Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway extends 1387 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, through the Yukon Territory and ending in Delta Junction, Alaska. It represents one of the greatest overland adventures in North America and the route includes no shortage of things to see and do.
Here are a few of the highlights:
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway is located in Dawson Creek, which is a large part of the town’s identity. The historic downtown and “Mile 0” sign are worth documenting with a photo opportunity. The nearby Northern Alberta Railways (NAR) Park with its museums and open spaces.
Northern Edge of the Rocky Mountains
Leaving Dawson, travelers will parallel the Rocky Mountains before turning east in Fort Nelson and heading into the Rocky Mountains. This section of the drive offers a variety of sites that are worth a stop. Canyons, erosion pillars and hot springs are just a few of the geologic attractions that occur along this leg of the journey. Iconic views of the mountains looking across Muncho Lake are perhaps the most photographed landscapes along the southern third of the highway.
Watson Lake, Yukon Territory
Watson Lake is the first municipality of any size that you will encounter in the Yukon. So this has been a traditional stopping point for travelers. The famous “signpost forest” contains numerous signs left by travelers that point toward and give the distance to their hometown. The first was left by an American GI during WWII and there are now over 76,000. It is considered a major roadside attraction and it is permissible to commemorate your trip by adding a signpost.
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Whitehorse is the territorial capital and the largest city on both the Alaska and Klondike Highways, which makes it something of a crossroad. This is a major stop offering a variety of historic, cultural and geological points of interest. Views of the Yukon River include Miles Canyon. The S.S. Klondike, a sternwheeler that once ran freight on the Yukon River, is now a national historic site. Numerous museums and cultural centers, local art and the historic downtown should also round out your list of thing to see.
Kluane National Park and Reserve
The Kluane Range contains Canada’s highest peaks exceeding 19,000 feet (5800 meters), which are also some of the highest in North America. Vast glacial fields cover more than 80 percent of the the national park. Kluane along with Wrangle-St. Elias and Glacier Bay National parks is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The park also protects an abundance of wildlife. Large mammals include wolves, moose, caribou, black bear and grizzly bear. Kluane also provides habitat for 120 species of bird that include bald and golden eagles.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities that include hiking, trail riding, boating on Lake Kathleen, rafting the Alsek River and fishing. Anglers should note that local fish include lake trout, Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, northern pike and sockeye salmon.
Kluane Lake
Kluane Lake is located just northwest of Haines City. This glacier-fed lake is surrounded by low hills, but is framed in the distance by the Kluane Range. The highway follows the southern shore, offering incredible views of the water. Northern mountain caribou, a distinct subspecies of woodland caribou, migrate through the area around the lake.
Tok, Alaska
Tok is significant for a couple of reasons. It is the first substantial municipality travelers will reach in Alaska. Tok also sits at the intersection of the Alaska Highway and the Glenn Highway, which leads southwest. So travelers may continue northwest toward Fairbanks or southwest toward Anchorage.
Delta Junction, Alaska
Delta Junction is technically the northern terminus of the Alaska Highway. Some will argue that the route continues along the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks. Believe what you like, but this narrative ends in Delta Junction.