above).

Surprisingly, there is a very small sign when the road crosses into Canada (yet this is not the area where the Hyder/Stewart border crossing is located.) The first time the two RV Gypsies were in Hyder in 2009, they did not even realize that Salmon Glacier was not part of Hyder. Confusing! Yes, you have to be there to understand.

Salmon Glacier, one of hundreds in the Boundary Ranges, is notable for its major potential as a natural hazard. Summit Lake is located at the northern end of the glacier and every year around mid-July the lake breaks an ice-dam and then flows under the Salmon Glacier into the Salmon River. This causes the river to rise approximately 4 or 5feet for several days.

Salmon Glacier can be accessed by road from Hyder, Alaska, from early July to late September. The glacier is an impressive centuries-old swath of snow and ice that cuts through mountains and valleys. The Salmon Glacier is the fifth biggest glacier in the world, and the most accessible via road travel.

While driving this long road be sure to watch for the many waterfalls along the road. Some are big and gushing and some are quite narrow.

The two RV Gypsies stopped at each lookout along the way, and always got a different perspective of Salmon Glacier, and each time time they were in awe at its beauty.

At the summit view point a man was there selling CDs, a DVD, and a book with fantastic photos he has taken at Salmon Glacier.

The summit viewpoint shown above is where most people stop. The two RV Gypsies continued on the road for just a little bit and realized that the road was getting smaller and didn't seem safe. They knew that the road didn't go a lot further anyway so turned the car around and took one last photo of the remnants of the glacier.

The two RV Gypsies made one stop on the way back to Hyder.

As Lee was driving, Karen spotted a marmot by the side of the road and as the car approached, it scurried into the pipe for safety. Lee stopped the car because there was not any other traffic, and the two RV Gypsies watched the marmot peak out to see if it was safe.

Then the marmot scurried up the hill, and the two RV Gypsies continued their journey.

Bears in Hyder, Alaska