Feb 13

Places to Visit in Falkland Islands on Your Antarctica Cruise

Antarctica is a growing tourist destination.  If you want to explore more than just Antarctica, there are many longer cruises that also visit the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula.   If you can afford it, I highly recommend this longer option.  These cruises start with Falkland Islands, not as spectacular as South Georgia or Antarctic, but certainly a worthwhile stop.  Where your ship lands is based on several factors.  The ships have a tentative plan and reservations to visit each place, but actually getting there is dependent on wind, weather, and waves.  On occasion, they have to swap destinations.  For that reason, they don’t give you an exact itinerary before your trip.  I had done some research on the possible places to visit in Falkland Islands, and discovered several islands that looked interesting such as West Point, Sea Lion Island, and Saunders Island.  Here are the actual places I visited on my Quark Antarctica Cruise.

This post contains affiliate links.  This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you.

All photos in this post were taken by me with a FZ80 Panasonic Lumix Superzoom Camera.  I recommend this camera if you want a good balance between quality, zoom, and a reasonably small camera size and weight.

Our cruise materials simply said we would visit Falkland Islands for two days.    The Quark Expeditions itinerary didn’t say much about it, but did say that there are two main islands, we would explore by zodiac boat, we would likely see wildlife, including penguins, and we’d probably stop in Stanley.

Places to Visit in Falkland Islands – West Point Island

Our first stop on our first day was West Point Island, off the northwest end of the western Falkland Island.  West Point is a working sheep farm and more recently a tourist destination.  West Point is home to a mixed colony of nesting Black-browed Albatross and cute little Rockhopper Penguins. 

Blooming Ulex in Falkland Islands

This was our first ride in a Zodiac, and the blue sea was calm and sun shining.  The first thing I noticed on the island was the flowering yellow Ulex (Gorse) all around the farm.  We had a choice to take a bumpy jeep ride up over the hill to the bird colony or hike.  Hiking poles were provided by Quark for those who wanted them.  I opted to take the jeep and was so glad I did – I was amongst some of the first people out to the colony, so I had some quality time viewing the penguins and Albatrosses without too many people.  I heard that later, a group of inconsiderate photographers set up and prevented others from having time at the site, which isn’t too large.

Black-browed Albatross on her egg
The stare of a Rockhopper Penguin

After watching the adorable Rockhoppers, I hiked back to the farmhouse.  The woman who manages the farm had prepared an incredible spread of tea and yummy sweets.  We sat in the garden and chatted with the other passengers about our nice visit to West Point. 

Late morning Tea at West Point

As a bonus, there were a dozen Commerson’s Dolphins playing with the zodiac boats returning to the ship.  I was standing on the back deck, watching the dolphins swimming by the boats, most of the passengers oblivious to the playful dolphins.

Commerson’s Dolphin

Places to Visit in Falkland Islands – Saunders Island

Based on my research, I really, really wanted to visit Saunders Island.  The pictures look beautiful and there is a wide variety of birds and penguins nesting at this island, including the majestic King Penguins.  Sanders island is located to the north of West Falkland Islands, and is one of the largest islands in the archipelago.  Like West Point, it’s a working sheep farm.  Saunders has several guest accommodations (at one time I was looking at flying in and staying awhile), but they also accept the expedition cruise ships like Quark. 

I was excited when the guide told us our second stop for the day would be Saunders Island.  We landed our zodiacs on an area called “The Neck”, a narrow strip of perfect white sand beach that separates two sections of land.  We landed on a beach with Gentoos frolicking in the surf.  The Gentoos nest in multiple circular bunches, each comprised of around 200 birds, further up on the sand spit. 

Walking further down the beach is the home of a few dozen King Penguins, including a few chicks.  These guys pretty much stick to themselves and like to mosey on the beach.  An Oyster Catcher was sitting on an egg nearby. 

Oystercatcher

Further along, we had a choice to walk up a hill or walk along the beach – the destination was the same – a Rockhopper Penguin colony with about a thousand Rockhoppers.  From the cliff side, you could see the birds nesting and fighting off the Skuas and gulls who were trying to steal their eggs.  From the beach side, you could see the penguins jumping down the rocks into the Atlantic Ocean. 

King Penguins, with Gentoos on the beach behind

On the walk back along the beach, I encountered a few Magellanic Penguins, bringing the Saunders Island penguin variety count to four. 

Magellanic Penguins

Places to Visit in Falkland Islands – Stanley Town

On our second day in the Falkland Islands, we only had one stop – the capital “city” of Stanley.

Stanley Downtown

I wasn’t sure what to expect here.  Nine years early, I had visited Stanley on a larger Holland America cruise ship.  All shore excursions that day were at an extra cost.  I had travelled by Jeep with Patrick Watt’s to Volunteer Point, with 3 species of penguins.  During this stop, there wouldn’t nearly be enough time and as our guide explained our choices, I was happy to hear we had four choices – all included in the price of our Quark Cruise.  Our four choices where:

  • Bus Tour to Gypsy Cove with the bird expert
  • Bus Tour to a Falkland Islands battlefield with the historian
  • Bus Tour to see the highlights in and around Stanley; or
  • Self-Guided time in Stanley

Under all choices, if you had time, you had free admission into the town museum.

I chose to do the city highlights tour, we saw a shipwreck, airport, totem pole.  We stopped at a home with whale bones and stopped to see the governor’s house and Falkland War memorial.  Our tour ended at the excellent museum.  I hit the best attractions in town – the museum, two churches, post office (if you’re into stamps, they have some great collector’s stamps), and checked out the prices at the supermarket and did a little souvenir shopping.  There’s plenty to do and see around this little town, and your only choice to “eat out” or get a drink off the ship at the Globe Tavern or the new gin distillery. 

Stanley Totem

Unfortunately, a storm was bearing down on us, and our captain was hoping to outrun the storm on the way to South Georgia, so we only had a half day in Stanley.   It would have been nice to spend a couple hours more, to have extra time for those doing tours to get a little more time in town. 

Sailing out of Stanley is a great time to be up on deck as you won’t see the land of South Georgia for a couple days.  There are some beautiful beaches and a view of a lighthouse as you leave the bay.  After that, I recommend you go up to the bridge to watch birds, including lots of swimming Magellanic Penguins as you leave the Falklands. 

Goodbye to Falkland Islands

Next: See all the Penguins and Birds you might see in South Georgia

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Feb 06

South Georgia Penguins and Other Birds – How Cute are They?

