KLONDIKE HIGHWAY NORTH TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAY RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS
Distances given are from Alaska Highway Junction/Dawson City. For distance to Skagway, add 119 miles; for distance to Tok, Alaska, via the Klondike Loop, add 167 miles to the distance to Dawson City. For general route information, see the KLONDIKE HWY/SOUTH page. NOTE: The kilometer posts on the Klondike Highway have been changed to reflect distance from Skagway.
Mile 3.8/323.4: Turn off for Takhini Hot Springs (6 miles west) (867) 633-2706 Partial hookups, dry sites. tents, showers, meals. Mile 20.4/306.9: Lake Laberge YT Campground Mile 34.8/292.4: Fox Lake YT Campground
Mile 55.6/271.6: BRAEBURN LODGE 2M-3987 Fox Channel
World famous cinnamon buns. One bun feeds four. Home baking daily; eat them fresh from the oven. Gas, diesel, minor repairs, souvenirs. Open year round, located on the Trans-Canada Trail System and Yukon Quest Route. Cinnamon Bun Airstrip across the highway. RV parking, tent sites, showers, rooms, canoe rental, fishing. Expanded dining facilities opened in 2000. Write: Mile 55, Klondike Highway, Yukon, Y1A 4N1
Mile 72.3/254.9: Twin Lakes YT Campground
102.6/224.4: SUNRISE SERVICE CENTER (867) 863-5291 Welcome to Sunrise, an all-new RV park in the center of historic Carmacks. We presently offer partial hookups, meals, hot showers, laundry, a dump station, and gas. Our general store has groceries, sundries, and some hardware items. Hiking trails and Yukon River access nearby. Stop to stay, shop, or just say hello. Watch us grow! Click on our name, above, to E-mail us. Write to: Box 65, Carmacks, YT Y0B 1C0
Mile 102.7/224.5: Tantalus Campground at Carmacks (city) (867) 863-6271
Junction with Campbell Highway. The Campbell Highway connects Carmacks with Watson Lake, on the Alaska Highway. The 373 mile route parallels the Alaska Highway, and some travelers use it as an alternate route, offering a fresh look at Yukon scenery. Most of the route is gravel, with conditions varying according to local conditions and maintenance schedules. The mines at Faro are presently closed, so the risk of windshield damage from passing large trucks is greatly reduced. There is a 137 mile long link to the Alaska Highway at Ross River. See the Alaska Highway section for South CANOL Road details. From Carmacks, there are YT Campground at miles 26, 52, 73, 105, 108, 140, 264, and 321. The Nahanni Range Road at mile 304.5 was closed in 1998 due to washouts, and is not recommended for tourist travel. We think the fifty or so miles from Camacks to Little Salmon Lake is a worthwhile scenic side trip. At mile 26 the road north past Frenchman Lake and Nunatak campgrounds has been improved and can be followed through to the Klondike Highway at Tachum Creek. These small campgrounds are little used and offer a wilderness-like experience within 150 miles of Whitehorse. Good fishing!
117.5/209.7: Five Finger Rapids Rest Area
Mile 119/208.2: Tatchun Creek YT Campground Mile 119.6/207.6: Tatchun Lake YT Campground Mile 148/179.2: Minto Resorts Ltd. RV Park (867) 633-5377 or 2M8419 Minto Channel. Partial hiookups, tents, showers, laundry, sanidump, fish Yukon River, gifts, snacks, supplies, river tours nearby. New management in 2000. Mile 169.4/157.8: Selkirk Gas, Bar, & Grocery (867) 537-3307 RV parking, tents, sanidumo, gas, repairs Mile 207.2/120: Ethel Lake YT Campground (drive 17 miles on gravel road)
Mile 213.9/113.3: WHISPERING WILLOWS (867) 996-2284 Located along the Stewart River, just before the bridge and turn off for the scenic and historic Silver Trail. Our tidy RV park has partial hookups, pull-throughs, tent sites, showers, laundry, and sanidump. Area fishing is great! Ask us where to try. And try our fresh-made bread, homemade perogies and sausages, and fresh ground coffee. We have information about the Silver Trail; a short side trip you will not want to miss. Your new hosts, Jerald and Lorraine, look forward to meeting you. Write: Box 36, Mayo, YT Y0B 1M0
Silver Trail Junction. The Silver Trail offers an easy 140 mile round trip excursion into the Yukon wilderness on a good gravel and blacktop road. Camping is available at mile 36 (YT) and 69 (Keno City Campground). Gas is available at Mayo, but there is no gas available at Keno at the present time. We spent a full day exploring the Silver Trail in 2000, and recommend it as both scenic and historically interesting. People driving large rigs or towing vehicles may want to avoid the alternate route along Duncan Creek. The most interesting aspect of that route is the working gold mine (tours ofered; fee charged). Stop at the Visitors Centre in Mayo for complete information about area silver mines, mountain hiking trails, fishing, and scenic drives.
