Fast, wild, and beautiful – a road trip on Yukon’s iconic highways.
The 10 Most Iconic Yukon Highways – Roads To Adventure
Get behind the wheel and get ready for a road trip of a lifetime, driving the Yukon highways.
There is no better feeling than driving the northern highways and having the roads to yourself. Forget about traffic jams, busy roads, and driving stress. Enjoy the fantastic scenery from desert and sand dunes to glaciated mountains and historic rivers. And finally, see wild animals in real-time. Enjoy the midnight sun during summer when the days stretch to almost 24 hours.
When planning your trip, consider the fact that Yukon Highways are mostly taking you through wilderness areas. Service stations and services are far apart and often you won’t have cell phone reception. You most probably will come across road construction sights. It’s important to follow posted speed limits and directions. Always watch for wildlife on Yukon Highways.
10 Iconic Yukon Highway
1) Alaska Highway: Yukon Highway #1
Connects: Watson Lake to Beaver Creek
Distance: 885 km
Highway Condition: Paved
Driving time: Approximately 9 hours 30 minutes
Related link: British Columbia portion of Alaska Highway
Kluane National Park
The Yukon portion of the Alaska Highway is winding in and winding out its way northwestward through wild river valleys and along tree-lined crystal clear lakes. The highway crosses many streams and rivers that are part of two great watersheds. The MacKenzie River drains to the Arctic Ocean and the Yukon River runs nearly 3,220 km to the Bering Sea.
In the west, the Alaska Highway parallels Kluane National Park and St. Elias Range, Canada’s tallest mountains.
Highlights Alaska Highway:
Add a sign to the signpost forest at Watson Lake
Experience the Teslin Tlingit Culture
Camp at Kluane Lake
Take a picture of Mount Logan, Canada’s highest mountain
Try to catch fresh fish dinner at a roadside stream
2) Klondike Highway: Yukon Highway #2
Connects: Skagway, Alaska, and Dawson City
Distance: 717 km
Driving Time: Approximately 8 hours
Highway Condition: Asphalt surfaced in good condition
The Klondike Highway connects Skagway, Alaska and Dawson City, Yukon, the heart of the Klondike. From Skagway, Alaska the road climbs to the 1003 m summit near the Alaska/Canada border.
Between Skagway and the border the road roughly parallels the old White Pass Trail, an alternative to the Chilkoot Trail. The Chilcoot was the shorter route for the gold seekers and therefore the more popular one.
The only community between Skagway and Whitehorse is the small hamlet of Carcross.
Highlights Klondike Highway:
Get aboard the Scenic Railway of the World
Visit the world’s smallest desert
Pan for gold in Dawson City
3) Haines Highway: Yukon Highway #3
Connects: Haines, Alaska, to Haines Junction, Yukon
Distance: 235 km
Driving Time: Approximately 4 hours
Highway Condition: Paved, 2-line highway, open year-round
Frequent bear sighting opportunities
Highway 3 takes you to Haines Junction, a small community at km 1635 on the Alaska Highway. Enjoy spectacular views of mountains and glaciers, changing to forests and alpine tundra along the way. The road climbs up to an elevation of 1,070 m at Chilkat Pass.
Although the highway is maintained year-round if you plan on travelling the route between September 1st and June 1st be sure to check weather conditions.
Check on the Canadian and US customs opening hours before the trip and bring your passport. Note the different time zones between Canada and the US.
Highlights Haines Highway:
Birdwatching – gyrfalcons, snow buntings ptarmigan, red-throated loons, and other species
Venture on one of the many hikes
Fish for king salmon at Takhanne River in early June
4) Robert Campbell Highway: Yukon Highway #4
Connects: Watson Lake to Carmacks
Distance: 582 km
Highway Condition: Both gravel and pavement, all-weather road, can be rough and slippery in winter
The Robert Campbell highway connects Watson Lake (km 1022 on the Alaska Highway) with Carmacks (km 356 on the Klondike Highway). This is mostly a narrow, windy gravel road is an alternative route to Dawson City.
At Ross River, you can choose to take the Canol Road 210 km which rejoins the Alaska Highway at km 1345 (Canol Road Junction). Make sure to check for road conditions on Canol Road, especially if you are driving a large vehicle.
Highlights Robert Campbell Highway:
Travel slowly and camp along the way
Take a canoe trip down the Pelly River
Explore the First Nations town of Ross River
Spend time at the Campbell Region InterpretiveCentre in the former mining town of Faro
5) Dempster Highway: Yukon Highway #5
Connects: Klondike Highway to Inuvik, NWT
Distance: 736 km
Highway condition: gravel, open all year round, ferry service or ice bridge in winter
The Dempster Highway (Yukon Route 5 / Northwest Territories Route 8) was completed in 1979. This is a gravel and crushed stone highway which extends to Inuvik, an Inuit village 325 km above the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories.
This wilderness route takes you to extremely remote regions of the Yukon cutting through the rugged mountain ranges of the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains.
During rain, the road from Eagle Plains to Inuvik can be pretty treacherous.
The Canol Road leaves the Alaska Highway at kilometre 1345 and cuts through the wilderness to Ross River, where it intersects with the Robert Campbell Highway.
The seasonal road takes you above the treeline with scenic views of south-central Yukon’s wilderness. You will be travelling through the traditional territory of the Kaska and interior Tlingit First Nations.
The South Canol Road turns into North Canol Road past Ross River across the river and ends at the border of the Northwest Territories.
