Sheslay, BC - Canada

Location Overview
Sheslay is an unincorporated settlement in the far northwestern corner of British Columbia, located at the confluence of the Hackett and Sheslay Rivers. The airstrip sits in the Stikine Region at roughly 58°16' N, 131°48' W — deep in a landscape of boreal forest, river flats, and volcanic plateau country. The mouth of the Hackett River is located about 55 km northwest of Telegraph Creek, about 150 km east of Juneau, Alaska, and about 330 km southeast of Whitehorse, Yukon. It is one of the most isolated and least-visited corners of the province, accessible almost exclusively by air or by a demanding overland journey.

Camping & Recreation
The area offers genuine wilderness solitude. The surrounding rivers are exceptional fisheries — the Sheslay River supports a number of salmonids, including Chinook salmon, coho salmon, sockeye salmon, steelhead trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, Dolly Varden trout, and bull trout. Fly fishing, wildlife viewing, and wilderness camping along the river bars are the primary draws. The area is also used by guide outfitters operating in the region. No developed campground facilities exist — this is true backcountry camping where self-sufficiency is essential. The broader area connects to the historic Yukon Telegraph Trail, which passes through the abandoned settlement of Sheslay, making it of interest to wilderness hikers and history enthusiasts.

Notes & Warnings
The Sheslay airstrip is a remote, uncontrolled backcountry strip with no services, fuel, or communications infrastructure. Pilots should plan for VFR conditions only and carry sufficient fuel for the return leg with reserves, as the nearest fuel sources are roughly 100 km away near Dease Lake. The area's subarctic climate means the strip can be soft, muddy, or snow-covered depending on the season — a low reconnaissance pass before landing is strongly advised. Wildlife on the runway is a real possibility. The surrounding terrain is high-relief wilderness with few emergency landing alternatives, so thorough pre-flight planning, a well-maintained aircraft, and conservative load management are critical. This is a destination suited to experienced bush pilots flying appropriate STOL or bush-capable aircraft.

History
The Sheslay area has a layered history tied to Indigenous peoples, the Klondike Gold Rush era, and early Canadian communications infrastructure. The land sits within the traditional territory of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the Tahltan people, who have lived and traveled these river systems for thousands of years. In the late 19th century, the region was drawn into Canada's broader nation-building ambitions when the Yukon Telegraph Line was constructed between 1897 and 1901 by the Dominion Government Telegraph Service, promoted as an All-Canadian Route to the Yukon gold fields. The historic Yukon Telegraph Trail follows the Hackett River, running northwest through Hyland Ranch and on to Egnell and Sheslay near the mouth of the Hackett River, and a telegraph relay cabin was established at Sheslay to support the line. The telegraph line was abandoned in 1936 with the advent of radio communication, and the settlement gradually faded. Today Sheslay is considered an abandoned settlement, and the airstrip remains the primary means of access for the handful of hunters, anglers, outfitters, and adventurers who make the journey into this extraordinary corner of the northwest.