Northern Highways - Alaska, the Yukon & northern British Columbia
The Atlin Road, built by the Canadian Army in 1949-1951, connects the village of Atlin, British Columbia, with the Tagish Road and the Alaska Highway at
Jake's Corner, Historic Mile 866. While some of the road is still narrow and winding, extensive reconstruction and paving has been done in recent years and is currently going on (August 2010).
Whether you're interested in gold rush history or in seeing nature at its finest, the short trip into the village of Atlin will be a worthwhile one.
With ghost towns, glaciers and warm springs close by, there is enough to keep you busy for two or three days, but on a day trip you can see the highlights.
Atlin's attractions include:
- historic buildings in both Atlin itself, and in the nearby gold rush town of Discovery. The small Pioneer Cemetery may also be of interest to history buffs.
- the MV Tarahne was built as a tour boat in 1917, and now is the location of a dinner theatre. Sitting beside her is the much smaller Atlintoo, seen in the photo to the right.
- beautiful Spruce Creek Falls.
- the Warm Springs, seen in the photo below, are great for a dip on a warm summer day.
- Birch Mountain, seen across Atlin Lake, is the highest mountain in the world that is located on an island in a fresh-water lake (Teresa Island).
For those seeking more strenuous activities, there are kayaks for rent, and there are great hiking areas, particularly in the Surprise Lake area.
Atlin is not commonly visited by large groups, and for those groups accommodations may be at two or three locations, but there are many options, from the hotel to cabins and B&Bs.
If you have questions about the Atlin Road or any other routes, check the links below, or post your question on
the Yukon Forum at TripAdvisor.
Atlin Road Links
The Atlin Road
A mile-by-mile guide to the Atlin Road and the Warm Bay Road, by Carolyn Moore of Atlin.
Atlin Road Log
A 2-page mile-by-mile guide to the road in from the Alaska Highway, by the Atlin Visitors Association.
Atlin Needs a Highway
An article from The Whitehorse Star of February 18, 1949, talks about the need to complete the highway from Atlin to the Alaska Highway.
Challenging the Atlin Road in a blizzard, 1952
An article in The Whitehorse Star of Friday, January 25, 1952, tells the stories of several people who barely survived that challenge.
Atlin
A guide to the community's history, attractions and services.
Images of Atlin
This photo album includes some photos of the Atlin Road.