North Canol Road: Yukon Highway #6
Connects: Ross River to Macmillan Pass at the Northwest Territories border
Distance: 206 km
Road condition: Rough, summer road only
Start of the North Canol Road across the River at Ross River
This north section of the Canol Highway is a summer road only with no services or facilities beyond Ross River. It provides access to the wilderness of eastern central Yukon and the Canol Road Heritage Trail.
The road parallels the famed and short-lived Canol, or Canadian Oil pipeline. Until the end of the war, it carried oil from Camp Canol near Norman Wells, Northwest Territories to Johnsons Crossing, Yukon.
The North Canol Road is steep and narrow in places and can be extremely slippery when it rains.
Highlights Canol Road:
Grayling fishing on Ross River and dinner in the wilderness
Driving one of the most challenging Yukon highways
Test your wilderness skills in real-time
7) The Atlin Road: Highway #7
Connects: Atlin, British Columbia, with the Tagish Road and the Alaska Highway at Jake’s Corner
Distance: 94 km
Driving time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Road Condition: Narrow and windy at some sections but in good condition
The Atlin Road turns south from the Alaska Highway (Yukon Highway 1), at 1.6 km from the junction with the Alaska Highway at Jake’s Corner, km 1393. The road parallels the eastern shore of Atlin Lake, the largest natural lake in British Columbia.
The road ends at the community of Atlin, located in the extreme northwest corner of British Columbia. Like other northern towns, Atlin was born during the great gold rush of 1898 when gold was discovered in nearby Pine Creek. Many historic buildings are still standing. To this day, there are active mining operations in the area.
Highlights Atlin Road:
Discover the gold rush history
Plan a kayak trip to the southern shore of Atlin Lake and hike to Lewellin Glacier
Book a floatplane for a spectacular sightseeing adventure
8) Top of the World Highway: Yukon Highway #9
Connects: Dawson City, Yukon to the Alaska-Yukon border, where it becomes the Taylor Highway (Alaska Route 5) and continues to Tetlin Junction, Alaska
Distance: 281 km
Travel Time: Minimum of 4 hours
Road Condition: Gravel and paved section, open from mid-May to mid-October, but possible to close earlier due to snow
Top of the World Highway, Yukon Highways at its best
Top of the World is one of the Yukon Highways you don’t want to miss. As the name reveals, for most of the journey you drive along the peaks and crests of mountains and hills, leaving the valleys below. These mountains are rich with minerals and gold rush history and are the home to moose, caribou, and bear.
This gravel highway is winding and narrow in many places. Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination. The road is maintained only during late spring to early fall, depending on the ferry service at Dawson City. Border crossings are only allowed when customs offices are open (9 am to 9 pm Pacific time).
Highlights Top of the World Highway:
Take a detour to the historic town of Eagle, Alaska
Explore Chicken, Alaska, the frontier town with a special charm
9) The Nahanni Range Road: Yukon Highway #10
Connects: 107.8 km on the Campbell Highway north of Watson Lake to Canada Tungsten Mine
Distance: 200 km
Road condition: Gravel, no services along this road
Nahanni Road Map
Shortly after leaving the Campbell Highway, the road winds through a pass between 2,100 m mountains, and then the road parallels the Hyland and Little Hyland rivers towards the Northwest Territories border at Km 188.
The town of Tungsten (Cantung) is not accessible to the public and there are no services along the road. There are places to camp along the way as well as the small government campground at Km 84.
Highlights Nahanni Highway:
Fish for Arctic grayling
Paddle down the Hyland River
Camp under the midnight sun
10) Silver Trail: Highway #11
Connects: Klondike Highway at Stewart Crossing to Kino City
Distance: 110 km
Travel Time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Road Condition: Asphalt-surfaced to Mayo and rough gravel to Keno, open year-round
The Silver Trail to Mayo follows the Stewart River through an area that once was the richest silver-mining region in Canada. Pick up a Mayo Historical Buildings Walking Tour booklet at the Binnet House to have a peek into the history of the settlement.
After Mayo, the road turns to gravel and can be rough after a couple of days of rain. The road takes you to the old mining town of Elsa and ends at Keno City, the most unique frontier town in the Yukon.
Highlights Silver Trail:
Visit the Binet House in Mayo
Learn about the mining history at Yukon’s largest mining museum
Hike up to Sourdough Hill
Drive up to Keno Hill Signpost for a million-dollar view
Stop in at Keno’s Snack Bar for the best pizza in the Yukon
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TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources?
Book Your Flight Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on KAJAK or Momondo. Save money on airfare by searching for cheap flight tickets with these two search engines.
Book Your Accommodation Book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you are planning to stay at other accommodation, use Booking.com as it offers the cheapest prices for guesthouses and hotels.
Travel Insurance Don’t forget Travel Insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It gives you protection in case anything goes wrong. My favourite company that offers the best service and value is Safety Wing.
Get Your Travel Visas Get your Travel Visa hassle-free with iVisa. Apply directly online with their simplified application process and personal assistance. They also offer a passport renewal service.
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Jump over to Travel Resource Page where I highlight all the great companies that I trust when I travel.
Need New Camping or Travel Gear, Maps, or Outdoor Clothes? Check out Backcountry Store for the best companies.
Yrene lives in the Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and is the founder of BackcountryCanadaTravel.com. She was born in Switzerland, lived and worked on different continents and has travelled the world. Yes, that's me, an Entrepreneur, wilderness nut and animal lover who prefers off-the-beaten-track places. I write about things I love. Mostely.
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