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Klondike Highway
I included the history of the highway since our road trip started in Fraser, British Columbia, to Whitehorse, Yukon. And from there to Dawson City. The trip from Skagway to Fraser was via the White Pass Railroad.
 The Klondike Highway links the
Alaskan coastal town of
Skagway to
Yukon's
Dawson City and its route somewhat
parallels that used by prospectors in the 1898
Klondike Gold Rush.
The original 53 km section known locally as the
Carcross Road was
actually made into a part of the Alaska Highway in 1942.
Construction of the "Carcross-Skagway Road" began in the 1950s, was
abandoned partway up a mountain from Skagway, resumed in 1976-1977 and
was completed between Skagway and
Carcross in August 1978. It was
only open for a few weeks before seasonal closure. The first full summer
season of use was in 1979.
The Carcross-Skagway Road portion of the highway underwent substantial
rerouting, widening and paving in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The highway remains a popular tourist
route (cars, RVs, buses), and provides an economic means for the White
Pass railway to offer train excursions connecting at Fraser to buses from or toward
points north. |
 North Klondike Highway - The quality of roads from Whitehorse to Dawson City prior to 1950 was poor and only for the hardiest of travelers and motorized vehicles.
Even as of 1979, the entire Klondike Highway was gravel, but by 1982,
some paving had been laid down. Rebuilding and
some rerouting was completed in the late 1980s.
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On the map below, the yellow line is the route of our entire trip coming from the south east to Skagway via cruise ship. Then taking the White Pass Railroad to Fraser, BC. The bus trip was from Fraser to Dawson City. Dawson City to Eagle, Alaska was via a boat on the Yukon River. From Eagle it was back on a bus to Fairbanks. Fairbanks to Denali National Park was via rail car. Fairbanks to Anchorage was also by a comfortable rail car.
Clicking on the map below will appear larger to follow the trip route.