A visit to South Georgia Island, which you will do most likely via an Expedition Cruise, is like visiting another world.   While South Georgia is inhabitable due to its remoteness, weather, and mountainous topography, it’s a great place to visit during the “Summer” months of October to March.  I had the pleasure to visit for 4 days in November 2019 with Quark Expeditions on a longer 18 night cruise to Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica.  Please enjoy this information and photos of South Georgia penguins, and some of the other birds I photographed.

This post contains affiliate links.  This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you.

All photos in this post were taken by me with a Panasonic Lumix Superzoom Camera.  I recommend this camera if you want a good balance between quality, zoom, price (I only paid around $300) and a reasonably small camera size and weight.

South Georgia Penguins – Gentoo Penguins

One penguin you’re likely to see in South Georgia is the Gentoo Penguin.   These penguins are common to Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Gentoos have distinctively red feet – the redder, the sexier to attract other Gentoos. This Gentoo was all by himself in a big group of King Penguins.

Gentoo Penguin – Happy Sexy Feet

One of the coolest things to see is swimming Gentoos, they swim by jumping out of the water. It’s called porpoising.

Porpoising Penguins

South Georgia Penguins – Macaroni Penguins

“Stick a feather in a hat and call it Macaroni”… The Macaroni Penguins are very distinct because they have large yellow feathers on the sides of their heads.  Considering that they don’t fly, these birds nest far up in the tussock grass on the cliffs and hills – how do they get there?

Macaroni Penguins

South Georgia Penguins – King Penguins

For many travelers, the main reason to visit South Georgia is to see the incredible number of King Penguins!  The King Penguin is the second tallest penguin (just shorter than the Emperor) and beautiful with the yellow accents on its sleek necks.   St. Andrew’s Bay is the place to see them – there half a million penguins on the beach!  If you travel in November – December, you will see plenty of King Penguin Chicks – brown, fuzzy egg-shaped creatures.  It’s incredible that the chicks can find it’s parents purely by sound in this populated rookery. 

King Penguins in Love
A King Penguin Swimming
A King Penguin Molting
About a half million penguins
A Penguin Chick Calling Its Parents
The classic shot of Penguins and an Iceberg

South Georgia Penguins You’re Less Likely to See

There are a few other penguins you may see there, but usually they’re lost, so you might see one all by itself.  These include Magellanic (very common to see in Falkland Islands or southern South America), Adelie (very common in the Antarctic Peninsula), and Emperor (common in Antarctica but rare for a human to see them – they go inland during tourist season). 

South Georgia Birds – Snowy Sheathbill

Snowy Sheathbills are beautiful birds in flight, with their pure white feathers.  But their snouts are ugly and crusty.  Perhaps that’s because they eat poop.  In Antarctica, these birds would follow the penguins around and wait to eat their poop.  So gross!  But enjoy this picture of a Snowy Sheathbill landing on an iceberg in Royal Bay. 

Snowy Sheathbill Landing on an Iceberg

South Georgia Birds – Sooty Albatross

While not the largest Albatross species, for many, the Sooty Albatross is the favorite to see, with its cartoonish-ly huge eyes.  We saw a Sooty nesting in the cliffs and grass in Royal Bay. 

Sooty Albatross

South Georgia Birds – South Georgia Pipit

The Pipit was nearly extinct due to the rats that took over the island, brought to the island by Whalers.  Luckily the rats were recently eradicated so it’s expected these birds will recover.   I was lucky to spot one of these little brown birds in Royal Bay but failed to get a photo. 

Antarctic Cormorant or Antarctic Shag

These blue-eyed shags are common in South Georgia and Antarctica. 

Antarctic Cormorant

Antarctic Tern

The Antarctic Tern is a cousin of the Arctic tern.  This adult and juvenile terns were taking a bird bath in a puddle in Grytviken, South Georgia.

Antarctic Terns

Check out some of my other favorite birding destinations:

Torres del Paine in Chile – Condors and Rheas

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – mating grouse

Bundala National Park in Sri Lanka – Peacocks

Jan 28

Alaska Road Trip Packing List (13 Essentials for Driving to Alaska)

Driving to Alaska is a real adventure!  In addition to the normal things you might bring on a vacation (clothes, first aid kit, toiletries), here are a few things you should have for your Alaska Road Trip.  Most of this Alaska Road Trip Packing List consists of vehicle repair tools, but there might be a few surprises on this list too.

Imagine camping here, with a view of the Alaska Range

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My Alaska Road Trip Packing List:

1. Milepost Guidebook

This book is the self-proclaimed bible of travel to Alaska.  It contains nearly every point of interest on any route you might take to Alaska, all around Alaska, plus many interesting detours.   It also hints where you might have an extra good chance to see wildlife, where you might find wild berries, etc.  You should buy this book before you travel.  Not only can you plan your route, you save about $15 from buying it from a visitor center or gas station in Canada or Alaska.  Buy your Milepost at amazon.    

2.  Full Size Spare Tire

Besides windshield chips and cracks from stray gravel, the most common type of vehicle problem is a flat tire.  When you’re traveling in Alaska, Yukon, and northern British Columbia, there are times where you can be 100+ miles from the nearest auto or tire repair.  Since you might be driving on a spare for that many miles, make sure you have a full-size spare tire that’s the right fit for your vehicle.

3.  Tire repair kit

There are loads of gravel roads in Alaska and northwestern Canada and sometimes you might have a small puncture.  Rather than changing the tire, you may be able to patch it.  It’s worth carrying one of these cheap tire repair kits just in case.  This is especially important if you’re planning on doing one of the more remote, gravel roads like the road to Canada’s Grand Canyon, the Denali Highway, the road to McCarthy and Kennecott, or the Dempster Highway.

4.  Tire Pump

At one point in my trip, a car indicator said I had a low pressure tire.  I proceeded to use the cheap-o tire pump only to discover it didn’t work and it actually was draining more air from my tire.  Luckily, I was only a few blocks from a gas station in Haines, AK so I was able to drive over and pump it up.  It may be worth purchasing a better quality air compressor that plugs into your cigarette lighter outlet.

