Robert Campbell Highway #4 and Region The Campbell Region was named after Robert Campbell (1808-1894), a Scottish born Canadian fur trader and explorer. Employed as a young man by the Hudson’s Bay Company, he was sent in 1834 to the Mackenzie River region, where he remained until 1852. He discovered the Pelly River in 1840, descending it in 1843 to its con uence with the Lewes River to form the Yukon. Here he established Fort Selkirk in 1848. Later he followed the Yukon to its junction with the Porcupine River at Fort Yukon. He worked as a trader for Hudson’s Bay until 1871, when he was discharged, and spent his last years as a rancher in Manitoba. He wrote The Discovery and Exploration of the Pelly River.
The scenic, partly paved Campbell Highway (Highway 4) runs between the communities of Carmacks and Watson Lake. Yukon Government campgrounds, recreational day use areas and the communities of Faro and Ross River offer all the conveniences for travelers through the region. The variety of terrain in the Campbell Region is remarkable: to the north and west lie the mighty Pelly and Macmillan Rivers; to the northeast the rugged Hess Mountains and the wild country towards Macmillan Pass; to the east Finlayson and Frances Lakes and unspoiled wilderness for 423 km (255 miles) to Watson Lake; to the south the Pelly Mountains and the picturesque country of the South Canol Road and to the west, the gentle hills and pristine lakes of Little Salmon Lake country. The Campbell Region is truly a perfect jumping off point’ for experiencing the variety and abundance of Nature at its most pristine.
