Route Overview
Adventure Rating: Baja
Trip Length: 1,700 miles / 1-2 weeks, but we recommend taking your time to see the sights along the way (mileage is based on travel from Watson Lake to Tuktoyaktuk, and then back to Klondike Corner).
Season: Year around, but most travelers drive these highways in June to mid-October, when the ferry services along the Dempster are operating. 4x4 or AWD with snow rated tires are recommended for winter travel, and expect sub-freezing weather.
Avg Trail Rating: 1 Peak Trail Rating: 2
Typical Terrain: 75% gravel, 25% paved. The paved sections can be found along the southern section of the Campbell Highway and all of the Klondike Highway.
Recommended Vehicle: A Subaru or AWD vehicle with all terrain tires.
Adventure Vans: Yes! 4x4 Sprinters are recommended, but 2WD Sprinters and RVs frequent the route.
Alternative Routes: n/a
Prepping for your adventure
Practice Safe and Defensive Driving All of the highways are main arteries for industrial traffic. Be alert for oncoming semi-trucks and other industrial vehicles, many which travel at high rates of speed. Many locals will pull over to the shoulder to let semi-trucks pass. And while the Dempster and Campbell Highways can be driven any time of year, it's recommended to stay refrain from traveling during or directly after heavy rains, when the roads become extremely slippery and dangerous. If you do plan on traveling in winter, make sure you have snow rated tires in addition to chains. For gravel sections, drivers are advised not to exceed 50 mph (80 kmh) when the road is dry, and to reduce speed for wet or icy conditions.
Fuel From north to South, here are the largest distances between fuel stations. Many travelers bring a 5 gallon jerry as a safety measure. Sections with extended distance between fuel stations:
Watson Lake to Ross River: 225 miles
Dawson City to Eagle Plains: 255 miles
Vehicle Gear / Tires
Sections of both the Campell and Dempster Highways are notoriously hard on tires. We recommend traveling with at least 1 full size spare and a tire patch kit. Many seasoned travelers will bring two full size spares.
For current info on Road Conditions and Ferry Schedules: https://www.inuvik.ca/en/discovering-inuvik/Dempster-Highway.asp
Ferry Crossings There are two vehicle crossings on the Dempster Highway at the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers. Both ferries are free and generally operate from 9:15am - 12:45am. Ferries generally run from June through mid-October. Water Any water that isn't obtained from a commercial source should always be boiled, including campgrounds. Wildlife Viewing and Safety There are numerous opportunities to observe local wildlife along the route, including moose, caribou, grizzly bears, and numerous species of birds. In fact, there's a good chance you'll see a grizzly bear while visiting the Yukon and Northwest Territories. If you do see/encounter a potentially dangerous animal like a grizzly or moose (moose are considered more dangerous than bears), always keep a safe distance. Campgrounds are generally safe, but always store your food away and be mindful of your surroundings. Amenities There are a number of small towns and villages along the route where food and other amenities can be bought. Smaller villages and settlements often only have a gas station/pump and a general store, while "larger" towns like Dawson City have numerous shops, restaurants, and lodging options. For a list of specific amenities by community please check: https://www.dempsterhighway.com/communities-amenities
Watson Lake
Ross River
Faro
Pelly Crossing
Stewart Crossing
Mayo
Dawson City
Eagle Plains
Fort McPherson
Tsiigehtchic
Inuvik
Tuktoyaktuk
Camping
There are numerous campgrounds along the entire route, all of which have been marked on the featured Google Map, GPX and KMZ files. Unless you've travelled the Campbell and Dempster Highways on multiple occasions, we recommend staying at a designated campground. Lodging can also be found in the more established towns along the route like Dawson City.
Route Details
This guide is broken up into three distinct sections, which represent the three highways that make up the Dempster-Campbell Arctic Traverse. Traveling from the south to north, these are the Robert Campbell Highway, the Klondike Highway, and finally the Dempster Highway that terminates at the Arctic Ocean.
Segment 1: The Campbell Highway, Watson Lake to Carmacks
362 miles, 60% gravel / 40% Paved
Segment 1 Discovery Points
DP1 - Northern Lights Centre
DP2 - Signpost Forest
DP3 - Robert Campbell Highway
DP4 - Watson Lake
DP5 - Historical Watson Lake Airport
DP6 - Simpson Lake
DP7 - Frances Lake
DP8 - Finlayson Lake Observation Platform
DP9 - Ross River
DP10 - Faro
DP11 - Little Salmon Lake
DP12 - Yukon River
DP13 - Tantalus Mine
Segment 2: The Klondike Highway, Carmacks to Dawson City
219 miles, 100% paved
Segment 2 Discovery Points
DP13 - Tantalus Mine
DP14 - Carmacks
DP15 - Klondike Highway
DP16 - Five Finger Rapids
DP17 - Pelly Crossing
DP18 - Pelly River Bridge
DP19 - Stewart Crossing
DP20 - Stewart River
Segment 3: The Dempster Highway, Klondike Corner to Tuktoyaktuk and back
1104 miles, 100% gravel
Segment 3 Discovery Points
DP21 - Dempster Highway Sign
DP22 - Yukon Gold Fields Discovery Claim
DP23 - Dawson City
DP24 - Jack London Museum
DP25 - Midnight Dome Viewpoint
DP26 - Lost Patrol Gravesite
DP27 - Tombstone Range Viewpoint
DP28 - North Fork Pass
DP29 - Sapper Hill
DP30 - Ogilvie River
DP31 - Ogilvie Ridge Viewpoint
DP32 - Eagle Plains
DP33 - Arctic Circle Sign
DP34 - Peel River Ferry
DP35 - Nitainlaii Territorial Park
DP36 - Fort McPherson
DP37 - Mackenzie River Ferry
DP38 - MacKenzie River
DP39 - Tithegeh Chii Vitaii lookout
DP40 - Jak Territorial Park
DP41 - Inuvik
DP42 - Igloo Church (Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church)
DP43 - Tuktoyaktuk
DP44 - Arctic Ocean Sign
DP45 - Arctic Ocean
Recommended Maps
Gaia GPS (Backroad Mapbooks layer, Gaia base layer)
Download GPX and KMZ files
Resources
Helpful Resources
Gallery
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