Alaska Highway - A wilderness road trip through Canada and Alaska

RUNNING THROUGH SOME OF the most rugged terrains on the planet, the Alaska Highway is an epic 1,387-mile (2,232 km) journey through boreal forest, remote mountain ranges, and alluvial landscapes carved by rivers and ancient glaciers. Constructed during World War II as a strategic link between Alaska and the lower 48 states, the route stretches from Dawson Creek in northeastern British Columbia through Yukon to Delta Junction near Fairbanks, Alaska. 

Once gravel, the entire length of the highway is now paved, though stretches can still be potholed and rough. The major obstacle to driving the highway is extreme northern weather—it can snow even at the height of summer this far north. Grizzlies, moose, and other critters are also apt to wander across the road. Drivers should expect a general lack of amenities. 

Many businesses are seasonal, and even during the best weather, traffic is extremely light along much of the highway. The weeklong journey on the Alaska Highway offers one of the world’s most rewarding wilderness road trips. Along the way are Muncho Lake, historic Whitehorse in Yukon, and vast Kluane National Park and Preserve. The best online resource for driving the highway is The Milepost.