Yukon and Alaska

  • HTML tutorial

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

A good point - far too easy to spend all of your time on the road. We assume 170 Km/day overall. Perhaps best to head straight through to Deadhorse, which would take us 27 days, but you could do in about 8-10 days if you go for it, then come back slowly, seeing the sights, which would take about 3 weeks or so.

Adding on time in Southern Alaska (the bits you can reach by road) will add on 2-4 weeks.
It’s really easy to do and some trips I don’t mind especially if it’s the summer and you’re in the desert.
 

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

I've heard that you can not get to the Arctic Ocean by driving at Deadhorse, you need to take a bus tour as it is on Oil Company land. With the Tuk road just opening in 2018 and being able to park right on the water made my decision to go up in Canada. In Hyder, Alaska I saw a great glacier, the Salmon Glacier. View attachment 168886
View attachment 168887

Watched Lifestyle Overland's trip up there, it's on their YouTube channel and also X Overlands trip on YouTube.
Awesome good to know man!
 

USStrongman

Rank V

Influencer II

1,596
Lubbock, TX, USA
First Name
Bryan
Last Name
Hildebrand
Member #

20099

Fall of 2021 we are doing Texas to Deadhorse. Covid quashed this years plan. I've been in and on the Arctic Ocean when I was 21 working for a contractor on an Arco drilling area in Kuparuk, AK. Saw my first of many polar bear there. Amazingly gorgeous animals.

Lubbock TX - Colorado Springs CO
Colorado Springs CO - Sheridan WY
Sheridan WY - Sweetgrass MT
Sweetgrass MT - Banff AB
Banff AB - Prince George BC
Ferry
Prince George BC - Prince Rupert BC
Ferry
Prince Rupert BC - Ketchikan AK
Ferry
Ketchikan AK - Whittier AK
Whittier AK - Anchorage AK
Anchorage AK - Fairbanks AK
Fairbanks AK - Deadhorse AK

We will return via ferry from Whittier to Vancouver BC then to Seattle, Mt Rainier, eastern OR, Moab, ALBQ and home. I'm doing the first half alone and my wife will meet me in Anchorage. 6-7 weeks with 8 set aside all together.
 

Billiebob

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,835
earth
First Name
Bill
Last Name
William
Member #

18893

I do know it’s not in Alaska but I would like to go. I have 6 weeks tips and will be travelikf with my wife and 2 kinds both under 2 plus my parents in there rig. I want to get to the Arctic so either deadhorse or tukttoyaktuk is what I’m thinking. Tuktoyaktuk and back down into Alaska is a little longer but I would get to see more of Canada but deadhorse I see more of Alaska with the time I have. I don’t see this being the last trip up north since I’m within a days drive of the border.
i'm pretty sure you will not be allowed to tour while transiting to Alaska from Washington. It might have changed but the Northwest Terrories were banning all outsiders from crossing the border. AndCanada is only allowing US citizens to transit directly to Alaska. You'd best confirm you will be allowed to vacation before arriving at the border. I don't think Canada has relaxed travel restrictions.

 

Alanymarce

Rank IV

Trail Mechanic III

1,392
Colombia
i'm pretty sure you will not be allowed to tour while transiting to Alaska from Washington. It might have changed but the Northwest Terrories were banning all outsiders from crossing the border. AndCanada is only allowing US citizens to transit directly to Alaska. You'd best confirm you will be allowed to vacation before arriving at the border. I don't think Canada has relaxed travel restrictions.

Good point - I've been assuming that OP is planning for when restrictions allow - no idea when this will be, obviously.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Oregon_trail

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

i'm pretty sure you will not be allowed to tour while transiting to Alaska from Washington. It might have changed but the Northwest Terrories were banning all outsiders from crossing the border. AndCanada is only allowing US citizens to transit directly to Alaska. You'd best confirm you will be allowed to vacation before arriving at the border. I don't think Canada has relaxed travel restrictions.

That’s because of Covid right? We will be sure to check but being as it’s next April or May hopefully that won’t be the case
 
  • Like
Reactions: Terry Pickens

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

Fall of 2021 we are doing Texas to Deadhorse. Covid quashed this years plan. I've been in and on the Arctic Ocean when I was 21 working for a contractor on an Arco drilling area in Kuparuk, AK. Saw my first of many polar bear there. Amazingly gorgeous animals.

