Whitehorse

Arrive in Whitehorse, collect your car and drive to your hotel.

2 nights in Whitehorse.

Whitehorse

Stroll along the Yukon River’s edge, visit the SS Klondike National Historic Site, visit the Takhini Hot Springs and perhaps take a ride on the MV Schwatka through the historic Miles Canyon. The Frantic Follies turn-of-the-century show is highly recommended for an evening of Gold Rush entertainment.

Whitehorse to Dawson City

With a morning to perhaps visit one of the numerous coffee shops and bakeries, the drive north is a pleasant affair through the Yukon and Stewart River valleys. Shortly after leaving Whitehorse there is an opportunity to visit the Takhini Hot Springs, a natural spring that offers swimming and soaking opportunities. Passing many large lakes and through several small communities, the next stop of interest is the Five Finger Rapids on the Yukon River. With several interpretive signs and viewing platforms, these large rock islands form a daunting challenge to river travellers as the Yukon River surges through several channels created by the rock islands. A series of stairs leads to the river from the high bluff and offers a great location for a packed lunch. As you make your way towards Dawson City there are several scenic points and great chances for wildlife viewing. Shortly before entering Dawson City the old and current mining operations will begin to show themselves as rock tailings line the road into Dawson and the one time “Paris of the North”.

2 nights in Dawson City.

Dawson City

Leave your car parked for the morning as the best way to explore this town is on foot.  Dawson was the centre of the greatest gold rush that the world had ever seen at the turn of the 20^th Century, and much has still been preserved.  The Commissioner's Residence, Palace Grand Theatre and Red Feather Saloon are all great examples of the City. 

After a morning of exploring the town, take the chance to visit the gold fields and see Dredge #4, another preserved site that offers a great introduction to the history and progression of mining in the area. There are opportunities to try your hand at a working mine and even keep all the nuggets that you find. For the evening take a chance to experience the lore and tall tales that still exist with a visit to the historic Diamond Tooth Gerties, a casino, dancehall and performance centre. 

Dawson City to Tok

This morning, you will cross the mighty Yukon River by ferry. Some days, the ferry is busier than others, in case there’s a line-up, grab a coffee at the café on Front Street and wait it out in a relaxed way that many of the locals have adopted. Once on the road you will quickly see this is one of the truly great wilderness drives in North America, and well worth the patience. Take your time as the road climbs to the ridge tops and continues through some more mining areas of Forty and Sixty Mile. 

The stunning Top of the World highway traverses mountaintops and ridges and enters Alaska, before dropping into a series of river valleys. An opportunity for a side trip is to travel to Eagle, Alaska, a small community on the Yukon River, which offers a unique experience to a community that only has road access during the summer months. Eagle was in fact the location that Roald Amundsen travelled to in order to send the telegram stating that he had completed the first crossing of the Northwest Passage. The road then descends from the ridge tops and passes though the unique mining community of Chicken before joining famed Alaska Highway for a short trip into Tok, the “Main Street of Alaska”.

1 night in Tok.

Tok to Fairbanks

The drive today is short so take the time to watch the scenery unfold as you pass along the broad river valley of the Tanacross River with several looming mountain ranges to the south.  This corridor is particularly well known for spotting wildlife so keep watch for moose and bears. As you continue north towards Fairbanks, the valley becomes quite broad along the Tanana River and you will see for the first time the great Alaska Pipeline which traverses the state from the oilfields of Prudhoe Bay to Valdez on Prince William Sound. 

Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest city and is situated at the confluence of the Chena and Tanana Rivers. Like so many communities in the North, it had a boom during the search for gold along its riverbanks. Relaxed, quiet and perfect for strolling, Fairbanks offers a nice contrast to the vast wilderness of the previous days’ drives. 

1 night in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks to Denali National Park

As you make your way towards Denali, you will notice that the looming Alaska Range is drawing closer. Due to the location and nature of the range, it is often the case that weather obscures the peaks from view. With the heights of the mountains and the ranges’ location between the coast to the south and the interior basin to the north, it is a special treat to be able to see the top of McKinley/Denali. On a good day, you will catch glimpses of the mountains as you make your way south. Approaching the main gates to Denali you will notice a great increase in the amount of traffic and infrastructure to service visitors. The best place to get started in Denali is to visit the park Visitors Centre.

2 nights in Denali National Park.

Denali National Park

A wildlife tour into the Denali wilderness will be a trip highlight. This full day tour will take you along a road closed to regular traffic and drive deep into the heart of Denali National Park on a guided tour with a naturalist. Sightings of caribou, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, wolves and foxes eagles, and other birds of prey, are all possible today. Views of Mt. McKinley and the Alaskan Range will complete the day.

