Once this road was dirt based, potholes and one big mud road. Even in the summer it was an adventure to drive . Now all but ten miles has been paved. The road has been straightened over the years. The highway holds some of the most beautiful scenery Canada has to offer. The highway is home to a variety of wildlife. Deer, Mountain Sheep, Bear Moose, Caribou, Buffalo. Different sections are well marked for the abundance of wildlife so please slow down.

World-famous "Alcan" Highway was built by the military in 1942 and opened to civilian travel in 1948. Mile 0 is at Dawson Creek, BC (not to be confused with Dawson City, YT). The highway crosses the Rocky Mountains at Summit Lake, but has relatively few steep grades. The first 600 miles of the highway are in British Columbia. The Alaska Highway crosses the 60th parallel north into Yukon Territory and travels 580 miles before reaching the Alaska border and Port Alcan. Official end of the Alaska Highway is in Delta Junction, AK, at Historical Mile 1422.

Route numbers: BC Highway 97, Yukon Highway 1, Alaska Route 2

Connects: Dawson Creek, BC, to Delta Junction, AK Length: 1,390 miles (Historical Mile 1422) Road surface: Paved Road conditions: Fair to excellent. Watch for loose gravel, bumps, dips, frost heaves, and sections of narrow, winding road without shoulders. Also watch for road construction in summer.

Season: Open all year

Highest summit: Summit Lake, 4,250 feet

Major attractions: Muncho Lake, Liard Hotsprings, Watson Lake Signforest, SS Klondike, Kluane Lake, Trans-Alaska Pipeline Crossing

© copyright Background and graphics by Dora 2001
Alaska welcome sign on road to Skagway
September 1st 2001