Robert M. Braley Jr. Photography

Historic Mile 300 Fort Nelson End Section “E” Start Section “D”/Start of Don Construction Company Ltd. Contract. Called “Zero” by the troops because it was the beginning of the roads to Whitehorse and Fort Simpson. Home to approximately 2,000 troops during construction.

Fort Nelson is a thriving community with an economy historically based on forestry, oil & gas, and an emerging tourism sector. The oil and gas industry is clearly the driver during the present time with a downturn in demand for forest products. North America’s largest gas processing plant and one of North America’s largest deposits of shale gas are both in close proximity to Fort Nelson. Regular scheduled air service, the northern railhead of CN Rail, and the world famous Alaska Highway doubling as Fort Nelson’s main street make Fort Nelson a major transportation hub for the area.

Fort Nelson was established first as a Hudson Bay Trading Post in 1805 and named after Admiral Nelson of the British Navy. Fort Nelson remained a small outpost until the US Army arrived in early 1942. They named Fort Nelson, “Zero”, because on their maps Fort Nelson was the beginning of two very important roads: the Alcan leading to Delta Junction, Alaska and the other to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories (now called the Liard Highway, part of the Deh Cho Route). The Fort Simpson, Mackenzie River Route was an alternate in the event of Japanese attack on the Alcan Highway.

When the troops heading south met the troops heading north, at Contact Creek on September 24, 1942, it marked the completion of the southern section of the Highway. It was only after the opening of the Alaska Highway that Dawson Creek was officially named Mile 0, as it was the Highway’s southern most point.

Fort Nelson offers a variety of accommodations, campgrounds, restaurants, and other amenities, and prides itself on being the gateway to the Northern Rocky Mountains, and the Muskwa-Kechika wilderness area.

Fort Nelson sits at the centre of the Northern Rockies wilderness area, and  is becoming known as an eco-adventure destination. The region is home to several  provincial parks including Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Muncho Lake Provincial Park, and Liard River Provincial Park, where the Liard Hot Springs provides year-round swimming and nurtures one of the world's unique ecosystems. The area is a world-class destination for cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing,  photography, backpacking, wilderness canoeing and kayaking, trail riding,  river boating and a myriad of other outdoor activities. In addition, the Fort Nelson region is famous for speciality tourism markets such as fly-in fishing  and big game hunting.

Ribboned with thousands of kilometres of rivers, dotted by hundreds of lakes, and crowned Rocky Mountains, this regions offers some of the most spectacular scenery and abundance of wildlife in North America.

Fort Nelson epitomizes the small town community spirit and legendary hospitality  of the North, both through its everyday welcome to you, and its "Welcome Visitor" program. Let Fort Nelson's citizens entertain you in their own  unique way, introducing you to the community and its heritage with a series  of volunteer speakers several evenings a week during the summer.

A Hudson Bay Trading Post was established here in the early 1800's but no real growth was experienced until the U.S. Army arrived in early 1942. They named Fort Nelson, Zero, because on their maps Fort Nelson was the beginning  of two very important roads, the Alcan leading to Delta Junction, Alaska and the other to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The Fort Simpson Mackenzie River Route was an alternate in the event of Japanese attack on the Alcan Highway. There was no private enterprise in town and all supplies came from Dawson Creek. Private citizens needed special pass to drive north of Fort St. John.

The Americans left in 1946 and there came a period of about 10 years of relative quiet, until gas and oil was discovered in the area. Fort Nelson boomed. Hotels,  restaurants, and other service related stores grew up everywhere. The growth continues today with tourism, transportation and agriculture playing a more important role, but the town still has that northern friendliness for which  it has been famous.