Junction of Klondike Hwy. to Inuvik

The Dempster Highway, (Yukon Route 5/Northwest Territories Route 8), completed  in 1979, is a well maintained gravel and crushed stone road which extends  742 km/461 miles to Inuvik (Place of Man) an Inuit village 325 km/201 miles above the Arctic Circle in the Northwest Territories. This wilderness route spans remote regions of the Yukon cutting through two rugged mountain ranges,  the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains, miles of stunted spruce and alder "forests" (8'-12' tall) in the Eagle Plains region, and elevated reaches of tundra,  before dropping to the Mackenzie River and its flat aspen covered delta.

Services are limited on the Dempster. Gas, diesel fuel and repairs are available  at Eagle Plains 365.7 km/227 miles, Ft. McPherson 555 km/345 miles, and at  Inuvik. Appropriate preparation is essential.

Emergency services: Highway information 867-979-2040. Hospital 867-929-2955.  Fire Station 867-929-2222. RCMP 867-929-2935.

Road conditions can also vary drastically. Check in Dawson City, or at the Klondike River Lodge (at junction of Klondike and Dempster Highways) for road conditions before beginning your trip. Signs at Eagle Plains remind you to check conditions again before venturing beyond that location. The Western  Arctic Visitor Center on Front Street in Dawson City has all the latest information on the Dempster Highway and the NWT. Open June to September.

Be prepared to stop for approaching trucks, especially with dry, dusty conditions.  Distances are in kilometres from the junction of the Dempster Highway with the Klondike Highway 37 km south of Dawson City.

0 Klondike River Lodge. 867-993-6892.

km 0.3/mile .2 Klondike River Bridge, one-lane.

km 24.6/mile 15.3 Glacier Creek.

km 27.8/mile 17.3 Benson Creek.

km 40.7/mile 25.3 Pea Soup Creek.

km 49.8/mile 30.9 Wolfe Creek. Indian fishing camp and turnout along bank.

km 58.8/mile 36.5 Grizzly Creek. Mt. Robert Service to East.

km 65.8/mile 40.9 Yukon Government Road Maintenance Camp.

km 68.1/mile 42.3 First crossing of North Fork of Klondike River.

km 72.1/mile 44.8 Road climbs steeply northbound to North Fork Pass.

km 73/mile 45 Tombstone Mountain Yukon government campground. Tombstone  Mountain is a steep conical massif at the end of a broad sweeping valley. 36 camp sites, kitchen shelter, firepits, tables, water, toilets, hiking trails.  There is an Fee area.

Interpretive Center operates during summer months, campfire talks, nature hikes, and local area information.

km 73.3/mile 45.5 Parking.

km 75.8/mile 47 Tombstone Mountain information sign.

km 80.1/mile 49.8 Parking.

km 87.9/mile 54.6 First crossing East Fork of Blackstone River.

km 104/mile 64.6 Two Moose Lake has viewing platform and waterfowl interpretive panels.

km 117.4/mile 73 First crossing of West Fork of Blackstone River. Good grayling fishing, downstream where the east and west forks of the Blackstone River meet.

km 118/mile 73.3 RCMP Commemorative sign reads: "The North West Mounted Police Winter Patrols passed this point on their annual 800 km/497 mile trip from Dawson City to Fort McPherson. From 1904 on each patrol spent two or three months traveling by dog team to the Mackenzie Delta and back checking on area residents, carrying mail bound for Herschel Island and the  NWT and exploring the little known region. The only tragedy during this time  was the death of Fitzgerald's `Lost Patrol' in 1911. The increased use of radio communications and airplanes ended the need for the patrols."

km 125/mile 77.7 Government airstrip.

km 170/mile 105.6 Red culvert on side of road is due to iron oxide  deposit causing red coloring of Engineer Creek for approximately 5 km.

km 172.8/mile 107.4 Parking with views of erosion pillars.

km 194/mile 120.5 Engineer Creek Yukon government campground. 15 camp sites, kitchen shelter, firepits, tables, water, toilets. Fishing for grayling.  Fee area.

km 195/mile 121.2 110 m/360 foot Jeckell Bridge and Ogilvie River. This bridge was built by the Canadian Forces Engineers as a training exercise.

km 221/mile 137.3 Good grayling fishing in Ogilvie River.

km 237/mile 147.3 Airstrip along road.

km 253.4/mile 157.5 Viewpoint.

km 257/mile 160 Ogilvie Ridge, viewpoint with interpretive platform on geology of the area.

km 258/mile 160.3 Rest area; toilets.

