Major city · United States
Hyder
Go for one night, mid-July to early September, to see bears at Fish Creek; skip it outside that window — the road in is 3 km (1.9 mi) from Stewart, BC.Go for one night, mid-July to early September, to see bears at Fish Creek; skip it outside that window — the road in is 1.9 mi (3 km) from Stewart, BC.
Hyder is a one-block Alaska town of under 100 people at the head of the Portland Canal, reachable by road only through Stewart, British Columbia. It exists on this site as a border curiosity and a salmon-run bear-viewing stop: the Fish Creek platform runs mid-July to early September, and the rest of the year there is almost nothing to do. Most travellers sleep in Stewart and drive over for the day.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mid-Jul–early Sep (salmon run and bear viewing)
- avoid Oct–May (viewing site closed, most businesses shut)
- Airport
- KTN
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Hyder911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance (US 911)911
- RCMP (calls from Hyder are answered in Canada)911
- Poison control (US)1-800-222-1222
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Hyder, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are bears at Fish Creek (stay on the platform, never approach), the unlit gravel road at dusk, and border paperwork…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance (us 911) · 911 RCMP (calls from Hyder are answered in Canada) · 1-800-222-1222 Poison control (US)
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckKTN Ketchikan International (Seaplane to Hyder about two days a week, 55 min each way (check current schedule)).
- Getting aroundWalk the whole town in minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeUS$3–5
- BeerBeer at the Glacier InnUS$6–9
- Budget bedCampsite (tent or RV), a night, per personUS$20
- Mid-range bedSimple room in Hyder or Stewart, a night, per roomUS$150
- High-end bedSimple room in Hyder or Stewart, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$130 · High US$260
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KTN Ketchikan International (Seaplane to Hyder about two days a week, 55 min each way (check current schedule))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
Feb
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Mar
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Apr
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
May
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Jun
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jul
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best*
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Oct
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Nov
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Dec
Avoid
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
Best: Jul–Sep. Avoid: Oct–May. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)), coolest Jan (−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C) low), wettest Oct (20 rain days), driest Feb (14). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Hyder: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
17 rd
Feb
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
14 rd
Mar
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
16 rd
Apr
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
15 rd
May
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
14 rd
Jun
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Jul
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
15 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
16 rd
Sep
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
17 rd
Oct
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
20 rd
Nov
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
19 rd
Dec
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
18 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk the whole town in minutes. Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site is north of the border on a gravel road: drive there. No public transport, no taxi.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Stewart, BC
goDoor to door: Under 10 min by car
Drive or walk 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast on the only road outDrive or walk 1.9 mi (3 km) northeast on the only road out
Beds, food, fuel and the Granduc road viewpoint; the practical base.
Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Drive north of the border on the gravel road
Open mid-Jul–early Sep, 6:00–22:00; small daily fee (check). Bears at the salmon run, eagles all season.Open mid-Jul–early Sep, 6:00 AM–10:00 PM; small daily fee (check). Bears at the salmon run, eagles all season.
Ketchikan
cautionDoor to door: Check
Taquan Air seaplane, about two days a week
Weather-dependent and infrequent; check the schedule before you plan around it.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Hyder (International Street)
One block of rooms, a campground and the bar; book ahead in bear season or you will sleep in Stewart.
Stewart, BC
3 km (1.9 mi) northeast; the practical base for most visitors — bed, restaurant and fuel availability: check.1.9 mi (3 km) northeast; the practical base for most visitors — bed, restaurant and fuel availability: check.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- US$60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- US$120–200 excl. bed
- High
- US$250+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Simple room in Hyder or Stewart1 × 1 night × US$150 | US$150 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130 | US$260 |
| Fish Creek observation site, per day2 × US$5 | US$10 |
| Fuel, Stewart to Hyder and back1 × US$15 · check | US$15 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25 · check | US$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$49 |
| Trip total≈ US$267 per person per day, bed included | US$534 |
check
2026 estimate in US dollars; the town runs largely on Canadian cash, so carry some. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | US$3–5 |
| Burger or chowder at the seasonal food stand | US$15–25 |
| Beer at the Glacier Inn | US$6–9 |
| Fish Creek observation site, per day | US$5 |
| Campsite with pay showers | US$20–45 per person |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Canada guards its side of the border: a single-entry Canadian visa will not get you back in from Hyder.
- Hyder is in the US but runs on Pacific Time and the BC +1-250 area code; Canadian dollars are the everyday currency.
- The Fish Creek site is open mid-July to early September only, 6:00–22:00, with a small daily fee (check).The Fish Creek site is open mid-July to early September only, 6:00 AM–10:00 PM, with a small daily fee (check).
- Fuel, groceries and most services are in Stewart — fill up before you cross.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance (US 911)
- 911
- RCMP (calls from Hyder are answered in Canada)
- 911
- Poison control (US)
- 1-800-222-1222
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
HyderHyder
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Poison control1-800-222-1222
Embassy
No consulates in Hyder; nearest consular help is in Vancouver, BC or Anchorage, AK (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Seaplane Hyder ↔ Ketchikan: about two days a week, 55 min each way; fare on request (check)
- Fish Creek observation site: US$5 a day, payable at the Forest Service office or local vendors
- Drive Stewart → Hyder: 3 km (1.9 mi), under 10 min; no toll1.9 mi (3 km), under 10 min; no toll
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Where is the bear viewing site? — Where is the bear viewing site?
- Can I pay in Canadian dollars? — Can I pay in Canadian dollars?
- Is the border open? — Is the border open?
- Where is the nearest fuel? — Where is the nearest fuel?
Hyder uses Pacific Time and the BC +1-250 area code despite being in Alaska.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Hyder. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mid-Jul–early Sep (salmon run and bear viewing) · avoid Oct–May (viewing site closed, most businesses shut) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for KTN seaplane arrivals: last scheduled departure, weather cancellation fallback, Stewart overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the one-block town: border monument, Old Stone Storehouse, St. Paul's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Glacier Inn.
- Fish Creek page with verified season dates, opening hours and fee, plus a bear-distance rule card.
- Border-status fixture so the Canada re-entry warning is shown before anyone books.