5.  Battery Jumper and Power Brick Combo

One of my best purchases before my trip was this power brick.  It charges relatively quickly using a wall socket or the cigarette lighter, and you can plug any USB or standard US plugs into it for charging.  It also comes with jumper cables.  While I was lucky I didn’t need a jump start on my trip, I used it several times to charge my camera and laptop batteries.  If you’re boondocking (camping without hook-ups) this is great if you need to power any small electronics and you don’t want to invest in a more expensive solar/lithium set.  I was able to charge it while I was surfing the internet and doing my research at visitor centers, libraries and my morning coffee breaks at Tim Hortons, as well as charge it from my cigarette lighter as I was driving.

6.  Forms of Entertainment

One of my biggest mistakes on my road trip to Alaska was not bringing enough material to keep me entertained while driving.  When possible, I listened to local radio as you can hear about local events.  As a result of listening to the radio, I found out about and attended the Atlin Art Festival.  I also got a free ticket to a country music concert at a Honky Tonk in Kelowna, BC.  But the funniest radio memory is listening to the only station in Fort McPherson along the remote Dempster Highway…. believe it or not, they were calling bingo numbers live on the radio! It was compelling stuff!

But for the many, many times there was no radio reception, I had about 20 CDs and a few audiobooks, but I found that I went through these CDs really fast – I probably listened to some of these CDs at least 25 times.   So, I would definitely download more music, podcasts, or audio books next time. 

Traveling solo, I also found myself feeling lonely at night.  I met another solo traveler that showed me his tablet set up – he would download movies from Netflix when he had wifi and then he could play movies at night on the tablet.  And if the tablet needs charging, you have the power brick mentioned above. 

7.  Satellite Phone

I hate to tell you this, but cell phone ain’t working in most of Canada and Alaska.  I’m on a pre-paid network and it didn’t work at all during my 8 week trip.  If you absolutely need to stay in touch, and can’t rely on wifi calling, you might invest in a Satellite Phone.  They are incredibly expensive to buy and use minutes, but it would be well worth it if you have an emergency in remote areas.

8.  CB Radio

See my comment about cell phones above.  A CB radio is of more use than a cell phone up there.  And it can provide entertainment.  Make sure you get an antenna along with your CB unit.

9.  Extra Food & Water

Think about what you might need if you are stuck somewhere very remote for a few days.  After driving the Dempster Highway, I could see someone getting stuck in a snowstorm, or torrential rains making the road unpassable.  I also ran into mudslides along the road to Telegraph Creek in BC, and in Denali Park.  In both cases, I was on the “right side” of the mudslide, meaning I wasn’t stuck, but I could see a scenario where a person could be stuck a couple days.  For this, it’s worth having at least a few days worth of food and water.  Hot tip:  canned and other dried foods are cheaper in the continental US, so stock up to save money.  For water, you might take some in containers (I like to reuse empty 2-liter pop bottles) and bring a water filter as well.  It’s no fun getting sick from water that looks clean but contains a nasty bug like Giardia.

10.  Snow Chains and Gear

Believe it or not, if you’re traveling in the second half of August or later, you might want to carry chains, snow brushes, scrapers, etc.  During my trip in 2019, there was a huge snowstorm on August 18-19 which dumped over a foot of snow on northern British Columbia.  Luckily, I had a few days to spare to return home, so I delayed my return to the US by killing a day in Skagway. 

11.  Cold Weather Gear

It’s worth bringing an extra sleeping bag, mittens, warm socks, and hat just in case you get stuck in a freak snowstorm.

12.  Toilet Paper

If you’re in an RV, you probably have a bathroom and toilet paper but if you’re traveling by van or car you may not.  While there are lots of roadside rest areas on the Cassiar and in Yukon, there are less on the Alaska Highway and through Alaska.  While these areas were usually stocked, there were a few times there was no toilet paper so it’s worth bringing a roll or two. 

13. Offline Map App

While I still like using paper maps, and these maps are plentiful at visitor centers, I found using the free maps.me app, downloading the areas of travel before the trip, was invaluable in locating parks, campgrounds, specific roads, etc. And this app is free! Download app and maps to your smartphone while you are connected to wifi.

Can you think of anything else you might want to add to this Alaska Road Trip Packing List?  Something I missed on my list?  Please leave your comments below.

Jan 23

Visiting the Fascinating Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming

One of the best things to do in northwestern Wyoming, other than visiting Yellowstone National Park. Grand Tetons National Park, or the under-visited Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, is to visit the Bighorn Medicine Wheel, high up on a mountain on the western side of the Bighorn Mountains.

What is the Bighorn Medicine Wheel?

There are more than 70 wheels in the western USA and Canada, but this is the most famous.  There’s a great interpretive sign placed by Bighorn National Forest along highway 14A which has a good description:

Medicine Mountain to your left, was named for the Medicine Wheel, a stone circle that lies atop a ridge below its summit.  Designated a National Historic landmark, this symbol remains a mystery as the builders and purpose of the Medicine Wheel remain unknown.  There is a theory that the wheel is a replica of the Sun Dance Lodge of Crow legend and was oriented to point to the summer solstice sunrise.  In the Indians’ religious life, peaks of the Big Horn Mountains were objects of respect.  Indians journeyed into the mountain solitude to make or find their medicine.  This wheel is an important symbol of Indian beliefs about man’s relationship to the world.  Modern Indians use the Medicine Wheel for religious ceremonies.  At times, flags, or offerings are left about the wheel, signifying that a ceremony has taken place.  A gravel road leads up Medicine Mountain to the site of the Medicine Wheel.

People who live in northern Wyoming had various stories of the wheel – someone told me it’s like Stonehenge.  Someone told me that none of the modern tribes can take credit – that it’s a mystery to them too.

Bighorn Medicine Wheel

What Facilities are at the Medicine Wheel?

There is parking for about 25 vehicles (the parking lot was about ½ full on my Sunday visit on a lovely sunny day in mid-September).  There are toilets both at the parking lot and near the Medicine Wheel

How is the Hike to the Bighorn Medicine Wheel?

The parking lot of the Medicine wheel is located 1.5 miles from the archaeological site.  Although the wheel is at about the same elevation as the parking lot, the hike involves traversing over a couple rolling hills.  If you are physically unable to do the hike, it’s possible to lift the gate and drive on the single lane road up to the handicap parking.  The views are spectacular, including rolling hills to the east and a pinnacle rocks in a valley to the west.

