catkins
Western Washington
Senior Member
Joined: 10/27/2003
View Profile
|
Traveled the TOW highway from Dawson City to Chicken yesterday. Views were totally obscured with forest fire smoke and road conditions were abysmal....... This is advertised as a gravel highway. I would describe it as a dirt road which has nasty washboard segments, potholes galore and long stretches where it was uncomfortable to travel, just no relief from pothole to pothole with washboards in between. The long washboarding segments were the worst to drive over. There is almost zero gravel at this time. Had the view been out, I doubt as the driver, I could have watched it go by.
We are on a caravan and had been forewarned about the road. It was simply much tougher than anyone expected including those that have been on it before. Often travel was under 10mph for looooooong stretches. It was an adventure to say the least. To drive the 108 miles took everyone, regardless of RV type(we have everything but truck campers with us), 4.5-5.5 hours the day we did it.
From Chicken to Tok seemed like a breeze after the TOW. 2.3 miles from Chicken you are on pavement, broken and patched in spots but generally good road with a few frost heaves all the way to the junction to TOK where it is then excellent surface. Smoke seems to be finally behind us now.
I can now say I survived the TOW highway. Do not believe I would ever drive it again. I am sure the views are spectacular and we LOVED Dawson City. I am sad we missed the views but relieved TOW is behind us! Loving our 2 month trip so far and our adventure continues.
|
Cycledoc
Washington State
New Member
Joined: 10/12/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
Thanks for the info. We're thinking about doing that ride in mid August. May rethink the plan.
|
gandalf42
Fort Collins, CO
Full Member
Joined: 08/13/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
We came over a couple of weeks ago. Totally clear day so views were great..however agree that the road was terrible. Some good patches on the Canadian side, some very bad patches on the Canadian side, seemed all of the US side was very bad. For me, the views were not worth the beating. I did it once, doubt I'd do it again.
I did like Dawson City a lot. So far Dawson City and Homer have been my two favorite towns.
Mike
Fort Collins, CO
'99 Born Free 26' Rear Side Bed
|
Hook
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Senior Member
Joined: 12/20/2003
View Profile
|
Catkins
Glad you survived the TOW. There are times it is better, having the smoke does not help. We are a little smokey on the Peninsula now with a little fire going on here. Looks like they are going to fight this one or at least try to control it to some extent.
Being that you inquired about Redoubt Volcano to me in the past it has not been a issue for quite some time.
Hook
Chevy 2500 4x4 CC D-Max/Allison, Supersprings,Torqlift
Summerwind 806 Truck Camper
Rage'n FS2600 Toy Hauler
"Kik-n-but" 23' modified Atec, twin Yamaha 60's,
Hewes 20' Kenai River Special 50hp Yamaha, 9.9 kicker
Polaris RZR
Trail Blazer cargo trailer24'
|
sue.t
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/05/2004
View Profile
|
Yes ... that's the Top of the World. Last time we drove it it took us 9 hours to drive the 260 miles from Dawson City to Beaver Creek (on the Alaska Highway). Although, probably an hour of that was waiting for pilot cars at construction zones.
sue t.
Pictures from our many RV Adventures to Yukon & Alaska
|
|
|
dav5942
Stuart, FL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2004
View Profile
|
Came over TOW in early June road was not bad at all(except a lot of dust)! Took 2 1/2 hours-first 40 miles smooth gravel, dusty-next 20 miles paved-last 40 miles gravel, bumpy(pot holes), dusty.
Hard to believe it has changed that much over the past month. Guess all the traffic has created the washboards, etc. We had no traffic.
Will return TOW in August/September.
* This post was
edited 07/10/09 09:59am by dav5942 *
2007 Newmar 42' Mid Engine w/Fatboy,ATVs-in Garage,Rubicon w/4" lift,MotorMetal whls,MickeyT Baja tires-Cherokee w/4"lift in tow, Hog Valley FL(a diamond in the rough)
Alaska '09 Part2
Alaska Fishing Newmar Mid Engine '09 On the Road Again
|
frankandvicki
Niwot,CO
Senior Member
Joined: 05/31/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
We drove it 2 weeks ago and I have the exact feelings of the OP. I am sure glad it is behind us. We were going to spend the night in Chicken but after arriving at Chicken we just wanted to get the drive behind us. I would never do the drive again in a Motor Home. We did talk to a couple who drove it hours after we did and he said it was not bad so I can only think that a Pick Up may absorb some of the washboard and potholes better than a Motor Home. I would characterize parts of the road as a 4-wheel drive road, not suited for Motor Homes. I did see 3 buses (which passed me) and they were hauling. I guess their chassis/suspension can absorb the washboarding.
This experience has not dampened our enjoyment of the journey. We are finishing up a week long stay in Fairbanks and are looking forward to some serious fishing south of Denali and a 4 day stay inside Denali.
Frank O.
Frank and Vicki
Niwot, CO
2006 Itasca Sunrise 35A
2006 CRV
Roadmaster Falcon Towbar and Baseplate
States visited/camped in, not just driven through.
|
CoastieSCPO
Monterey, Tn
Full Member
Joined: 09/11/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Thanks to the OP for the post. Great information. We decided not to do the TOW Highway, basically for two reasons. First, almost everyone who I spoke to said that they did it but would not do it again. My motorhome and toad, like everyone else took a real beating coming up the ALCAN especially between Haines Jct and the US border. I was not willing to subject it to another beating just to say that I drove the TOW. The second reason was that we decided late, that we would use the AK ferry from Haines to Prince Rupert. We're in Juneau today and go to Sitka tomorrow. So far, it was a good decision. I found the ferry costs were reasonable, especially with the special fares that are offered.
Frank O...........hope that you guys are having fun!
Bob
|
lanerd
Ridgecrest, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/03/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Not to horn in here, but we did this same trip last year and had almost the same review of the TOW highway as being reported here. The canadian side wasn't real bad, but did require constant attention to the road to miss as many of the potholes as I could. The U.S. side was a real white knuckle drive. Sometimes the passenger side tires were just inches from the extremely sloped shoulders of which immediately dropped off into 70 or 80 degree drop offs. I fully expected the shoulders to collapse under my tires. Local vehicles (trucks, cars, and buses) had absolutely no respect and would fly by us leaving a huge cloud of dust and rocks pinging against my windshield. The road in places required no more than 5 - 10 mph traveling and by the time we reached Chicken I was totally exhausted. However, we did stay there for two nights and the next day took the toad to Eagle.
Would I do the TOW again....? Not no, but hell no! Would I recommend it? I don't think so. The views were unbelievable, but certainly not worth the risk.
I'm not sure how often that road is maintained, but it must be on a regular basis as I heard from other folks who traveled the road before us and also after us and give it a very favorable review. I thought it was me, but after reading a bunch of posts last year and also now these for this year, I know I'm not alone in my reaction to traveling that famous road.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
Toad: Restored 86 Toy 4x4 P/U
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
TPMS: Pressure Pro
RETIRED!! How sweet it is....
|
explorenorth
Whitehorse, Yukon
Senior Member
Joined: 02/21/2004
View Profile
|
lanerd wrote:Local vehicles (trucks, cars, and buses) had absolutely no respect and would fly by us leaving a huge cloud of dust and rocks pinging against my windshield.
Sorry, Ron, but most of the local vehicles have jobs to get to and/or schedules to meet - sitting behind an RV taking it easy isn't an option. I drove bus on that highway for 17 years, possibly 150 trips, and would love to go again tomorrow as a tourist. Different strokes and all that...
Murray
|
|
|
