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May 2024: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are additional protocols for coming to the Unist’ot’en Yintah. Following Registration, folks will guide you through these precautions. Thank you for your support!

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Google Maps shot of the road from Houston to the Healing Centre

Location

The camp is located on the shores of the Wedzin Kwah and mouth of the Talbits Kwah. These are tributaries to the Skeena, Bulkley, and Babine Rivers. The Coastal Gaslink Pipeline was forced through and built underneath our sacred river, Wedzin Kwah, just a couple kilometres from our village and upstream of our water source.  The proposed Pacific Trails Pipeline (Chevron) seeks to cross the river at the exact points of our Pithouse that was built on the Unist’ot’en Territory of Talbits Kwah.

Place names

Wedzin Kwah – Morice River, the eastern boundary of Unis’tot’en territory

Talbits Kwah – Gosnell Creek (flows into Morice River)

Tse Wedi Elh – Rocks Flowing, the place where the camp is located

Driving Directions

Making the Trip

The camp is located on a forest road 1200 km (740 mi) by road from Vancouver, BC and about 130 km from the town of Smithers. A car can make the trip from Vancouver in about 18 hours including gas and refreshment stops. Most drivers stop in William’s Lake or Prince George for the night.

Directions

From Hwy 16 just west of Houston, the route follows the Morice River. Turn south on the Morice River Forest Service Road (Huckleberry Mine Road) just west of the Finning Equipment facility (look for the big yellow sign). Every kilometer of the forest road is marked. Near the 27 km sign, take a right to stay on the Morice River FSR. Just past the 44 km mark (home to our neighbours at Gidt’imt’en Checkpoint) and a narrow bridge, turn right on the Morice West FSR. The camp is another 22 kilometers at the 66 km point from the highway. (Tip: If you are going away from the river, you are going the wrong way.)  Google Maps plus code (the Google Maps directions from Houston are accurate) is 946J5JVP+96.

Driving on the Logging Road

Watch out for oncoming trucks and heavy machinery. Keep headlights on at all times, stay well to the right, honk and yield at blind corners. The camp hosts suggest coming on the weekend, or following behind a logging truck or another vehicle with a radio as they know when another truck is coming and when to pull off to the side. Radios are available for rent at Tower Communications in Houston.  Please screenshot the directions and call your contact at camp to let them know your departure time before you leave Houston. You will lose service about 4km up the road, and will not have it again until you return from camp.  

Current Road Conditions

(updated for May 2024) 

The forest road and logging roads are generally graded and easily accessible to two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles.  You will need snow tires from October until late April, and chains are strongly recommended for 4-wheel-drive and crucial on 2-wheel-drive in winter months.

In winter (late October to late April) conditions along the logging road are icy, snowy, and slushy, depending on the temperature and weather. In Spring, it can also be muddy, with washouts along the road. Due to the drought in the North this year and last, the roads are very dry.

In warm months (May until mid October), roads are generally muddy, dusty, and rocky in places. Drive slowly, especially on corners, and watch for work trucks. Daytime travel is strongly encouraged, and try not to be driving up the road to camp at dusk, as it is very hard to see.