Dempster Highway — Dawson City toInuvik.
Distance
740 km
Duration
4 days
Climb
4,200 m
Rating
4.9 / 5
218 reviews
Dempster Highway — Dawson City to Inuvik.
Canada's only public road crossing the Arctic Circle — 740 km of gravel through subarctic wilderness from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, NWT. Tombstone Mountains, the Richardson Range, two free government ferries, and permanent daylight in June. One of the great adventure motorcycle journeys.
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance740 km
Days4
Total climb4,200 m
DifficultyExpert
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4 days, 4 moods.
A suggested split across 4 days with 16 waypoints to discover along the way.
Dawson City, YTStart · Fuel up completely in Dawson — next fuel is Eagle Plains 395 km north. Last mechanic and tire shop before the Dempster. Carry two spare tubes minimum. The road is 95% gravel.
Dempster Highway KM 0Scenic Point · The Dempster officially begins 40 km east of Dawson. Pavement ends immediately; gravel starts. The Ogilvie Mountains define the horizon ahead.
North Fork Pass (KM 71)Mountain Pass · The first major summit at 1,289 m — views back down the Klondike River watershed and ahead into Tombstone Territorial Park. Stop the engine and listen to the silence.
Tombstone Mountain CampgroundOvernight · Camp beneath the Tombstone massif — a granite pyramid at 2,195 m. Wolf howls are common at dusk. First-come, YG-operated campground. No services; the visitor centre closes at sunset.
Ogilvie Mountains Ridge (KM 120)Scenic Point · The Dempster climbs through a series of barren ridges above treeline with 360° views of sub-Arctic mountain tundra. Grizzly bears and Dall sheep are regularly spotted on these slopes.
Blackstone Uplands (KM 180)Scenic Point · One of the highest-density grizzly bear habitats in Yukon. Slow down and scan the hillsides — bears commonly forage within 100 m of the road in summer.
Chapman Lake (KM 230)Photo Spot · A high-latitude tundra lake in crystal-clear high-Arctic light. The road runs along the eastern shore — the reflection and the silence are extraordinary.
Eagle Plains Hotel (KM 395)Overnight · The only accommodation and fuel between Dawson and Fort McPherson. Fuel up completely — Fort McPherson is 250 km north. Motel rooms, a restaurant, and tire repair. Every motorcycle on the Dempster passes through this parking lot.
Yukon–NWT Border (KM 465)Scenic Point · The territorial border at the height of land. A "Welcome to the NWT" cairn marks the crossing. The road surface changes character on the NWT side.
Arctic Circle (KM 405)Photo Spot · The official Arctic Circle marker at 66°33'N. The NWT Information Centre in Inuvik issues free Arctic Circle certificates. In June, the sun does not set from this point northward.
Peel River Free Government FerryFerry · A free cable ferry across the Peel River, operated by the NWT government mid-June to October. 10-minute crossing. In winter, an ice bridge replaces it. No fee, no reservation needed.
Fort McPherson, NWTOvernight · A Gwich'in First Nation community of ~800 people. Basic fuel, a Northern Store, and a handful of B&Bs. The Nagwichoonjik NHS tells the story of the Gwich'in people who have lived here for over 2,500 years.
Tsiigehtchic — Mackenzie RiverScenic Point · A tiny Gwichya Gwich'in community at the confluence of the Arctic Red and Mackenzie Rivers. The Mackenzie is over 2 km wide here — one of the great rivers on Earth.
Mackenzie River Free Government FerryFerry · The second free government ferry — across the Mackenzie River itself at nearly 2 km wide. The Richardson Mountains visible in both directions upstream. One of the great river crossings in North American motorcycling.
Campbell LakeScenic Point · The final approach to Inuvik through open boreal forest and spruce bog. Sandhill cranes and Arctic terns common in summer; migratory waterfowl fill the lakes on either side.
Inuvik, NWTEnd · The end of the Dempster at 68°N. The Igloo Church — Our Lady of Victory — is the town landmark. Midnight sun from early June to early July. The Inuvik–Tuktoyaktuk Highway (now paved, 140 km) continues to the Arctic Ocean.
From riders.
218 verified rides logged on this route.
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218 verified rides
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