BEDROCK MOTEL (867) 996-2290 is located a mile past the Mayo Junction and 33 paved miles from the Klondike Highway. Our new facility includes 12 spacious rooms and a lounge. Breakfast is available. The RV park has partial hookups, dry and tent sites, pull-throughs and a dump station. Showers and laundry are also available. Darren and Joyce Ronaghan invite you to stay at the Bedrock while you enjoy a leisurely tour of the Silver Trail district. Write: Stewart Valley Enterprises Inc., Box 69, Mayo, YT Y0B 1M0
Mile 229.5/97.7: Moose Creek YT Campground
Mile 242.9/84.3: MCQUESTEN LODGE (closed in 2000; status unknown)
Mile 301.6/25.6: Junction with Dempster Highway, a 456 mile long gravel road to Inuvik, NWT, on the Mackenzie River delta. The road is in good condition (for gravel). There are several ferry crossings that are closed during freeze and break up, and may be closed at other times due to high water. Check on current conditions at the Klondike Lodge. There are YT or NWT Campgrounds at miles 44, 122, 277, 336,426, 454 and 456. Private camping is available at the Eagle Plains Hotel (mile 231). Access to the Arctic Ocean from Inuvik is by air only. We were finally able to drive the entire route in 2000. Previous attempts were stalled by rain or flooding or fires. The road is generally in good condition. We drove up and part way back in rain, but were able to pass south through the Tombstones on a perfect day. Campgrounds are staffed. Note that staffed NWT charge $15/night, Yukon campgrounds charge $8. Try a musk ox or caribou burger the To Go Restaurant! Two surprises: There are trees all along the route (unlike the Dalton, which is treeless tundra north of the Brooks Range), and Inuvik is a busy, thriving community with all facilities for the traveler (unlike Deadhorse). KARO will introduce a new map, covering just the Dalton and Dempster Highways, for the 2001 season.
Dempster Highway (above)
Mile 301.6/25.6: KLONDIKE RIVER LODGE (867) 993-6892 Located at the junction of the Klondike and Dempster Highway, just 25 miles from Dawson City. Stop for food, fuel, and information about road conditions on the 456 mile long road to Inuvik (see photo above). The next gas north is at mile 252. The lodge offers 18 RV sites with hookups, showers, laundry, sanidump, and ten modern motel units. There is a restaurant, and a gift shop featuring local native crafts. Prepare for your Dempster Highway adventure; we do repairs, fix and sell tires, and offer towing. On the way back, stop and use our car wash. Write: Bag 69, Dawson City, Yukon, Y0B 1G0
Mile 315.2.12: Klondike River YT Campground
Watch for GuggieVille on your left as you near Dawson City, just before the Bonanza Creek Road junction. This 100-site RV park and campground is located on dredge tailings from the former Guggenheim Mining Camp. Bonanza Creek Road leads to the site of the original 1896 gold discovery, and restored Dredge No. 4. Arrange to tour the dredge at the Information Centre in town. A mile west, watch for the turn for the road to the top of Midnight Dome. Seventy of the RV sites feature partial hookups, and there are tent and pull-through sites available. Facilities include showers, laundry, sanidump, a small grocery store, gift shop, and vehicle wash. Gas station nearby. Stroll through the open air mining exhibits, and try your luck panning for gold. Winter phone is (250) 558-3334. Your hosts: Gordon and Brenda Caley. Write: Box 311, Dawson City, Yukon, Y0B 1G0
BONANZA GOLD MOTEL & RV PARK (867) 993-6789 All new in 1999! Dawson city's newest motel and RV park. Located at the Bonanza Road junction, just minutes from town. Spacious, full service sites, dry sites, tenting, hot showers, laundromat, cable TV pay phones, picnic tables and fire pits. The motel features queen rooms. handicap suites, jacuzzi suites, non-smoking rooms, satellite TV, FAX and modem access, and an on site restaurant. For your security and convenience the manager is always on site. Write to: John and Gail Hendley, Bag 5000, Dawson City, Yukon Y0B 1G0 Click above for our web site, or E-MAIL US.
