Have you ever dreamed of embarking on a road trip that spans over a thousand miles of untamed wilderness, breathtaking landscapes, and jaw-dropping vistas? If so then you really should add the Alaska Highway to your list. Also known as the ALCAN, this road travels through British Columbia and the Yukon before arriving in Alaska. We did the drive over 6 days and fell in love with the rugged beauty that is constantly on display on this route. In this video we wanted to share 20 of our favorite stops along the Alaska Highway so you can begin planning your journey, lets jump into it.
1. Mile 0
Of course the first thing you must see on the Alaska Highway is the Mile 0 Sign. This iconic sign has been photographed by travelers for decades and is the official start of the 1400 mile journey, which provides the only real access to Alaska from the Lower 48. Bring your patience as there are always lots of people wanting a photo of this one.
2. Kiskatinaw Bridge
Located in British Columbia, this bridge is notable for its unique and historic design. It’s one of the few remaining examples of wooden curved bridges in Canada and was built as part of the Alaska Highway during World War II. You can’t drive on it anymore but you can still see it.
3. Fort Nelson Heritage Museum
We visited a lot of museums on the Alaska Highway but this was probably my favorite. It is a cornucopia of Alaska history with everything from old buildings and construction equipment to wildlife displays and classic cars. I recommend a good hour to take it all in and be sure to talk to the docents here they are very knowledgeable and happy to share what they know.
4. Tetsa River Lodge (Cinnamon Rolls)
A popular stop along the Alaska Highway, Tetsa River Lodge is known for its homemade cinnamon rolls. It’s a charming spot for travelers to rest, enjoy fresh pastries, and take in the surrounding natural beauty.
5. Summit Lake
Summit Lake is located in Stone Mountain provincial Park, which is one of the most stunning parts of the highway. This lake has a turquoise color that stretches out in front of you and is surrounded by massive mountains on both sides. The lake also has one of the most beautiful campgrounds I saw on the drive and if you have some time to stay and hike around here I am sure you will not regret it.
6. Muncho Lake
This stunning lake in British Columbia is renowned for its vivid turquoise waters, which are due to the high mineral content in the lake. It’s a picturesque location ideal for photography and outdoor activities. It became one of our favorite spots on the entire drive.
7. Liard River Hot Springs
Liard River Hot Springs has been welcoming tired travelers for decades to bathe in its warm waters. This is the second largest natural hot spring in Canada and for how remote it is, it still welcomes a lot of people each year. The area feels wild with waterfalls of boiling water coming from the hanging gardens and the occasional moose and bear sighting along the trail. Hopefully the weather is a little cooler when you visit than it was for us.
8. Signpost Forest
Located in Watson Lake, Yukon, the Signpost Forest is a famous landmark where travelers leave their own signs. It began in 1942 with a single sign and has grown into a massive collection of personalized signs from all over the world. There were over 100,000 when we added ours to the forest.
9. Rancheria Falls
Rancheria Falls features a short trail to a nice, small waterfall. While it is not as impressive as other things on this list, it is in a particularly remote and barren stretch of the highway, so it is a great spot to get out and stretch your legs on the drive. The trail is easy and relaxing but do watch out for mosquitoes, we ran in to a decent amount of them when we were here.
10. George Johnston Museum
Situated in Watson Lake, Yukon, this museum offers insights into the life and history of the local area, focusing on the stories and experiences of early settlers and the First Nations Tlingit people. It also has one of the area’s first cars on display.
11. Carcross Detour (Emerald Lake, General Store, Carcross Desert)
If you have the time, then this is a great detour on the Alaska Highway. We did this drive during our 24 hours in Whitehorse video that you can see in the description, but you can add it to your drive as well. The road will take you down to the historic town of Carcross which is fun to walk around for an hour. Then on the way to whitehorse you will drive by the worlds smallest desert and emerald lake. Both of these are amazing stops with beautiful natural wonders to explore.
12. Miles Canyon
This dramatic and scenic canyon near Whitehorse, Yukon, features striking rock formations and is a popular spot for hiking and boating. The canyon was a challenging point for early gold rush travelers with how intense the rapids could be.
13. Whitehorse (as a whole)
Next up, Whitehorse is a great city to spend at least a day in. As the capital of the Yukon, this city has a lot to offer, including amazing history museums, the iconic S.S. Klondike, miles of trails to walk along the Yukon River and great restaurants. Again, you can see the full video we made on the city if you are interested, but we really did enjoy spending some time in Whitehorse while on the ALCAN.
14. Soldiers Summit
This viewpoint commemorates the construction of the highway during World War II. It offers expansive views of the surrounding landscape and is a significant historical site. You can hike the one mile trail up to the sign to hear stories and to learn more about it.
15. Kluane National Park (as a whole)
Kluane National Park is one of 38 national parks in Canada and part of a larger USA / Canada park that has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. This park has lots of hiking trails you can use to explore, but the best way to truly get a feel for how massive it is, is to take a flight see that gets you up in the air to see the park from above. It was easily one of my favorite things I did on the drive and some of the landscapes you can see from up there will take your breath away.
16. Kluane Museum of History
Located in Haines Junction, Yukon, this museum focuses on the history and culture of the Kluane region, including the indigenous people, early explorers, and the natural environment. It has an extensive wildlife display and lots of early cabins.
17. International Border
After days or even weeks of driving, it can be pretty surreal to see the international border come into view. Before you cross over into Alaska, you can get out and take a photo with the sign, see the international border marker and read more information about both countries. It is a short stop but one that you will not want to miss as a photo opportunity on this road trip.
18. MukLuk Land
This place is like a backcountry amusement park with games, mini golf, Santa’s rocketship and lots more. It is one of those places you have to experience to believe. It also has the world’s largest MukLuk right outside.
19. End of Road Sign / Sullivan Roadhouse
For my last recommendation, I just wanted to specifically mention the end of the road in Delta Junction. This sign mimics the one you saw at the beginning and it is the perfect culmination of your journey. The small museum here doesn’t really have a lot of information on the Highway, but it is worth going over to the Sullivan Roadhouse while in Delta Junction. This roadhouse was a historic stop along the trail from Fairbanks to Valdez back before the roads were built. If you want to learn more about Alaska history, don’t miss it.
20. Wildlife
The wildlife along the drive was an easy highlight for us. Here is the tally of how many animals we saw on our drive to Alaska.
- Grizzly bear – 2
- Black bear – 12
- Bison – 6
- Caribou – 1
- Deer – 1
- Moose – 2
There you have it, our top stops along the Alaska Highway. If you want to learn more about the route, you can watch our full road trip video here or check out the ebook in the description for all of the spots we visited on an interactive map. Thanks again for watching and we will see you on the next video.
