Edmonton to Dawson City

Dawson City Yukon Ride from Pickardville Aberta

 Google map Overview

Day 1 June 29th, 2016 

     Leaving a day early allowed us to miss a incoming rain storm for the area.  We rode up highway 43 to Grand Prairie Alberta before turning our attentions North west towards Dawson city.  Scattered Rain prematurely had us gearing up in our rain suits.  For the most part only the odd sprinkle hit us which was welcoming. 

 

      Arriving in Dawson Creek, British Columbia we took in the sights at Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.   We decided to push it north on highway 97  to Fort St John British Columbia for the night.  This turned out to be a great decision, the motel we picked was having a customer appreciation night offering up a free BBQ dinner of hot dogs and burgers and a free refreshment.   

Day 2 June 30th, 2016

    We left Fort St John this morning to a light rain drizzle. Knowing we were going to hit rain today we were geared up. Shortly after leaving Fort St John the skies opened up an this light drizzle turned in to a down pour for 200 km. About 110km and three pairs of riding gloves later out of Fort Nelson the rain stopped and allowed us to take in the views of some mountains and valley's in the area.   We checked in to the local Ramada hotel and began drying out the riding gear in Fort Nelson,  British Columbia.

Day 3 July 1st, 2016

   Happy Canada Day

      We left Fort Nelson at 6:30 am and proceeded towards Muncho lake.  Fears of heavy road construction subsided to a leisure ride though the mountains. Came a across a few compact gravel sections but nothing too crazy. With each valley we entered, brought forth a different climate and Eco system. So many curves and you have to be careful for random patches of gravel on the turns. The skies tried to rain off and on but nothing compared to yesterday.

        After a stop in Toad river a neat gas station with hundred of hats attached to the walls and roof and Northern Rocky Lodge at Muncho Lake for fuel we made it to Liard hot springs. The springs felt great just what a guy needed. 

        Between Liard hot springs and Watson lake we came a cross a few bison on the road but not as many as I have seen in the past.  Upon arrival in Watson Lake, Yukon we headed over to the sign post forest.  A must see with signs mounted from all over the world.

Day 4 July 2nd, 2016

     We left Watson Lake, Yukon on Highway 1 at around 8:30 am. It was a bit chillier today due to the rains the past couple days.  The road led us to numerous mountain ranges that words could just not do it justice. In the higher elevations the jagged mountains broke though the tree line, exposing a mountain range not for the faint of heart.  After passing through a long stretch of gravel we pulled in for breakfast at the Rancheria lodge. A nice little restaurant that is family ran in the middle of the mountains.  I have had breakfast here twice now. And it is highly recommended. 

       High winds and dusty roads had us up on the handle bars until Teslin lake for a fuel up. Riding along side of Teslin and Marsh lake really gave you the appreciation of the ride.  After arriving in Whitehorse we checked in and went for a ride around the city. Found this neat dam and fish ladder and visited the site of the Klondike paddle boat.