Enjoying the view from the hike

Wildlife at the Medicine Wheel

There are many birds, including Blue Grouse and raptors.  Mammals include Pikas and Marmots.  You will likely hear the pikas before you see them – their distinctive high pitched “cheeps” are so cute.  If you are lucky, you may see bighorn sheep.  But if you really want to see sheep, there are many in Bighorn Canyon, located less than an hour to the west.

Marmot
A Pika peeks from its perch

How to Visit the Medicine Wheel

To follow Native American traditions, you should walk left, or clockwise, around the Medicine Wheel.    Please stay out of the fenced area and don’t take any artifacts.  Bones, shells, flags, and other items are left as sacrifices at the alters near the wheel. 

Bones left at the site

How to Get to Medicine Wheel Wyoming

Medicine Wheel is on Highway Alt-14 (or 14A) between Burgess Junction and Bighorn Canyon.  This is a very twisty and steep road, so make sure you use lower gears.  From Highway 14A, you will head up a single lane gravel road with a few pullouts in case you meet traffic.  There is no need for 4×4, I easily did the drive in my camper van.  This highway is closed in the winter, so the best time to visit is late spring to autumn. 

Visiting Medicine Wheel – Where to Stay

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There are several National Forest Campgrounds very near the Medicine Wheel, including Five Springs Campground and Bald Mountain Campground.  If you’re planning to stay in a motel, the best place to stay is in Lovell, Wyoming. (Check Rates and Availability) It’s such a cute little town and less than an hour to the west of the wheel.  Catch a movie at the retro cinema if you can and don’t miss a spectacular visit to Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. 

Want to Learn More About Medicine Wheels?

There are lots of publications about Medicine Wheels.  Check out these medicine wheel products at amazon:

Jan 14

Bighorn Canyon Pontoon Rentals from Okabeh (A day on the Pontoon)

Last year, I had the pleasure of visiting Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area by car, from the south end of the park.  The road goes from Wyoming to Montana via one of the largest canyons in the USA.  I described it nearly as good as the Grand Canyon but without all the people.  The southern entrance to Bighorn Canyon is only 1 hour from Cody, WY, one of the gateway cities to Yellowstone National Park.  While Yellowstone gets over 4,000,000 visitors per year, it’s shocking that Bighorn Canyon gets only 250,000 visitors, given the close proximity to Yellowstone.  Read here about accessing Bighorn Canyon from the South.   This year, I had an opportunity to use the Bighorn Canyon Pontoon Rentals from the northern entrance.

This post contains affiliate links.  This website earns a small commission for items purchased through these links with no additional cost to you.   This trip was sponsored by Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area/NPS, Crow Tribe and Visit Southeast Montana.

Billings MT to Okabeh Marina

The northern entrance of Bighorn Canyon is best accessed from Billings.  The drive from Billings to Okabeh takes about 2 hours each way.  The best way to drive is to Hardin, then on 313 through the historic town of St Xavier.   You will drive through a variety of farmland – including wheat fields, sugar beets, and sunflowers.  The last 10 miles from Fort Smit to Okabeh Marina is via private Crow land and very sceic.  Make sure you watch for wildlife (wild turkeys, deer, and bears) and grazing horses.  Stop at the crest of the hill to see interpretive signs about the life of the Crow Tribe.

 

Okabeh Marina (or OK-A-Beh Marina)

Okabeh Marina is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year.  There’s free parking, a café, and restrooms.   

Once you’re on the water, the only bathrooms are floaters!

Bighorn Canyon Pontoon Rentals

The Crow Tribe is the official concessionaire for boat rentals on the reservoir.   Rates are $300-400 for half or full day rentals.  Fuel is available at the Marina.  Make sure you pick up a Bighorn Canyon Boating Map, that marks points of reference and campgrounds along the water.

Bighorn Canyon Pontoon Rental
Amazing Rocks in Bighorn Canyon

On The Pontoon

You can visit a canyon within a canyon!  Once you’re on your pontoon, you should first explore the area between the marina and the dam.  There are some year-round spring fed waterfalls in this area, called Box Canyon.  From there, you will head south for great views within the greater Bighorn Canyon.  You can check out some of the other canyons along this stretch, from Black Canyon to Dry Head Creek.    Black Canyon is one of the best places to camp if boating.  You need to boat or kayak to get into these spots.    

Kayaks in Black Canyon

Wildlife in Bighorn Canyon

While the south end of the park is good for bighorn sheep and mustang viewing, the north is good for bear viewing. Bears are especially prevalent later in the season when berries are plentiful.

This bear is like “leave me alone” But we weren’t very close, I have a 60x zoom camera.

Yellowtail Dam

If you’re boating from Okabeh Marina, you should also stop into the visitor center at the Yellowtail Dam.  The visitor center is also open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day each year.    While you can no longer go onto the dam, there’s a great view of dam from the visitor center. 

Yellowtail Dam – you can see it’s magnitude, the spots at the bottom are cars and pick-up trucks.

Okabeh Marina – Where to Stay

There are several guesthouses and resorts in Fort Smith, some associated with fishing outfitters.  If camping, the Afterbay Campground is part of the National Park Service and is located on either side of the Bighorn Canyon between Fort Smith and the Yellowtail Dam.   If you’re also planning to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield, consider spending the night at Hardin (Check Rates and Availability).

Want to drive in and have views from the top? Consider visiting the south end of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Jan 08

Visiting the Extraordinary Alvord Desert and Hot Springs in Southeast Oregon

The Alvord Desert is an otherworldly land located in southeast Oregon, at the base of the Steen Mountains, and down a nearly 60-mile long gravel road that connects a handful of ranches to the rest of Oregon.  The following is a list of the best things to do in the Alvord Desert.

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Visit the Alvord Desert “Playa”

The Alvord Desert is a flat, powder white lakebed.  When it’s dry, there’s cracked earth everywhere.  When it’s wet it’s mush.  While it’s always interesting to look at, the times it i dry offers some interesting opportunities!

Cracked earth of Alvord Desert

Alvord Desert Driving – Explore Your Inner Speed Demon

If you can, take a drive on the desert.  It’s awesome to drive “off-road” without a 4×4.  The first time I pushed on the gas of my Ford Transit Connect, it felt like I was going so fast, but I looked at the speedometer and I was only going 35 mph.  Eventually I got up to 88 mph – the fastest my little van has ever gone.  The women’s world land record was set here, but sadly another woman was trying to break this record in August 2019 crashed and died, so take care. 

