Kitsumkalum Lake Road

After 94 km (58 mi.) Greenville Road branches off left to Canyon City (8 km (5 mi.)). Here the Nass River has cut deeply into the lava and the settlement can only be entered on foot across a swaying suspension bridge.

The side road ends at the remote Nishga Indian village of Greenville (population 1000).

Canyon city is just a little village but is set in a beautiful scenic spot on the river with the mountains in behind. The suspesion bridge adds to the atmosphere.

64 km (40 mi.) along the Nass Road Lava Lake lies contained by the Tseax lava stream. When the volcano (8 km (5 mi.) further east) erupted sometime in the 18th c., lava poured into the Nass River Valley, diverting the river northwards. Since then there have been no more eruptions.

The actual lava stream is another 14 km (81/2 mi.) beyond Lava Lake itself. This area, known as the Tseax Lava Beds, remains largely denuded of vegetation, colonized only by lichens. As the lava cooled innumerable fissures, hollows and little lakes appeared. The expert eye can identify various different kinds of lava formation.

At Rosswood the Kalum Lake Road meets the Nass Road, a graveled logging road belonging to the Skeena Cellulose Company. The Nass Road is open to private vehicles but the big timber trucks, usually traveling at speed, always have right of way (keep headlights on and take avoiding action!). Black bear, moose, deer, Rocky Mountain goats and beaver are a common sight in this area. Look out also for the rare and seldom seen kermodei bear.

New Aiyansh is now the main Nishga settlement, dating back only to 1958 when the road was laid. Note the richly decorated Tribal Council Hall and ornate totem poles. Permission can be obtained from the Band office to wander down to the river bank for a glimpse of the abandoned village of Old Aiyansh on the further side. It was founded by an Anglican missionary in 1885.