The Route

The Liard Highway  (NWT Highway #7)

The next leg in the Deh Cho Travel route takes you on the Liard Highway, with its northern entry point at Checkpoint, at the junction of NWT Highways #1(Mackenzie Hwy) and #7. You are now headed south towards the Northwest Territories’ border with British Columbia.

This all-weather gravel road features inspiring views of the Liard River and the Nahanni Mountains.   Blackstone Territorial Park and Visitor Centre, 152 km (94 mi) from the British Columbia border, offers a great view of the Nahanni Mountains and features an information centre, campground and interpretive facilities.  Nahanni Butte is a Mountain Dene village that can be accessed only by boat or plane.

Fort Liard, population 456, is 5 km (3 mi) off the Liard Highway.  Hay Lake Campground and picnic site is located on the access road.  This community of log buildings was built in one of the North’s oldest continuously settled regions.  Ask at the Visitor Centre about local legends or interesting hiking trails, or book a sightseeing tour into Nahanni National Park. Fort Liard’s birchbark baskets, decorated with traditional Dene quillwork, are famous throughout the North.  Gas up here - Fort Liard is the only point of service along this 400 km (250 mi) stretch of highway, accommodation and groceries are also available.  Heading south from Fort Liard, the next service stop is Fort Nelson, British Columbia, 210 km (130 mi) away.

Be sure to stop and fish at the Petitot River for walleye and pike along the British Columbia leg of the Liard Highway before connecting to the Alaska Highway.