It’s not a mirage…Speeding on the Playa

Fun with Photography at Alvord Desert

The desert is a great place to practice your shadow or perspective photography.  Perspective photography is the sense of depth between objects in a picture.  So you can stand farther behind another person and look like you’re standing on their hand, or get as creative as you want.  Late afternoon will allow you to get elongated shadow pictures. 

My model pose – long legs and wind in my hair!

Alvord Hot Springs

Most people who visit the desert also go to Alvord Hot Springs.  You can visit for the day for $8 with limited hours or you can use the springs at any hour if you’re staying overnight at the campground (details below).  This manmade structure has two pools, one in a shed and the other immediately outside.  There’s also a small changing room and several benches. The pools have spigots with hot water so you can control the temperature.   Clothing is optional, but they recommend staying dressed if there are children around. 

Alvord Hot Springs

Land Sailing (or be a Spectator)

The desert looks like an awesome place for land sailing (sand yachting, land yachting, etc.)   Several people were having fun during my visit.

Land Sailing – for some reason I have a craving for candy corn

Sunrise over the Alvord Desert

The sunrises are legendary in the Alvord Desert.  Sadly, it rained most of the night and was pouring rain at the time of sunrise so there was no sunrise at Alvord Hot Springs.  But it gives me a reason to go back!  There were a couple other things I wanted to check out in the region, and I left since the weather was turning nasty, so I definitely will go back. 

Getting to the Alvord Desert

There is a single road that can be taken to the desert and hot springs, the Fields-Denio Road which runs from southwest to northeast, between Oregon Highways 205 (junction near Fields, OR) and 78.  This road is part of the East Steens Tour Route, one of Oregon’s official tourism routes.  Most people approach from the west, but it’s worth driving the length of the entire road, most of which is gravel.   It’s likely you will see more cows on the road than cars and trucks!  The whole road offers views of the Steens Mountains to the northwest. 

The scenic drive on the East Steens Tour Route

Other Tips to Visit the Alvord Desert

The best time to visit Alvord Desert is the summer, as the lake bed is dry enough for driving.  If you visit at any other time, it’s likely too wet to allow driving.  While it’s beautiful at any time of year, driving on the Playa was my biggest highlight.  The Alvord Desert weather includes cold days in the winter and hot in the summer.  It’s not possible to drive on the playa when it is wet, so it’s most advisable to visit from July to October if you want to drive on the playa. There was quite a bit of rain overnight during my visit in mid-September and there was water standing on the “lake” the next morning.

Do NOT try to attempt on the Playa if there is any rain/wetness.   This is a recipe for getting stuck in the mud and the Alvord Desert is in one of the most remote places in the continental USA. 

This guy went to bed on a dry desert but this is what it looked like after a night of rain.

The Playa is around 12 miles long, and there are only a couple vehicle access points.   Pay attention to your surroundings of where you enter the playa, or better yet place a pin in your GPS/map app.  You don’t want to be driving around the rim of the playa looking for a way out as there are several springs and thus, several soft spots where you can get stuck. 

Know where to get gas.  There are no gas stations on the 66 miles of the Fields-Denio Road, much of it gravel.  The closest gas station is to the west in Field, Oregon.  The Fields General Store Motel & Gas station is also home to famous burgers and milkshakes.  To the east, the closest gas station is in Rome, on US Highway 95, near the Owyhee River.

Alvord Desert Lodging – Alvord Desert Hot Springs Campground

The fee for camping is $30 per night for 2 people plus $15 per night for additional people.  There are also some bunkhouses or containers, called the “MASH” units for $60 per night.  As a single traveler, they let me camp for $25 (an unadvertised special).   The advantage of camping at Alvord Desert Hot Springs Campground is that you can use the hot springs whenever you’d like, including sunrise.  Another advantage is there is a private drive to the playa for guests (you get the code for the locked gate when you check in at the campground).   The campground has a bathroom with running water and a small shop in the office where you can get snacks and drinks. 

Bunkhouse (MASH unit) at Alvord Hot Springs Campground

Alvord Desert Camping  – Where to Camp for Free at Alvord Desert

The Frog Springs national recreation site is located only about a mile southwest of Alvord Desert Hot Springs.  The drive down to the Playa is pretty rough here, but you can camp either on the Playa or near the small parking lot, that has trash bins and a vault (pit) toilet. 

Check out these other otherworldly deserts:

Salton Sea in the Mojave Desert of California

Gobi Desert in Mongolia

The burning gas crater in Turkmenistan desert

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Jan 01

Where are all the Torres Del Paine Animals At and What Animals Will You See?

So you’ve decided to go to Torres Del Paine.  Likely you’ve seen the pictures of the granite “Torres”, or towers.  Perhaps you’ve decided to hike the famous “W trek”.  But did you know there’s lots of wildlife to be seen at Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile?  Read more to find where you can find the Torres Del Paine animals, and what types you might see.

The views in Torres Del Paine are divine, but don’t miss the animals!

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Where to find Animals in Torres Del Paine National Park

The best places to see wildlife if at the eastern part of the park.  We saw so many animals and birds on the drive from the municipality of Torres del Paine (the border town with Argentina at the Paso Río Don Guillermo border) up Y-150, Y-156, and Y-160 to Laguna Azul, then head to Amarga on Y-166 and &-156.  You will see lots of birds in the ponds on the way from Amarga visitor center to Laguna de los Cisnes.  We saw very little wildlife west of there.   If you want to see more animals and have a beautiful drive, it’s also well worth it to do the detour on Y-180 out to Laguna Verde.   

We had some awesome chances to see animals during our two days in TdP.  All pictures in this post were taken by me with my Lumix Superzoom FZ80 point and shoot.

Torres Del Paine Animal Map
Source: Google Maps

How to See Animals in Torres Del Paine

Many of you will be on a long hike or on a tour bus, but the best way to see wildlife is to have your own rental car and keep your eyes open for anything that moves!  I’m sorry to say if you’re doing one of the multi-day hikes, like the O or W trek, you will NOT see much wildlife.  I spoke to several people that did the W trek around the time of my visit and they exclaimed that they had seen a few condors circling once… the only wildlife they saw in the 5 day hike.  You will see more wildlife from a bus, but they will only stop a few times.  So the best way to see birds and animals is by renting your own car.

With your own car, you can stop as frequently and as long as you want.   If driving yourself, it is recommended you keep your speed as low as 40-60 km an hour, especially after dark, so you don’t kill any of the wildlife.  No one wants to see road kill.   Also note that all of the roads in TdP are gravel so make sure your rental agency shows you the location of the spare tire and jack.

