The Robert Campbell Highway was constructed in 1960s and early-1970s to serve a lead and zinc mine that had recently opened near the town of Faro in the Yukon. Since then, it’s become a somewhat popular (though still largely overlooked) route for adventure motorcycle riders. There aren’t many major sights along the road, but it passes through remote terrain with few other vehicles and plenty of time to take in the scenery and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Coming from British Columbia, the route provides an alternative route to the Yukon settlement of Dawson City while bypassing the capital of Whitehorse. The Robert Campbell Highway is twenty miles shorter than the route through the capital, but it’s not as well maintained and much of it is gravel (hence part of the appeal).

Planning Your Ride on the Robert Campbell Highway

The Robert Campbell Highway is pretty straightforward, running 362 miles from Watson Lake, Yukon through the towns of Ross River and Faro, and then on to Carmacks, where it reconnects with the Klondike Highway. Most of the route is packed gravel, though the final hundred miles from Faro to Carmacks is paved. In Ross River is a turnoff for the Canol Road, and it’s an off-road adventure that should not be missed if you’re in the area.

As with most roads in this part of the country, commercial traffic dominates. Large trucks hauling timber, mining equipment, or just foodstuffs for remote towns rule the road, and you’ll want to be extremely cautious whenever approaching one. They drive down the center of the road as its shoulders are soft and dangerous, and the rocks they spew can be painful if you’re driving at full speed.

Fuel

Between Carmacks and Watson Lake, a distance of 362 miles, there are only two places to stop for fuel: Ross River and Faro. As it’s 260 miles from Watson Lake to Ross River, you’ll need to carry a jerry can of extra fuel.

Accommodations and Food

Most riders complete the trip in a single day, but you can make it a two-day trip if you prefer to stop and enjoy nature for a little while. It’s possible to stay overnight in Faro, which has three small motels, or you can also camp there or near Ross River.

For accommodations before and after the ride, Watson Lake has a number of hotels and restaurants, and Carmacks also has a couple of options. Don’t expect them to come cheap, though; you’re in a remote territory, and there’s little competition.

Sights

Watson Lake has a peculiar “art display” called the Sign Post Forest, where residents have placed have signs from their hometowns. There are now 100,000, and visitors can even add their own sign. The town is also home to the Northern Lights Space and Science Center, a planetarium with shows about the Northern Lights and the Canadian space program.

In Faro, the Campbell Region Interpretive Center has some information about the area, including exhibits on its wildlife and history. It’s not particularly informative compared to some other museums in the Yukon, but it’s worth stopping in if you want to give yourself a rest.

At the other end of the road, in Carmacks, is the Tago Cho Hudan Cultural Center, which has some pretty interesting exhibits regarding the First Nations People who live in the area.

Sign Post Forest at Watson Lake – Photo Credit: Eli Duke / CC BY

Ross River Sign – Photo Credit: Brigachtal / Pixabay

Permafrost near the Highway – Photo Credit: David Adamec / Public Domain

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Robert Campbell Highway

Robert Campbell Highway

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