Lubbock TX - Colorado Springs CO
Colorado Springs CO - Sheridan WY
Sheridan WY - Sweetgrass MT
Sweetgrass MT - Banff AB
Banff AB - Prince George BC
Ferry
Prince George BC - Prince Rupert BC
Ferry
Prince Rupert BC - Ketchikan AK
Ferry
Ketchikan AK - Whittier AK
Whittier AK - Anchorage AK
Anchorage AK - Fairbanks AK
Fairbanks AK - Deadhorse AK

We will return via ferry from Whittier to Vancouver BC then to Seattle, Mt Rainier, eastern OR, Moab, ALBQ and home. I'm doing the first half alone and my wife will meet me in Anchorage. 6-7 weeks with 8 set aside all together.
Sounds like a awesome trip man! It makes it easy to push hard when you’re alone.
 

Billiebob

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,835
earth
First Name
Bill
Last Name
William
Member #

18893

Yeah I’m planning for late spring 2021 so it will probably be better by then.
fingers crossed.....


April is pretty early for the North, you won't actually see the Arctic Ocean, here is Tuk in May, 2009.

2009_062420091200906220104.jpg

Yellowknife Bay in May.

DSC_01410520.jpeg

May, celegrating closure of the Ice Landing Strip on Yellowknife Bay. Golfing with Hockey Sticks.

DSC_00022853.jpg

Spring is also a period of transition from Winter Roads, Ice Roads to Ferry Travel and Regular Highways. Any route planning will be much different in April vs July.

ice roads.jpg
 
Last edited:

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

fingers crossed.....


April is pretty early for the North, you won't actually see the Arctic Ocean, here is Tuk in May, 2009.

View attachment 169118

Yellowknife Bay in May.

View attachment 169117

May, celegrating closure of the Ice Landing Strip on Yellowknife Bay. Golfing with Hockey Sticks.

View attachment 169119

Spring is also a period of transition from Winter Roads, Ice Roads to Ferry Travel and Regular Highways. Any route planning will be much different in April vs July.

View attachment 169120
Wow yeah there is still a lot of snow in April! I was planning on May but by the looks of things snow may still be a issue.
 

Terry Pickens

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,771
Evansville, WY, USA
First Name
Terry
Last Name
Pickens
Member #

3062

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KJ7FTV
My trip was started on July 21, 2019. Crowds weren't bad, never had a problem getting a camp spot, I was lucky with mosquito's as only had one stop were they were annoying, long hours of daylight and out of 21 days had only 2 with rain. I planned for the worse but was fortunate to get a beautiful trip out of it.

My route:

Map O'all.png
 

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

My trip was started on July 21, 2019. Crowds weren't bad, never had a problem getting a camp spot, I was lucky with mosquito's as only had one stop were they were annoying, long hours of daylight and out of 21 days had only 2 with rain. I planned for the worse but was fortunate to get a beautiful trip out of it.

My route:

View attachment 169123
Thanks for the insight. No rain is obviously ideal but ultimately work is part of my concern. I’m usually busy in the summer months whicn is why I would like may but I will have some worse weather. I’m hoping it isn’t to cold though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Terry Pickens

Terry Pickens

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,771
Evansville, WY, USA
First Name
Terry
Last Name
Pickens
Member #

3062

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KJ7FTV
Thanks for the insight. No rain is obviously ideal but ultimately work is part of my concern. I’m usually busy in the summer months whicn is why I would like may but I will have some worse weather. I’m hoping it isn’t to cold though.
From other travelers report’s, I think I just got lucky with the good weather. Where I found all the mosquitoe, a friend was camped there overnight and said it poured. I was about 1 1/2 hour south of him and only got a light sprinkling. LUCKY.
 

Billiebob

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

2,835
earth
First Name
Bill
Last Name
William
Member #

18893

No rain is obviously ideal
I call May the end of winter more than early spring. Winter is 8 months long. Spring, Summer, Fall share the other 4 months.

The North, Northwest Territories that is, in Canada is a desert climate in the summer. I used to take the top off my YJ in May, yes the bay was still frozen but the weather was balmy. And it never rained til late August. Not sure the Yukon is the same tho. Mosquitos, Sand flies can be brutal between frosts anywhere in the North.