Types of Torres Del Paine Animals

Guanaco

The most common mammal to see in TdP is the Guanaco, the Patagonian cousin of the Llama and Alpaca.  They are also called the Patagonian Camel.  These caramel colored animals are located all over southern Patagonia but they are very prevalent in the eastern side of Torres del Paine park.  They are very photogenic –  they seem to like to pose as well!

Torres Del Paine Animals
Guanacos like to pose

Foxes

There were lots of foxes along Y-150 from the municipality of Torres del Paine to the park border.   Watch for them in the grasslands, hunting for mice.

Armadillo

There are a few Armadillos around, you are most likely to see them running across the road, or dead on the road. 

Skunks

I’ve smelled (dead) skunks a number of times in my life, but I had never seen one alive until Patagonia, where we spotted one in the early morning and another at dusk.  I was most amazed by the tail… I did not know how fluffy it was (probably thanks to watching Pepe Le Pew as a kid).

Patagonia Skunk

Dangerous Animals at Torres Del Paine

There is only one animal at Torres Del Paine that is really dangerous to humans… the Puma.  We were both lucky and unlucky in that we didn’t get to spot a puma during our visit.   One guy staying at our guesthouse in Puerto Natales had seen a Puma on a rainy day before our visit, somewhere between Laguna Azul and Amarga.   If you do encounter a puma, you should “act big” by waving your arms and not running from the puma.

Birds You May See at Torres Del Paine

We saw a number of birds around Torres Del Paine, but there are 7 birds that were very distinctive:

Southern Crested Caracara

This scavenger is common to hang out near dead animals and picnic grounds.  This particular guy stole some cheese puffs from us at the picnic grounds at Laguna Azul. 

Southern Crested Caracara

Black-Faced Ibis

Have you ever seen a beak like this?  It’s shaped so they can extra insects from grasslands.

Black-Faced Ibis

Andean Condor

The Andean Condor is one of the largest flying birds on earth, with a wing span of up to 11 feet!  We had seen a number of them circling overhead at various points around the park.  But the biggest highlight was seeing many of them up close and personal at the site of the Guanaco carcasses.  The condors sat and watched us closely, with the view of snowy peaks in the background.  Eventually, they flew away as we could see their massive wingspan.

Andean Condors

Flamingo

Flamingos are seen in many spots around Patagonia, and they tend to stay in the same lakes or ponds (for example, we’d see ponds with no flamingos, we pass the next day and no flamingos.  We’d see other ponds with flamingos, and they’d still be there days later).  Within the park we saw Flamingos at Laguna Azul and Laguna de los Cisnes.

Upland Goose (or Magellan Goose)

These geese are very common in Patagonia and almost are always in pairs, the black and white male and the black and brown female.

Upland Goose

Black-Necked Swan

This swan is the largest water fowl in South America.  Some of the best places to see these are at the appropriately named Laguna de los Cisnes (Swan Lagoon), and the small lakes and ponds to east of there.   You can also find many of these on the waterfront at Puerto Natales. 

Black Necked Swans

Rhea

I’ve been to Africa a couple times and I’ve seen Ostriches in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Ethiopia.  The Rhea is South America’s version of the Ostrich.  They are about half the height, but they look and run a lot like an Ostrich, but with brown feathers.   The first time I saw a Rhea, I wasn’t sure if it was a bird or not… my friend was joking that I saw a four-legged bird, since the color of the Rhea is similar to the sheep that live in Patagonia.  My biggest highlight was discovering a Rhea with 8 Rhea babies along the road to Laguna Verde. 

Rhea and babies

Our National Geographic Moment

On our second morning in the park, we decided to drive the Y-180 towards Laguna Verde.  It was a less traveled part of the park.  Not far into the drive, I noticed a bunch of large birds ahead.  We stopped the car, grabbed our cameras, and started approaching stealthily.  As we got closer, we could see it was Andean Condors eating from a carcass and some Southern Crested Caracara waiting their turn.  We were watching in amazement as a fox trotted right in front of us and over to the carcass.  The birds, including the condors, scattered.  The condors said and watched but eventually decided that fox wasn’t leaving so they flew north.  After the fox has its fill, we went closer to discover the carcass was not only a Guanaco, but also a newborn Guanaco baby, one of the first of the season.  The rangers at the visitor center said it was likely a puma killed them.  Not even a mile later was where we encountered the Rhea and her 8 babies.

The Circle of Life – Patagonia Style

Where to Stay at TdP

If you’re staying in the park at one of the hotels, expect to pay upwards of $500 USD a night per room!  If you have a car, it is possible to stay in Puerto Natales (Check Rates and Availability) and drive back and forth, but it is a long drive each day.  But… if you take the eastern route in and out of the park, you’re likely to see a bunch of wildlife!

Do you like wildlife? Check out these other posts of amazing wildlife destinations:

Theodore Roosevelt National Park (USA) Wildlife

Grizzly Bear Viewing in Bute Inlet, Canada

The Wildlife of Ethiopia

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Dec 26

One Day at Mount Robson Provincial Park (The Perfect Alternative to Banff)

There’s no doubt about it, the Canadian Rockies are gorgeous and one of the highlights of Canada.  Photos of Moraine Lake and Lake Louise inspire millions to make the trip to Banff National Park.  But did you know Banff National Park gets more than 4 million visitors per year?!?  So imagine hundreds of people in that photo.  If you want to experience the Canadian Rockies for free and without the crowds, head to British Columbia to Mount Robson Provincial Park, the perfect alternative to Banff!  The following is everything you can see in one day at Mount Robson Provincial Park.

The iconic view of Mount Robson from the Visitor Center

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Free Entry, Free Parking

Unlike Banff, which costs $19.60 per day, Mount Robson park is free for entry and free for parking!  The only fees are for camping.