Other activities include hiking, whitewater rafting and flight seeing. There are also sled dog demonstration tours and wildlife trips led by Parks staff. For the evening there are many opportunities for eating and entertainment. A great restaurant is at The Perch and we highly recommend it for the view and food.

Denali National Park to Anchorage

Depart at your leisure this morning on the George Parks Highway. Enjoy more Denali-area activities or give yourself more time to slowly make your way to Anchorage exploring the many small villages along the way. Talkeetna is a quaint Alaskan town with tons of character, good cafes and shops. It is also the best location if you are interested in a flight seeing tour of Denali and the area. If you’re feeling adventurous and have enough time, the road over the 184m Hatchers Pass is well worth it.

A less adventurous side trip from Wasilla, east to Palmer, is a good way to spend the afternoon. The Mat-Su Valley is a rich, agricultural region and there are farms dotting the landscape. Take time to visit the Iditarod Museum, which commemorates the famous dog sled race, or the Musk-Ox Farm in Palmer which offers a chance to see these strange looking animals up close. They are farmed for their wool, which is among the finest, warmest and lightest in the world. 
 

Anchorage is the large and cosmopolitan centre of Alaska. While not the capital of the state, it is the self-proclaimed gateway for many visitors. With almost 300,000 people calling it home, many people joke that the city is next door to the Alaska wilderness.  You’ll have time for a stroll around the nearby downtown city streets, the quaint log cabin Visitors Centre is a good place to start.

There are several great museums within the city, but the one truly great aspect of Anchorage is the amount of park space throughout the city. 

1 night in Anchorage.

Anchorage to Seward

This is a scenic and wonderful drive, which we recommend you take your time to explore. Crossing the width of the Kenai Peninsula, the Seward highway is a dramatic road that showcases an outstanding assortment of scenic, natural, historic, cultural archaeological and recreational opportunities. You will quickly pass alongside the Cook Inlet and Turnagain Arm. This scenic section of road offers views across the water to the Kenai Peninsula and the mountains that form the middle of the peninsula. After 37 miles/60km you will have a chance to turn to the Alyeska Resort. This is the closest ski resort to Anchorage. Opportunities exist for hiking and biking in the area, as well as a ride up the tramway for terrific views of the surrounding area.

Continuing towards Seward you will begin to climb into the mountains and alpine forests that lie at the centre of the Peninsula. Look for locations along the route beside lakes and rivers, particularly along side Kenai Lake. After crossing Moose Pass, known for its hiking, winter recreation activities and summer festival, you will pass through a scenic section of road along lakes and forests before descending into Seward.   A picturesque community nestled between the Kenai Mountains and Resurrection Bay, it is a busy harbour offering many chances for a fishing expedition into the rich ocean waters. There is also a great attraction at the Alaska Sealife Centre, an ocean interpretive centre featuring a 10m sea window. There are also a number of great museums and an interesting walking tour which takes in many of the building and historic sights. A marine viewing tour will be a highlight of a trip to Seward as the cruise travels though the rich marine habitat home to whales, otters and birds. Glaciers and steep fjords and mountain peaks combine to offer a unique trip highlight.

1 night in Seward.

Seward to Valdez

You will be familiar with the return trip along the Seward highway back towards Anchorage. At Portage, follow the signs to the Whittier Tunnel, a toll road that travels 4km through the mountains to the coastal town of Whittier. The tunnel is open to traffic travelling to Whittier hourly on the ½ hour. This route takes you through a unique mountain tunnel to the terminus of the Alaska Railway and the Alaska Marine Highway to Valdez.

After checking into the ferry, take the time to look around Whittier, this is a favorite recreation spot for residents from Anchorage for fishing. While on the ocean and the ferry keep your eyes open for whales and other sea life.  Valdez is vibrant, thriving coastal town and the restaurants offer great seafood!

1 night in Valdez.

Valdez to McCarthy and Kennicott

Departing from Valdez you will see evidence of the devastating 1964 earthquake. Though the quake was felt in Valdez, it was the tsunami that caused most of the damage. Dead trees miles inland show just how far the saltwater travelled up the valley. Keystone Canyon offers some stunning views of the river and several waterfalls that cascade from above. Shortly after that the route begins to climb to the top of breathtaking Thompson Pass (elev. 843m) and Worthington Glacier. At Milepost 82 (from Valdez) you’ll turn right on Highway 10, the Egerton Highway, which takes you into Chitna. There you’ll join the McCarthy Road. Once a railroad right of way, the rails have been removed and the roadway improved to basic gravel driving conditions. This is the Alaska you came to see!  

