A beautiful side trip off the Alaska Highway is the 95km drive to Atlin, BC. At Jake’s Corner (km 1342) take the Tagish Road for 1.7 km before turning south on the Atlin Road, which parallels Atlin Lake for much of the journey. This is the largest natural lake in BC and it is set against a spectacular backdrop of towering mountains.
The town of Atlin, like so many northern towns, was built on the back of the gold rush. In 1898, a few miners heading to the Klondike, took a detour and went in search of lesser known gold fields. Two such prospectors, Kenny MacLaren and Fritz Miller discovered gold in Pine Creek, not far from the current townsite of Atlin. The area quickly grew to over 5,000 and a town was born. To this day, there are active mining operations in the area and many historic buildings from the gold rush era are still standing. Many of the towns historic sites have been restored giving Atlin a new ‘old’ look.
Now Atlin attracts visitors from around the world who want to experience its beauty and laid-back lifestyle. It has become home to many artists, musicians and photographers who are unique as the town’s setting itself. Stay for awhile and you will find a warm and welcoming northern town. And if you are lucky, you may dip below its surface to the richness below.
The community of Atlin provides water and air access to Atlin Provincial Park a 900 square mile wilderness at the southern end of Atlin Lake. Because of limited access this is one of the most unspoiled areas in North America. Notify the RCMP of travel plans before entering the park.