Day 5 July 3rd, 2016

We left Whitehorse on Highway 2 early to a crisp 6 degrees 7 am ride towards Dawson city. This highway is very peaceful. Reminds one of the Cache Creek area/Kamloops area, an area I spent a lot of time when I was younger After an hour and a half ride we stopped in to Brae Burn lodge for breakfast. Great food and massive cinnamon buns were available in which I took one for the road.           The road was winding as we carved are bikes through the turns and Scenes of lakes, rivers and mountains. After a couple of fuel stops we hit the intersection of the silver trail and Klondike trail just outside Stewart's crossing. We headed north east towards Dawson city taking note where the entrance of the Dempster Highway was.  this is a ride to the Arctic Circle  I want to do on my Dual sport in the future.            Rolling in to Dawson and you could tell this was a gold boom town. All the spoil piles of washed rock lined the highway. We got checked in to our cabin and then went for a ride up dome road to overlook the valley. After walking around and having some dinner we parked the bikes for the night. Going to check out this Diamond tooth Gertie's gambling hall and do some more exploring.  This truly was the land of the midnight sun and the black out curtains were much needed.   Day 6 July 4th, 2016        What a great ride today, We left Dawson City at 7:30 am. After the original forecast of rain disappeared we had a sunny day about 100km out of Dawson. Back through the twisty's of the Klondike trail we made great time to our two fuel stops. We stopped at Brae Burn Lodge again this time for lunch. Wow,  the burgers and sandwiches are as big as the cinnamon buns.   After lunch we rode back through Whitehorse. And connected on the Klondike south highway. Every turn seemed to bring forth a new jaw dropping scenery. The mountains and lakes were just amazing.  After checking in to spirit lake resort. We rode in to carcross to fuel and headed down the highway towards Skagway. After riding around two huge lakes we turned around and rode back towards the hotel.  We stopped at the Carcross desert to watch some sky diving. Day 7 July 5th, 2016       We got on the go early this morning and left carcross at 6:25 am. It's cold in the shade but still can't wipe the smile off my face. We rode through Tagish lake before connecting on to the Alaska highway heading south.  The skies were clear and blue which gave me a further appreciation of the ride. Stopped in Teslin lake for a monster of a breakfast, before making our way back to the gravel sections.                Fueled up at junction 37 before starting our decent south of the 60th parallel and down the Stewart Cassiar highway. If you haven't travelled this road before it is hard to explain. No centre line, narrow shoulders, rolling hills and curves. Oh yes the curves as my smile gets bigger to the thoughts of the last section of the ride. If I was to explain it. A roller coaster of happiness comes to mind. Very little traffic plus fresh black top pavement made for an exhilarating ride. Arrived in  Dease lake,  Dinner is hard to track down here so arriving early enough is key. Day 8 July 6th, 2016         Where to begin? Umm WOW. We left Dease lake at 6:30 am to over cast skies. The highway was quiet for the first few hours. Low hanging clouds blocked some great views of the mountain tops. Lucky for us there were many mountains to see during this ride. After holding our own through the gauntlet of the Cassiar highway pot holes due to ore trucks hauling to Stewart. We dropped in to this fantastic valley of lush green ferns just before the area known as Bell 2. After a quick coffee and a questionable breakfast buffet we rode on to Meziadin junction for fuel.         Now this is where things get good. The highway in to Stewart, British Columbia is breathtaking. I mean if you hate lush ferns clear rivers and countless waterfalls, this might not be the ride for you. Oh and how can you forget the bear glacier nestled in the alpine mountains. And if that doesn't do it for you there is the turns. Ah yes our friend the turns, just lean in to it and twist the throttle.             After lunch in Stewart, British Columbia. It was just aweful,  we had to suffer 62km back tracking through the, ferns, rivers and water falls. Please feel sorry for us. After the junction we headed south to link on to the yellowhead highway which we will stay on for the remainder of our ride. Here we are in Smithers,  full on a great steak dinner contemplating another great adventure tomorrow. Day 9 July 7th, 2016      Decisions were made yesterday. For the most part they were the right call. We decided instead of riding to Mcbride, British Columbia, we would just ride the rest of the way today. We left Smithers, British Columbia  at 5:30 am to blue skies and a low fog settlement. It was a bit unsettling riding through the thick fog. After riding through the Bulkley Valley we ate breakfast in Vanderhoof, British Columbia. Again the weather had forecast rain in our future but we managed to miss it riding through Prince George, British Columbia on wet asphalt. After taking on fuel we looked at our tires. My front tire was getting worn as was my friend's rear tire. Ok tires you got one more run in you. 100km west of mcbride it got interesting cranking the throttle through the corners, reminding us of  the roads of the past 9 days. Riding through Jasper National Park  was extremely busy. It definitely wasn't the Yukon where the population of the whole territory was 33,000 people.  It felt there was that many going through the park today. Once we hit the 4 lane highway in Hinton we said goodbye to the mountains for good and put the bikes on cruise control for the next 3 hours. 1,160km ride today to finish off our 6000km ride to some of the most spectacular terrain one can see.