As you continue west, you can’t help but be impressed with the spectacular mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The park is home to 9 of the 16 highest peaks in North America including Mt. Blackburn, at just under 5000m.  Driving slow and taking your time will save on tyre repairs and give you the time to take it all in. About a 1/3 of the way to McCarthy, you’ll cross the Kuskulana Bridge, which is a one way bridge.  About ½ way in, stop at the Gilahina River, for a break and great views of the old-style trestle bridge.

The unique thing about McCarthy is that it is inaccessible by vehicle.  You will call your hotel before crossing a small footbridge and you will be greeted by the hotel staff who will transport your luggage as you make your way to the historic mining communities of McCarthy and Kennicott.

1 night in Kennicott.

McCarthy and Kennicott

This magical location; is the furthest road extension in the massive Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. With only a handful of year round residents, the area is attracting a growing number of people looking to experience Alaska as they imagine it, a mix of solitude and scenery.

The park is the largest in the United States National Parks system and contains several of the tallest mountains in the country and the greatest concentration of glaciers in North America. Combined together with Glacier National Park and in Canada Kluane National Park and Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, the area represents the single largest tract of protected land in the world, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Located in Kennicott is a US Parks Service information centre, which will give you more information on the park and activities. One of the first things that many people do when they reach Kennicott is to visit the old mine, which operated from 1911 to 1938. There are also a number of great hikes from the town into the surrounding mountains, and even to the foot of the glacier.

Kennicott to Tok

Today you have a slightly longer driving day than average, but your route is on quiet, well maintained highway once you return to Chitina. Keep an eye on the national park to the west - these are some of the best vistas in Alaska! In fact, for the next portion of the drive from McCarthy all the way to Haines Junction in Yukon, you will be driving the circumference of the largest protected area in the world. The combined area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Glacier National Park, Kluane National Park and the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park are a UNESCO world heritage site. All told it is bigger than Switzerland or roughly the same size of Ireland.

Your accommodation for the night will be in a unique log cabin located in a dramatic setting.  Nestled in a private valley, there are great changes for hiking and exploring. Your hosts will prepare a fantastic dinner featuring local products.

1 night in Tok.

Tok to Haines Junction

We suggest an early start to the day today. Your route today passes through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery. Kluane National Park forms the other half of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation with Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska. This is a great day to pack a lunch and have the option of stopping wherever the mood strikes you to enjoy the scenery and take a break.

You will cross back into Canada after rejoining the Alaska Highway at Tok and arrive into the most westerly community of Canada, Beaver Creek. For most of the journey you will be driving parallel to the front of the Kluane Range. Once you cross the bridges over the braided glacial feed White and Donjek Rivers, you will have the Park and Sanctuary of Kluane on your right.  After approximately 90 minutes you will begin to see Kluane Lake, the largest in the Yukon and more than 40miles/70km long. 

The small communities of Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing are both located on the lake and have a number of opportunities to stop for services or meals. After Destruction Bay the road will become twisting and winding.

At the Sheep Mountain Interpretative Centre, take a break and have a look for the Dall Sheep (all white) that graze the steep grassy slopes in summer.  This is also a great place to have a hike up the mountain for the fantastic scenery that it offers.

Shortly after Sheep Mountain you will pass a sign for Silver City on the left side of the road. This collection of buildings on the shores of Kluane Lake are the remains of the RCMP and mining station that once occupied the site, which was also a traditional stopping place on the First Nations trading and travelling trail from the interior to the coast to the south. From here it is a quick drive along the park border to Haines Junction.

1 night in Haines Junction.

Haines Junction to Whitehorse

With a short drive to Whitehorse, the morning provides a great chance to explore the area. The best place to start is the National Park Visitors Centre, just follow the signs. The Kluane area is great for hiking, and there are several day walks just off the highway. There is a wonderful wildlife viewing tour by raft just minutes from town and a great wildlife/First Nation (native) cruise on Kathleen Lake south of town. For guided activities, we love Paddlewheel Adventures, who are located just behind the bakery, and Sifton Air for flight seeing and they leave from the airport which is on the Alaska Highway slightly south east of town. 

The drive back to Whitehorse can be done easily in less than two hours. There are several nice places to stop along the way. You will see several signs for campgrounds, which are usually located on lakes. Pine Lake and Kusawa Lake are the best examples.