Watson Lake

Watson Lake is a town of 800 people (2016) in southeastern Yukon, close to the British Columbia border. Watson Lake is a common stop for those driving up from British Columbia.

Understand
Watson Lake is near the Liard River, at the junction of the Robert Campbell Highway and the Alaska Highway. The Stewart-Cassiar Highway's northern end is 22 km (14 miles) west of Watson Lake. Watson Lake is the main centre of the small forestry industry in Yukon and has been a service centre for the mining industry, especially for the Cassiar asbestos mine in northern British Columbia and the Cantung tungsten mine on the Yukon-Northwest Territories border in the Mackenzie Mountains.

Watson Lake and the neighbouring Upper Liard settlement are the home of the Liard River First Nation, a member of the Kaska Dena Council. The Two Mile area immediately north of the core of town is a concentrated area of First Nations (Indigenous) residents, while the town extends 8 km out to the turn-off of Airport Road.

Climate
Like most of Yukon, Watson Lake has a subarctic climate. Watson Lake experiences annual temperature average daily highs of 21 °C (69.8 °F) in July and average daily lows of −27 °C (−16.6 °F) in January. Watson Lake has more precipitation than other parts of Yukon with an average annual snowfall of 197 cm (77.6 inches) and 255 mm (10.04 inches) of rainfall, resulting in larger trees and a more viable forest industry.

By car
Highways near Watson Lake:


 * Highway 1 (Alaska Highway) (historical mile 635), heading northwest from Fort Nelson (highway is numbered Highway 97 in British Columbia) or heading southeast from Whitehorse.
 * Highway 37 (Stewart-Cassiar Highway) intersects Highway 1 about 21 km west of Watson Lake. Highway 37 travels north from  northwestern British Columbia.  While Watson Lake has mobile wireless service, there is no wireless coverage along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, until reaching the other end at Kitwanga, about 720 km away.  Dease Lake is one of the few communities along the way.

By plane
The Watson Lake Airport provides corporate and charter services only.

Get around
Local taxi services are available.

Connect
Finding a pay phone should not be a problem in Watson Lake. If all else fails, there is one just inside Super A Foods and inside Andrea's Hotel, along the Alaska Highway.



Go next
You've probably encountered Watson Lake while travelling along the Alaska Highway. Heading north towards Whitehorse, you will find Teslin with beautiful scenery and a good photo opportunity as you approach the Teslin River Bridge (second longest bridge along the Alaska Highway). Heading south towards Fort Nelson, stop for a relaxing sit in the natural  Liard River Hot Springs (open year round).