Kinney Lake

The Best Views in Mount Robson Provincial Park

  • The view from Highway 16.  I will not forget the moment I first turned the corner and got my view of Mount Robson.  It brought tears to my eyes. 
  • Park entrance sign on Highway 16.  I don’t normally stop to take pictures of the entry sign for parks, but the Mount Robson sign is a mountain goat.  With the mountain in the background and a big parking lot to pull off the side of the highway, the entrance sign is a great photo op!
  • There’s a postcard view from the Mount Robson Visitor Center.  Make sure you stop into the visitor center for information on the area – they have loads of maps and info.  They even gave me some coupons good for area attractions. 
  • Kinney Lake.  This might be the best view in the park.  It has it all – an icy blue lake, colorful stones, glaciers, and waterfalls.   This view requires a hike…
Mount Robson sign on Highway 16

The Best Hike in Mount Robson Provincial Park

If you have only one day to do a hike, you MUST do the hike to Kinney Lake.   The Kinney Lake Hike shares the same trail as the Berg Lake Trail.  The Berg Lake Trail is considered a difficult hike, but the portion to Kinney Lake would be considered easy/moderate.   This walk can be done in about 3 hours and is just under 3 miles one-way, climbing approximately 400 feet.    The biggest challenge for this hike may be the parking – if you visit mid-day when there’s nice weather, you may need to a quarter to half mile away (overflow parking on the west side of the road to the trailhead).  Insider tip:  take toilet paper or tissues with you.  The toilets along this trail are not stocked with paper. 

Kinney Lake

Don’t Just View the Scenery – Check Out the Small Stuff

The hikes in Mount Robson Provincial Park go through old-growth forest.  Check out the plants in the forest.  The ferns and fungi are amazing!  And when near Mount Kinney, look in the rock falls for pikas – little rodents with big ears and no tail. 

Ferns and fungi
How cute is this Pika?

Mount Robson – Where to Stay

If you’re camping, you can stay at the Mount Robson Campground.  It’s one of the nicest and most posh campgrounds in the British Columbia parks system is at Mount Robson Provincial Park.    If you’re looking for a hotel, you should definitely stay in Valemount (Check Rates and Availability).  Lots of restaurants and other services there. 

Getting to Mount Robson

If you’re heading to Mount Robson from the west – Prince George, you should definitely take the detour to Dunster, it will definitely take you off the beaten path!

Do you suggest other things to do in one day in Mount Robson Provincial Park? Leave your comments below. 

Dec 20

Driving Whitehorse to Skagway – a Side Trip to Skagway via the World’s Smallest Desert

It was mid-August and I was starting to drive home to Seattle after my long journey up the Dempster Highway, I wasn’t looking forward to 30+ hours of driving to get home.  I stopped into the main Yukon visitor center in Whitehorse to pick up material for my drive south along the Alaska Highway.  I happened to look at the weather forecast and discovered it was snowing in northern British Columbia!  They were expecting a freak snowstorm with over a foot of snow!   On August 19th!!!  There was another traveler at the help desk, and she said they had driven thru the starting bit of snow, and the driving conditions were terrible!   The nighttime lows in the area were around freezing – not my favorite sleeping temperatures when I don’t have a heater and I’m van camping.  So, I asked the lady at the desk for advice and she suggested that I drive from Whitehorse to Skagway for the night and take a look around the gold rush town.

Skagway is only 19 miles from Haines by ferry.  I had visited Haines earlier in the trip but the ferry costs $130 so I had chosen to skip Skagway.  But now, snow had given me the time to make a trip to Skagway after all.

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Driving from Whitehorse to Skagway

It’s a 176 km, 2.25 hour drive from Whitehorse, Yukon to Skagway on Highway 2 which turns into Highway 98.  The road is paved the whole way and in quite good condition (maintenance was being performed during my drive). 

Carcross Desert

I’ve visited some of the world’s best deserts, like the Sahara in Egypt, Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the Gobi in Mongolia, the outback in Australia, and the incredible gas crater in the middle of the Turkmenistan desert.  But I never knew that the world’s smallest desert is in Yukon and there’s a nice little pullout along Highway 2.  I highly recommend walking in the dunes in your bare feet… so relaxing. 

Carcross – The World’s Smallest Desert

Carcross, Yukon

Carcross is a cute little town with a great visitor center, coffee shops, restaurants, and a few shops.  After many years without one, a pub opened in the local hotel.    Once or twice a week, the train comes to Carcross.  Otherwise, it’s a sleepy little town.   If open, make sure you stop into Matthew Watson General Store, a funky store with knick-knacks and ice cream. 

Tutshi Lake

Tutshi Lake is turquoise blue on a sunny day.  There’s an established Yukon campground for $12 CAD and some secret places to camp for free too.   Make sure you watch for wildlife – it’s common to see mountain goats, sheep, and bears in this area.  I met a couple of sheep hunters from the Vancouver area at my campground.

Driving from Whitehorse to Skagway
Tutshi Lake

White Pass

The drive over White Pass that differed from other scenery seen on the drive to other coastal towns like Hyder, Haines, Valdez, Seward, and Homer.  The terrain around White Pass is dotted with tarns, or small lakes in the mountains.  They look like little gems in the rocks.  Other things to do up in the area of the pass are viewing waterfalls and blueberry picking in August.   This area has lots of history, as two different gold rush routes made their way from Skagway to Dawson City. 

Canada/Alaska Border

The border is located on White Pass.  Note that entering Canada, you cannot bring firearms (except those for which you have a special permit) and limited tobacco and alcohol.  Pepper spray is also forbidden, but I was able to declare and bring bear spray over the border into Canada. 

Welcome to Alaska

Places to Visit in Skagway – Top Skagway Attractions

  • Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center and Exhibits – this is the best thing to do in downtown Skagway and it’s free!   Stop into the visitor center to get maps and information on the historical buildings around town.  My favorite was the saloon!
  • Dyea – if you have your own wheels, you can visit the start of the Chilkoot Trail in the ghost town of Dyea.  It’s a beautiful drive and your best chance to see wildlife near Skagway
  • Shop til you drop – there’s loads of shopping in Skagway.   The Alaska Shirt Company is near the cruise port and train station.  They have some of the cheapest souvenirs in Alaska (granted, it’s all made in China). 
  • Red Onion Saloon – a historical pub with food and a brothel museum upstairs! 
Klondike Gold Rush National Park Saloon
Red Onion Saloon

Advice to Cruise Ship Passengers to Skagway

Skagway gets nearly 1,000,000 cruise ship passengers per year.  While I visited Skagway for a day, there were 3 ships in port.  If possible, make your way up to White Pass – you can make a trip in a half–day, either by tour or by the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.  Spend the rest of the day exploring some of the Skagway attractions above.

View of Skagway cruise ships from the road to Dyea

Spending the Night in Skagway?  Check Rates and Availability

Do you like Skagway? Check out all the other places I visited in Alaska.

