Dawson City to Watson Lake

[cross21114]

Any current thoughts on using the Campbell Highway for this leg? I did it in 2005 in a truck camper and had no problems. My pictures show some parts were gravel.

Would be doing it in early October this year in a 36' pulling a SUV.

Thanks

Chris

[sue_t]

Seamutt wrote:
Hello Sue do you have a recommended time for travelling the Yukon. Kinda like to avoid the worst of the buzz bombs, them flying nasties. We may have to head out in May June anyhow but if that changes looking for a recommendation.

When we lived on Vancouver Island, we usually toured north in September. Less traffic and few flying nasties. Lots of spectacular fall colours. Although hubby enjoyed our visit to Inuvik for the longest day of the year. He was surprised to see the sun up at 2 am :C

[Seamutt]

Hello Sue do you have a recommended time for travelling the Yukon. Kinda like to avoid the worst of the buzz bombs, them flying nasties. We may have to head out in May June anyhow but if that changes looking for a recommendation.

[SideHillSoup]

Thanks sue... was a very interesting conversation with that Fella..
Soup.

[sue_t]

I checked in with a buddy who lives in Dawson City and he advised that the RCMP still have a truck/camper and use it once in while on the Dempster.

[SideHillSoup]

Hey Sue....
Do the RCMP know if the Dawson City detachment still use the Truck and camper to patrol the Dempster Hwy in the summer?
When we were in Dawson City in 2004 ( I think) I was out for a walk at 04:00 and chatted up with a RCMP officer who was washing the truck and camper ( I think it was a Bigfoot camper) from the last trip to Inuvik.
We must have talked and drank coffee for over an hour. That year was his second trip with his family in tow, he also had some great stories of being an RCMP up north.
Soup.

[cross21114]

Thanks, Sue.

I did this trip in 2005 in a diesel truck camper, also in October. Spent 10/1/05 at the Little Salmon Lake campground. Ran into 4 RCMPs who were moose hunting. Had a great time listening to their stories about remote policing in the Yukon and NWT.

Had 10 gals of fuel in storage and this was the only time I had to use it. Now we have 100 gal tank and I calculate we need 1/2 of it to get from Carmacks to Watson Lake at a very conservative mpg.

We will be watching the weather intently while we're in Alaska to determine when we need to leave and then before we make the decision on route south.

This will probably be my last trip to Alaska so can't wait for August to start out.

Chris

[sue_t]

Be sure to check the conditions of the highway before heading out on it. Snow can fly then and because it is a remote highway between Ross River and Watson Lake, it may not be cleared or driveable.
And you know there isn't a gas station between Ross River and Watson Lake. Sometimes the Ross River station is out of fuel and in Faro, the digital system was out of order when we were there once so fuel could not be pumped. So we always carry some fuel with us when travelling the Campbell Highway.

[cross21114]

Thank you, Sue.

We will hopefully be making the Campbell Highway trip in early October.

Chris

[sue_t]

Here's my photos of the route on various years and months
http://yukonsights.ca/CampbellHwy.html

The Yukon government campgrounds along the Frenchman Tatchun road are some of our favorites in Yukon.
http://suethomas.ca/20080701_FrenchmanLake.html

One of our favorite campsites at Frenchman Lake

[cross21114]

Thanks, Murray. This is huge help. When I traveled this road in 2005, I was by myself (well my dog was with me) and therefore I didn't take a lot of pictures. This was also early October and the weather was great. We'll be checking it frequently and will decide at Carmacks whether we try it.

[explorenorth]

Here's my Campbell Highway Road Log from July 2018, with almost 100 photos. Even in my Class A I would do it again, but it's not a road to be in a hurry on. Early October, though, can be Early Winter, so I'd sure check the weather carefully.

[Veebyes]

I imagine weather will be the deciding factor. A nice dry gravel road can turn into a gooey mess with rain. We have done the TOW 4 times now however we have been extremely lucky in having a dry road every time.

[SideHillSoup]

Look up posts from Sue.t exlporenorth on RVnet both of them live in the Yukon.
As well check this and other official Yukon sites for the latest info.
Yukon info

Soup.

[DrewE]

There's some good information and advice in this recent thread.

Personally, I would love to travel the Campbell highway, but would give it very much thought and consideration and enquire locally about conditions before taking a motorhome down it...and I am not generally scared about going on imperfect roads, such as the Dalton Highway all the way up to Deadhorse or the Taylor to Eagle.