I would love to go back for the Northern Lights in the winter. Love to travel the Ice Roads. But summers with bugs galore and endless daylight are not my favourite memories. I also think any Northern excursion should include Yellowknife. It is maybe one of the biggest cultural melting pots in the world. The hub of everything Northern. Arts & Culture, we had shows that charged hundreds of $$$ admission in the USA, we went for under $50. Paul Cellucci, USA Ambassodor to Canada spoke at the DND, Tickets were $20 including lunch. A week later he spoke in Vancouver, tickets were $1000 a plate for dinner. In many ways the North is subsidized to protect our sovereignty, both for Canada and the USA. Don't miss the significance of that while enjoying its vast peacefulness.

Our first year, I was reading a good book on the deck, I firgured I'd go to bed when it got too dark to read..... well it started getting brighter and it was 3am. My shift started at 6am. I made it thru the day and never felt tired. The midnight sun changes your body. You end up going days without sleep. Heres a great movie about Sleepless in Alaska.

Starring Al Pacino.

 
Last edited:

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

I call May the end of winter more than early spring. Winter is 8 months long. Spring, Summer, Fall share the other 4 months.

The North, Northwest territories that is, in Canada is a desert climate in the summer. I used to take the top off my YJ in May, yes the bay was still frozen but the weather was balmy. And it never rained til late August. Not sure the Yukon is the same tho. Mosquitos, Sand flies can be brutal between frosts anywhere in the North.

I would love to go back for the Northern Lights in the winter. Love to travel the Ice Roads. But summers with bugs galore and endless daylight are not my favourite memories. I also think any Northern excursion should include Yellowknife. It is maybe one of the biggest cultural melting pots in the world. The hub of everything Northern. Arts & Culture, we had shows that charged hundreds of $$$ admission in the USA, we went for under $50. Paul Cellucci, USA Ambassodor to Canada spoke at the DND, Tickets were $20 including lunch. A week later he spoke in Vancouver, tickets were $1000 a plate for dinner. In many ways the North is subsidized to protect our sovereignty, both for Canada and the USA. Don't miss the significance of that while enjoying its vast peacefulness.

Our first year, I was reading a good book on the deck, I firgured I'd go to bed when it got too dark to read..... well it started getting brighter and it was 3am. My shift started at 6am. I made it thru the day and never felt tired. The midnight sun changes your body. You end up going days without sleep. Heres a great movie about Sleepless in Alaska.

Starring Al Pacino.

That’s crazy. Personally I think it would be fun to go in the winter but having a roof top tent I think my wife would disagree and my parents who have a camper definitely don’t want a cold weather trip. The endless days I think will suck and I’m not looking forward to them at all really and sadly by May I’m sure it barely gets dark. Driving the ice roads would be insane but so much fun! There is so few who have done that here in the US.
 

Alanymarce

Rank IV

Trail Mechanic III

1,392
Colombia
Yellow knife is definitely worth a visit (the appellation "Yuppyknife" is not justified at all...).

Winter in this area can be cold - I recall three days in Inuvik when we could not go outside for more than 20 seconds, we saw minus 110 deg C (with wind chill, admittedly).
 

Oregon_trail

Rank II
Member

Traveler I

404
Medford Oregon
First Name
Micah
Last Name
White
Member #

27676

Yellow knife is definitely worth a visit (the appellation "Yuppyknife" is not justified at all...).

Winter in this area can be cold - I recall three days in Inuvik when we could not go outside for more than 20 seconds, we saw minus 110 deg C (with wind chill, admittedly).
Still though! I’ve never been in bellow 0 F close but still. Looking at the weather for Tuktoyaktuk even in May I’m gonna bring cold weather gear since it can be cold still but nothing like that. I will say once I have more experience and maybe a better cold weather setup I would love to take a trip up north in the dead of winter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Billiebob

Terry Pickens

Rank V
Launch Member

Off-Road Ranger I

2,771
Evansville, WY, USA
First Name
Terry
Last Name
Pickens
Member #

3062

Ham/GMRS Callsign
KJ7FTV
Still though! I’ve never been in bellow 0 F close but still. Looking at the weather for Tuktoyaktuk even in May I’m gonna bring cold weather gear since it can be cold still but nothing like that. I will say once I have more experience and maybe a better cold weather setup I would love to take a trip up north in the dead of winter.
Even during the last days of July I was wearing a sweatshirt in Tuk. I was not cold but I was comfortable.