Yukon/Alaska

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The Pilsons continue their RVing journey through the Yukon and Alaska

by Duane and Lynda Pilson

In the last issue of RVwest, we took you from Dawson Creek in northern B.C. through the Yukon Territory and to Dawson City, not far from the Yukon/Alaska border. After leaving Dawson City and crossing the Yukon River on the George Black, a free territorial ferry, you will start to climb the Top of the World Highway as it takes you to Poker, Alaska, and U.S. Customs.

The Top of the World Highway is an all-weather surface but it does have potholes and gravel patches, so take it easy. As you travel the highway you’ll notice how it got its name: it follows the peaks of the Ogilvie Mountain Range. On a clear day you will have unobstructed panoramic views that extend more than a hundred miles.

Now entering Alaska

When you cross the border at Poker, you will notice the structure is unique, being the first joint-use facility for both U.S. and Canadian Customs along the Canada/U.S. border.
Beyond the border, you will travel the worst section of the Taylor Highway (the name changes at the border). The road soon turns into gravel with some narrow sections and a few switchbacks as you wind your way toward Chicken, Alaska. This place is a must-stop, if only to find out how it got its name.

There are a couple of campgrounds in Chicken; here, you can visit the Pedro Dredge, take a walking tour of Old Chicken—a registered national historic site—and see the original schoolhouse featured in the novel Tisha.

Along the Taylor Highway, the road becomes an all-weather surface at approximately 10 kilometres past Chicken and continues all the way to Tetlin Junction, where it joins with the Alaska Highway.

Turning right at the junction will take you to the community of Tok (rhymes with coke), which is billed as the longest main street in the U.S. Stop in at the Main Street Visitors Center to learn about the flora, fauna and history of the region. If you’re interested in sled dogs, the Burnt Paw is a must-see.

The next stop is Delta Junction, the official end of the Alaska Highway. The visitors centre is worth checking out, and make sure to take a souvenir picture at the End of the Highway Marker. From here you can walk across the road and wander through the Sullivan Roadhouse to learn about travel in the early 1900s.

A great place to enjoy a scenic break is only 13 kilometres down the highway at the Big Delta State Park, which is the location of Rika’s Roadhouse—with its well-manicured lawns and historic outbuildings. From the banks of the Tanana River you can see the Alaska Pipeline suspended over the river.

The Richardson Highway leads past Eielson Air Force Base, where you might see aircraft taking off or landing; be prepared for the noise.

Watch for reindeer

Rather than camping in Fairbanks, we have always elected to stay in the community of North Pole, only 20 miles from Fairbanks, where they celebrate Christmas all year. In the Santaland RV Park you might find yourself camped on Donner or Cupid Lane. The campground is adjacent to Santa Claus House, a unique store with wonderful Christmas decorations.
If it is a clear day when you leave Fairbanks, start watching for Mt. McKinley in the distance after passing the small community of Ester.

Nenana is the next stop along the road. If you’re into a little wager, drop in to the Nenana Visitors Center and place a wager on when the ice on the Tanana River will break up next spring.

Soon you will come to Denali National Park—the flagship of the U.S. Parks Service. While in the region, you can take a bus tour into the park; tours range from a couple of hours to all day. You can also go on a river raft ride, visit a working training facility for Iditerod sled dogs (Jeff King’s), drop by the park’s information centre, drive to the park entrance (approximately 20 kilometres from the Parks Highway) and if you’re lucky you might see Mt. McKinley—or you can enjoy dinner theatre at the McKinley Chalet Resort.

After leaving Denali, you will follow the Parks Highway to Wasilla, where the headquarters of the Iditerod Trail Sled Race is located—which is a tribute to the delivery of influenza vaccine from Seward to Nome in 1925. It’s worth the time to visit the facility and learn about this northern event.

The community of Palmer is situated in the Matanuska Valley—one of the most fertile regions in Alaska, reportedly growing the biggest vegetables in North America. While here, check out the Musk Ox Farm, the Reindeer Farm and the botanical gardens at the Palmer Visitors Center.

The next leg of your journey will take you to Seward, Anchorage and Valdez, then back to Tok.

If you’d like more information about where to stay while RVing in the North, e-mail us at rvsaftee@shaw.ca.

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