Camping With Bison

We’ve made the trek between Alaska and the Lower 48 many times throughout the years, in every season except spring, until now. For this particular trip we’ve really slowed the pace and are taking time to stop and explore. There’s a lot to see along the way. As the landscape sheds it’s last blanket of winter, it’s waking up and coming alive once again. Spring is beginning to peek through.

A hint of green in the trees and grass

It had been 17 years since the last time we’d stopped for the night at Liard Hot Springs. It’s a popular place for travelers to stop, with a beautiful picnic area, playground and great campground. The original boardwalk to the hot springs was put in while the highway was being built in 1942. Imagine walking through the tundra all those years ago and coming across a stream of 102-106 degree water flowing through the forest! These days it’s the reward for travelers to relax after the day of driving. The hot springs are a good ¼ mile walk, on a beautiful boardwalk over wetlands and boreal forest. We were looking forward to taking a dip in those soothing waters once again.

We’d just finished setting up camp, took Maggie for a walk and were about ready to hike to the hot springs when we realized a bull wood bison was in the campsite just across the road from ours. Duane grabbed the camera and walked back to take a look. There he was, a huge bull, munching away, not really caring who was around. Soon enough he meandered back into the woods. 

The next day as we were leaving the campground, we had to stop for another bull blocking the road. It was cool seeing the massive animals up close and gave us a new experience. Not everyone can say they’ve camped with the bison. The hot springs were pretty awesome too.

This is the big guy blocking the road. Best to let him have his way

Wood bison were introduced into this area many years ago. We usually see some along the highway. Last year we saw groups of them for at least a one hundred mile stretch of highway. This time we didn’t see nearly as many. I suppose with the early spring and plenty of feed in the woods they don't have to hang out along the roadway. However, we did see several small groups of bison and got to photograph this big guy enjoying the sunshine.

With spring emerging, so are the bears. We’ve been excited to see many black bears and several grizzlies. We’ve also seen an abundance of elk, Dahl sheep, some caribou, stone sheep, moose and a gorgeous red fox, which decided to pose for me to take his picture. Thank you Mister Handsome!

 Grizzly & cub

Young Black Bear

We stopped along the way and hiked into Rancheria Falls. There were still some snowy patches on the ground, even though it was warm and no longer freezing at night. It wasn’t a very long hike, but well worth taking the time to do it. We walked for most of the way on another wonderful boardwalk, with big decks overlooking the falls.

Rancheria Falls

Nice place to hike on Mothers Day

Maggie has stayed incredibly busy the last few days keeping watch of our camp and making sure squirrels don’t get too close. It must be instinct for them to pester dogs because they arrive as soon as we do and start squawking at her. We can rest assured Maggie’s on guard. She’s been going to bed exhausted and in the mornings can hardly wait to get back outside again. She takes her job seriously!

Our journey continues. We’ve found awesome places to park each night, enveloped in this natural wonderland. We sit  around a roaring campfire, enjoying each other’s company, sharing a glass of fine, boxed wine, reminiscing about what a great day we’ve just had. Life doesn’t get much sweeter than this. 

 Big Creek Campground, Yukon Territory

Pine Lake, outside Haines Junction where we camped one night