km 276.2/mile 171.6 Parking.

km 279/mile 173.4 Parking.

km 281.3/mile 174.8 Parking on both sides of highway.

km 371/mile 230.5 Eagle Plains, elevation 719 m/2,360 feet. Gas, restaurant,  camping, dump station, Emergency airstrip on road. Eagle Plains Hotel. 867-993-2453.  Bag Service 2735, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 3V5.

km 373.7/mile 232.2 Short side road leads to information sign about  Albert Johnson, "The Mad Trapper of Rat River". One of the most  famous man hunts in Canadian history began here during the winter of 1931-32. After a month and a half of eluding the Mounties Albert Johnson was killed,  80 km downstream from bridge, in a shoot-out in mid-February.

km 374/mile 232.4 Bridge crosses Eagle River. The Canadian Forces  Engineers built this bridge as a training exercise.

km 384/mile 238.6 Landing strip on road.

km 401.6/mile 249.5 Arctic Circle crossing. Note that the roadbed  is built-up 8-12 feet above the surrounding tundra in this area to protect  the permafrost, and the road surface.

km 437.4/mile 271.8 Parking.

km 447/mile 278 Rock River Yukon government campground. 20 camp sites, water, kitchen shelters, toilets. This is a beautiful spot. Fee area.

km 470.8/mile 292.5 Wright Pass. Information sign on the Dempster Highway.

km 471.4/mile 292.9 Yukon/Northwest Territories Boundary. Enter mountain time zone (add one hour to Yukon's Pacific Time).

km 473.5/mile 294.2 Sweeping view of Richardson Mountains to North.

km 515.7/mile 320.4 Midway Lake.

km 532/mile 330.6 Road widens for emergency airstrip.

km 546/mile 339.3 Peel River Ferry. No charge. 8am-midnight, mid-June  to mid-October. Accesses are quite steep. Cable guided ferry crossing takes  10 minutes.

km 548/mile 340.5 Northwest Territories Government Nitainlii Camp  and Information Center. Water, firewood, toilets.

km 555/mile 344.9 Ft. McPherson airstrip.

km 557.5/mile 346.4 Fort McPherson. All services available. Restaurant,  hotel, gift shop, gas station.

Fort McPherson Tent & Canvas Factory provide tours weekdays from 9 - 5. Some products that are manufactured are tents, backpacks, totebags, tepees.  A gift shop is also on the premises.

km 595/mile 369.7 Frog Creek, road east leads to picnic area. Grayling fishing.

km 615/mile 382.2 Mackenzie River Ferry. No charge. 9am-midnight,  mid-June to early October. The ferry will stop at Tshgehtchic (Arctic Red  River) for passengers if necessary.

km 650.1/mile 404 Rengling River crossing Grayling fishing.

km 717/mile 445.5 Northwest Territories Government Cabin Creek day use and fishing access area.

km 738.5/mile 458.9 Chuk Park territorial campground. 38 camp sites, electric hook-ups, showers, tables, water, firewood. Fee area. Very well maintained.

km 742/mile 461 Inuvik. Pop. approximately 3,400. Inuvik prospered as the hub for oil exploration in the western Arctic until that exploration moved north into the Beaufort Sea and its center became Tuktoyaktuk. Inuvik's economy depends on muskrat trapping and fishing. It is also the location of  several government agencies, a center for communication, transportation, commerce,  and education. Notice the Utilidors (utility corridors) raised galvanized or concrete culverts that keep the community's utility lines and pipes above  the permafrost. Also note that all buildings are raised above the ground in order to prevent damage to the permafrost.

Western Arctic Visitors Association, Box 1525, Inuvik, NWT Canada, X0E 0T0. Located across from the hospital. Open May - September.
www.inuvik.net

Great Northern Arts Festival begins the third week of July; 867-777-3536.
www.gnaf.ca

Meet over 120 artists and performers at the NWT's premiere arts and cultural event.

Arctic Nature Tours located next to Igloo Church. 867 777-3300. Tours include  Tuktoyaktuk, Herschel Island, Mackenzie River, Sachs Harbour.
www.arctictours.com

Happy Valley Territorial Campground, located at the north end of town. Short  walk to shops, restaurant etc. Wonderfully clean, hot shower rooms, electric  hook-ups, water and tables. Fee area.

Inuvik Centennial Library 867-979-2747.

Air North has prop-jet service to Old Crow, Dawson City, Whitehorse. 1-800-661-0407.

Alkan Air has scheduled service to Old Crow, Whitehorse and Dawson City. 867-668-2107.