Stewart-Hyder Border Run: Photographing the Massive Ice of Salmon Glacier

At the head of Portland Canal sits Stewart, British Columbia, and its twin community of Hyder, Alaska. Driving north from town along the unpaved Granduc mining road leads to one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the Canadian wilderness: the Salmon Glacier.

Standing Above the River of Ice

The viewpoint at the summit ridge sits 4,000 feet above sea level, looking directly down onto the snaking ribbon of ancient blue ice flowing from the Boundary Ranges.

• Best Light: Late morning to early afternoon reveals deep azure crevasse patterns and dramatic medial moraine textures.
• Road Conditions: Gravel and shale, carry a tire puncture repair kit and drive with headlights on to alert oncoming industrial mining trucks.