Dec 12

Free Camping in Alaska, Yukon, and British Columbia – Tips + My Favorite Campgrounds

The biggest savings on my 8 week trip from Seattle to Alaska and the Arctic Ocean came from camping, or more specifically free camping in Alaska, Yukon, and British Columbia.  I only spent $150 in camping fees in 8 weeks, with half of this spent camping at festivals.  These are some of my top tips for finding free camping and some of my favorite free campgrounds from the trip.

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How to Find Free Camping when Driving to Alaska

Besides intuition, I relied on three sources to find free camping in Alaska, Yukon, and BC:

Most importantly, the iOverland app lists many paid and free campgrounds and wild camping areas.  This app is amazing and it is free.  Even better, it works offline (without data or wifi)

Maps.me is another app and it pairs nicely with iOverland.  iOverland doesn’t provide great directions, but maps.me does if it’s a mapped location.  Make sure you download the relevant maps before your trip.   Maps.me also works offline.

The Milepost Guide contains all the major roads to and in Alaska, along with all points of interest along the way, including free campgrounds.  This is a must purchase before your trip to Alaska.  Buy the Milepost at amazon now. 

Free Camping in Alaska

There are quite a few place to camp for free in Alaska.  But there are also some towns that are especially not free camper friendly including Homer and Anchorage.  Some free places I camped in Alaska include rest areas, National Recreation Area campgrounds, user-maintained campgrounds, businesses that allow camping, and select in-town sites.   Here are some of my favorite free places to camp in Alaska:

Whiskey Gulch Campground

Whiskey Gulch is off the Sterling Highway, between Soldotna and Homer on Kenai Peninsula.  Years ago, the road to access Whiskey gulch was steep, narrow, and dangerous.  Now it is just steep, but most vehicles can make it down to the beach.  I parked right by the beach with views of volcanoes and sunsets and bald eagles.  There was one porta-potty at this site. 

My camping spot at Whisky Gulch

Denali Highway

There are 100’s of places to camp along the gravel Denali Highway, located halfway between Fairbanks and Anchorage.  I parked next to 50-Mile Lake to enjoy this beautiful view and wildlife (I spotted a single caribou, many beavers, swans, and a couple of bald eagles). 

Van camping on the Denali Highway

Valdez Harbor and Valdez Iceberg Lake

I found two great places to camp in Valdez, my favorite town in Alaska.  You are allowed to “stealth” camp for up to 48 hours at the Valdez Harbor, with picnic tables and bathroom access.  Wake up to great views of the Harbor.  The other great place to camp near Valdez is at the Iceberg Lake at the base of Valdez Glacier.  No toilets but amazing views.

Valdez Harbor
Valdez Glacier Iceberg Lake

Haines Bayside Picnic Area & Road Pull-Outs

There are a few places to camp along the road to the Haines Ferry Dock.  While there are no camping signs at the picnic spot closest to the town, there are several other pull-outs with no such restrictions.

The view from my free Haines campsite

Deadman Lake & Lakeview Campgrounds

These two free campgrounds are part of Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge, along the Alaska Highway between the Yukon border and Tok, AK.   Not only is there free camping, there’s also free canoeing at Deadman Lake.  Read more about these campgrounds here.

Deadman Lake Sunset

At the Summit of the Salmon Glacier in Hyder, AK

This spot is technically in BC, but accessed only from Hyder.  The summit is a viewpoint with male and female toilets.  It was foggy in the afternoon when I first visited so I decided to spend the night, hoping to wake to an incredible view.  So, I woke up the next morning only to see… more fog.  But I fixed some coffee and sat on a bench and eventually the fog settled into the valley and the view was incredible after all!

Enjoying the view at Salmon Glacier

Free Camping in Yukon

There isn’t abundant free camping in Yukon – you are not supposed to camp at highway rest areas.  Other areas that look good for camping will have “No overnight” signs.   However, there are some great governmental campsites for $12 CAD that include free firewood.  I didn’t spend many nights in Yukon (often crossing into Alaska where there were some free spots), but here are a couple free places I camped:

Gravel Pit in Tombstone Mountain Territorial Park

There’s a $12 campground in Tombstone Mountain Territorial Park along the Dempster Highway, but the spots are in the trees with little view so I headed north and parked in one of the gravel pits with awesome views.  I also had a weird experience with 3 owls swooping my head that night. 

View from my Tombstone campsite

Ogilvie-Peel Viewpoint

After slogging thru deep mud in the fog, I was so tired I stopped at a rest area along the Dempster Highway.   The next morning, I woke up to a great view. 

Ogilvie-Peel Viewpoint

Dawson City Visitor Center Parking Lot or Midnight Dome

If you want to enjoy the “nightlife” of Dawson City without worrying about driving, you can camp for free overnight at the Dawson City Visitor Center for free.  Alternatively, you can camp up at the Midnight Dome viewpoint

Full Moon at Midnight Dome viewpoint in Dawson City

Free Camping in British Columbia

British Columbia has some fantastic free campgrounds!  There are many so called “British Columbia Recreation Sites” or “BC Rec Sites” that are provincial parks with un-hosted or user-maintained campgrounds.  These campgrounds had camp areas, usually with fire pits and picnic tables.  There were also vault/pit toilets, with or without toilet paper.  I often found the settings at these free campgrounds where nicer than the hosted BC Provincial Park campgrounds that cost $20 per night.  It’s also possible to camp at many of the highway rest areas, although they can be very noisy. 

Dragon Lake Recreation Site

Dragon Lake is a BC Rec Site.  This was a great spot on the little traveled Nass Forest Road on the way out from exploring the Nass River Valley driving to the Cassiar Highway.  The lake has places to launch a kayak or swim from a swimming dock. 

Dragon Lake Rec Site

Sawmill Point Recreation Site

I got to park right on the beach of Dease Lake at this Rec Site just off the Cassiar Highway.  If you can stand the chilly water, Sawmill Point is a great place to swim or kayak.

My camping spot at Sawmill Point Rec Site

Lasalle Lakes Recreation Site

Yet another great spot to camp among the BC Rec Sites.  This spot is found on the Yellowhead Highway, half-way between Prince George and the Canadian Rockies. 

La Salle Lake Campground

Do you have any favorite free campgrounds in Alaska, Yukon, or BC not mentioned above? Please leave comments below.

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