Dawson City RV Park and Campground (867) 993-5142 Partial hookups, dry sites, pull-throughs, tents, rooms, showers, laundry, sanidump, gas, tires, repairs, groceries, snacks, U-Haul
In downtown Dawson, our maps are available at DOMINION SHELL
GOLD RUSH CAMPGROUND (867) 993-5247 Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Dawson City, just a few blocks from all of the attractions and night life. Turn right at the Visitors Centre and drive straight to our door, at the corner of 5th and York. There are 83 level, gravel sites with hookups, tent areas, showers, laundry, and sanidump. New in 1998: landscaping, enlarged sites, hookup upgrades, renovated washroom-shower-laundry facility, gift shop expansion, and much more. Your host: Trish Mayfair Winter, call (867) 633-2623
Yukon River YT Campground (across river)
Junction with Top of the World Highway. Distance from the ferry at Dawson City to the Taylor Highway at Jack Wade Junction is 96 miles. There are a few scenic turn-outs, but no other camp-grounds between the river and the border. See Chicken, AK entry below. Note that customs is only open 9-9 PDT.
Taylor Highway. The final leg of the Klondike Loop is the Taylor Highway from Jack Wade Junction to Tetlin Junction on the Alaska Highway. Distance is 96 miles. There are small BLM campgrounds 49 and 82 miles north of Tetlin Junction. Jack Wade Junction is 96 miles from Tetlin, 79 miles from Dawson, and 65 miles from Eagle. The road to Eagle differs from the Top of the World route, being alternately confined to steep-sided river valleys or skirting ridge tops. We found it to be an scenic and enjoyable route in 2000, although the weather was not the best for long-range views. There are campgrounds in Eagle on the left just before town and on the far side of the old fort. Eagle Trading Post, on the River, advertises RV sites.
CHICKEN, ALASKA is located 67 miles north of the Alaska Highway at Tetlin Junction. Chicken is a common slang word for ptarmigan, and the story is that miners wanted to name their town after what is now the state bird, but were unable to spell it so settled for Chicken. About 100 people live in the Chicken area, mostly miners. There are three aspects to the town. Along the highway, the Goldpanner offers gifts, gas, goods, and services (see below for details). Across the road is the old, original mining camp. This is private property, owned by the folks at the Goldpanner. They offer guided tours for a very small fee. Do not trespass! Just west of the Goldpanner a road leads to "Downtown" Chicken, a strip of businesses including a cafe, saloon, emporium, and gas station.
The Seufferts welcome you to Chicken. We have lots of space to park and turn around. Our gas station, new in October 2000, has gas, diesel, and tire repairs. The store carries groceries, staples, snacks, cold pop and juice, canned meats, and souvenirs. Free coffee! We stock the book Tisha. the story of a young girl's experiences teaching in the area. Try your luck at panning for gold, down by our new creekside picnic ramada, or buy some ready-made in vials, nuggets, or jewelry. Enjoy our displays of historic artifacts and local rocks and minerals, then sign up for a walking tour of the old, abandoned, mining camp across the road (9 am and 1 pm). Overnight parking is provided for self-contained RVs, and clean outhouses are on site. For more information, click on our web site link (above) or E-mail us (below).