The Klondike Highway: From Skagway to Dawson City

The Klondike Highway runs roughly 715 kilometres (about 440 miles) from the deep-water port of Skagway, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon. For much of its length it traces the route of the 1897–98 gold rush stampeders, climbing from tidewater over the coast mountains and following the lakes and rivers that carried the gold seekers north. It is one of the most historically rich drives in North America.  The road comes in two parts: the **South Klondike Highway** from Skagway over the White Pass to the Alaska Highway near Whitehorse (about 160 km), and the **North Klondike Highway** from Whitehorse to Dawson City (about 535 km). ## Skagway and the White Pass Begin in Skagway, where the entire downtown is preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. This was the jumping-off point for stampeders heading over the White Pass — the lower, longer alternative to the brutal Chilkoot Trail. The highway climbs fast out of town, gaining over 1,000 metres to the summit in a series of switchbacks, often above the clouds. The parallel White Pass & Yukon Route railway, built in 1898–1900, still runs excursion trains beside the road. ## Across the southern lakes Dropping out of the mountains, the highway passes Carcross — short for "Caribou Crossing," home of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the tiny [Carcross Desert](/blog/carcross-desert-dunes-guide) — and the long string of lakes (Bennett, Tagish, Marsh) that the stampeders rafted and sailed toward the goldfields. ## Whitehorse At Whitehorse, allow at least a day. The [SS Klondike National Historic Site](https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/ssklondike), a massive restored sternwheeler that once hauled freight up the Yukon River, sits on the riverfront and is open for tours in summer. See our full [Whitehorse travel guide](/blog/whitehorse-essential-guide) for more.  ## North to Dawson The North Klondike Highway runs through [Carmacks](/blog/carmacks-five-finger-rapids) — where you can see the historic Five Finger Rapids that tested every riverboat pilot — and Pelly Crossing, land of the Selkirk First Nation, before reaching Dawson City. Plan on six to seven hours of driving from Whitehorse to Dawson, more with stops. The road is paved, but watch for frost heaves and gravel patches north of Carmacks. Dawson City, at the end of the road, is the heart of the Klondike. Spend at least two days — our [Dawson City travel guide](/blog/dawson-city-48-hours) covers what to see, and [Where to Eat in Dawson City](/blog/eating-well-dawson-city-restaurants) covers the food. ## Practical notes - The South Klondike Highway crosses the international border; carry your passport and check current Canada Border Services hours, which are seasonal. - Fuel is available in Skagway, Carcross, Whitehorse, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, and Dawson — fill up when you can. - The drive is spectacular in either direction, but northbound follows the stampeders' own journey. --- ## See Also on TheKlondike.net - [The Alaska Highway: A Complete Guide](/blog/alaska-highway-complete-guide) — the highway the Klondike route connects to - [Carcross and the Carcross Desert](/blog/carcross-desert-dunes-guide) - [Carmacks and the Five Finger Rapids](/blog/carmacks-five-finger-rapids) - [Dawson City Travel Guide](/blog/dawson-city-48-hours) — the end of the road