Northern Highways - Alaska, the Yukon & northern British Columbia
North Klondike Highway Links
Gold! Gold! Gold! was the simple yet dramatic newspaper headline that brought the world's attention to the Klondike area of the Yukon in 1897. Within weeks, thousands of men and women had begun a
journey that many of them believed would take them to a land where gold nuggets lay around for the picking. The journey turned out, for most, to be an incredible struggle against untamed wilderness.
Gold is still being mined in the Klondike Valley, but the journey to the goldfields can now be made in comfort. From Whitehorse, it is an easy day trip along the scenic North Klondike Highway.
Along the way, there are plenty of interesting sights and places to stop, including (from south to north):
- the Fox Lake burn clearly shows the power of a forest fire, and also demonstrates how slow forest recovery is in the North. In mid-summer, the carpet of fireweed flowers is gorgeous!
- Braeburn - this roadhouse is famous for their huge cinnamon buns. Cinnamon Bun airstrip across the road indicates its popularity with local pilots.
- the village of Carmacks is considered the half-way point for canoeists
paddling the Yukon River from Whitehorse to Dawson. The highway crosses the river here.
- at Stewart Crossing, a side trip to the old silver mining towns of Mayo, Elsa and Keno is possible for those who can spend an extra day.
- the charming Moose Creek Lodge is
another of the highway's best-known stops. "Murray the Moose" and "Max the Mosquito" are favourite photo subjects!
- the Tintina Trench Viewpoint offers a superb view of the Klondike Valley and Ogilvie Mountains, and interpretive panels describe the significance of the valley in understanding how the earth is constantly being reshaped.
- the gold dredge tailings as you approach Dawson City give you a glimpse at the mining history of the Klondike.
Dawson City may be the most under-estimated community in the North - most people find it hard to believe that there can be so much to do in such a small town. History is tangible here, with artifacts everywhere, several
museums, places where you can try your hand at gold panning, the "sternwheeler graveyard" and lots more. A tour of a bit of the huge Klondike goldfields is a must. But there are also great places for nature lovers to walk - along the
Yukon and Klondike Rivers, or off into the lightly-forested hills that surround Dawson.
Dawson doesn't slow down at night, either, with a wide range of dining options, several taverns and lounges, and, of course, the famous Diamond Tooth Gertie's Casino, seen to the left. There, you can try your hand at
blackjack, poker, roulette or slot machines - for those who want a break from gambling, vaudeville shows are presented several times a night.
When it's time to leave Dawson City, you have several options for continuing your journey:
If you have questions about the North Klondike Highway or any other routes, check the links below, or post your question on
the Yukon Forum at TripAdvisor.
North Klondike Highway Links
An Illustrated Guide to the North Klondike Highway
From Whitehorse to Dawson in all seasons, with almost 70 photos taken by Murray Lundberg on his 100+ trips up and down the highway.
The Tantalus Butte Coal Mine
An illustrated introduction to the history and current state of this pioneer mine at Carmacks.
Moose Creek Lodge
One of the best-known roadhouses in the North, with a restaurant, cabins and gift shop.
The Overland Trail
The story of the development and use of the historic road from Whitehorse to Dawson City, by Ken Spotswood.
Dawson City
Links to all the best sites with information about Dawson, from history and accommodations to photo albums and weather.
Klondike Highway, 1972
A large map and information from a 1972 Yukon tourism publication. At this time the highway only ran from Carcross to Dawson City.
