Yellow Yeti ADV

Motorcycle Touring Destinations, Tours, Rentals & More

MENUMENU
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Website Terms of Use
  • Yellow Yeti Travel
  • 0 Items
MENUMENU
  • Tours & Services
    • Guided Motorcycle Tours
      • Costa Rica
      • Eastern Europe
      • Europe
        • Iceland
        • UK
      • South America
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Self-Guided Motorcycle Tours
      • Costa Rica
      • Europe
        • Iceland
        • UK
      • Eastern Europe
      • South America
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Motorcycle Rentals
      • Ecuador
      • Iceland
      • Thailand
      • Mongolia
      • Scotland
      • UK
    • Rider Training
    • Motorcycle Shipping & Transport
    • Workshops & Parts
  • Routes & Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Ethiopia
      • Kenya
      • Lesotho
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • South Africa
    • Asia
      • Central Asia
        • Georgia
        • Kazakhstan
        • Mongolia
        • Tajikistan
      • Southeast Asia
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • India
      • Mongolia
      • Nepal
      • Pakistan
      • Turkey
    • Australasia
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • Western Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Scotland
      • UK
    • Eastern Europe
      • Bosnia & Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria
      • Czech Republic
      • Hungary
      • Kosovo
      • Romania
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • French Guiana
      • Guyana
    • North America
      • Canada
      • USA
    • Popular Routes
      • Adriatic Highway - Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
      • Continental Divide Motorcycle Route - USA
      • North Coast 500 - Scotland
      • Ring Road - Iceland
      • Route 40 - Argentina
      • Route des Grandes Alpes (Great Alpine Road) - France
      • Simpson Desert - Australia
      • Trans Canada Adventure Trail - Canada
      • Transfagarasan Highway - Romania
  • Advice & Inspiration
    • Latest Articles / Blog
    • Adventure Bike Reviews
      • BMW F650GS
      • BMW F800GS
      • BMW R1200GS Adventure
      • Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
      • Kawasaki KLR650
      • KTM 640 Adventure
      • KTM 1190 Adventure R
      • Suzuki DL650 V-Strom
      • Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom
      • Suzuki DR650SE
      • Triumph Tiger 800XCx
      • Buying a motorcycle in Southeast Asia
    • Adventure Motorcycle Touring Guide
    • Gear & Equipment
      • Motorcycle GPS Units
      • Choosing a Tent
      • Flying with Motorcycle Gear
      • Emergency Transmitters
    • Trip Planning and Preparation
      • Open Source GPS Maps
      • GT Rider Maps for Southeast Asia
    • Shipping & Transport
    • Motorcycle Insurance for Overlanders
    • Travel Insurance

Top of the World Highway

Alaska, Canada, North America, USA
Routes & Destinations
North AmericaUSAAlaska
0 Reviews
Add Photos

Video

Description

The Top of the World Highway follows an 80-mile long meandering path from the junction with the Taylor Highway at Jake Wade, Alaska to the western banks of the Yukon River outside Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon Territory.  It’s one of the most northernly highways in North America, with only the Dempster and Dalton Highways being at higher latitudes. Most of the route is unpaved and follows the top of a treeless ridgeline, making it very susceptible to high winds and freezing temperatures in all but the warmest months. However, riders that prefer remote routes with few other vehicles to spoil their views will be delighted with the barren scenery and extreme solitude.

Planning Your Ride on the Top of the World Highway

While the Top of the World Highway extends from Jake Wade to Dawson City, you’ll most likely start your journey further afield in the town of Tok, Alaska, the last stop with significant services. from there you turn off the Alaska Highway at Tetlin Junction and it’s another 78 miles from there to the town of Chicken which has a campground, fuel and basic provisions for purchase. Only after another 23 mile will you actually reach the beginning of the Top of the World Highway.

After riding another 19 miles, you’ll reach the Poker Creek-Little Gold Creek Border Crossing. It’s only open during the snow-free months from 9am to 9pm Yukon time, which is one hour ahead of Alaska time. From there it’s another 65 miles to West Dawson on the banks of the Yukon River. You’ll need to take a ferry across the river to reach the main part of Dawson City and further highway connections.

Fuel

While the route is only 80 miles, you actually need to come prepared for an even longer distance. The last place to get fuel before the start of the highway in Jake Wade is at the town of Chicken, 25 miles to the west of it. It would be prudent to carry a jerry can of fuel just in case something goes wrong. There is a bit of traffic over this road in summer, but you should still be comfortable doing minor repairs yourself.

Accommodations and Food

The only accommodations available on the Top of the World Highway are the kind you can bring on your bike. There are plenty of places where roadside tent camping is legal, but your biggest concern will be finding a place that’s sheltered enough from the perilous wind that blows through these parts. Trees are in short supply and the road follows a ridgeline for most of its length; good campsites will be very limited. Chicken is a good place to stop overnight and even try your hand at gold panning. Tok, Chicken and Dawson City have plenty of options.

Unless a customs officer decides to give you a bite of their lunch, you will be responsible for carrying all the food necessary for this trip. The last proper restaurant will actually be 100 miles before you even get on the Top of the World Highway, in the town of Tok.

Sights

This ride is not for everyone and requires a particular appreciation for barren landscapes. The hills are covered in a stubble of stunted trees and the dense forests associated with the region only return once you get closer to the Yukon River.

The Poker Creek-Little Gold Creek Border Crossing is one of the only jointly occupied customs checkpoints and the most northernly between Canada and the United States – an interested find for anyone curious about remote checkpoints.

Dawson City was the epicenter of the Klondike Gold Rush back in the 1890’s and the town is full of interesting mining history. The Dawson City Museum is therefore a must see for any history buff. It is also home to the D2D Dust 2 Dawson Motorcycle Ride, which we were fortunate enough to attend in 2011. you can read about our experience here. 

Top of the World Highway - USA - Yukon River
Yukon River – Photo Credit: Dave Bezaire / CC BY
Top of the World Highway - USA - Welcome to Alaska Sign
Welcome to Alaska Sign – Photo Credit: Arthur Chapman / CC BY
Top of the World Highway - USA - Dawson City
Dawson City – Photo Credit: Dawsonesque / CC BY

Featured Image of Gravel Section of Highway – Photo Credit: jkbrooks85 / CC BY

Alaska, Canada, North America, USA
www.themilepost.com

Email Signup

Subscribe to our emails for inspiration and advice for your next ride.

Looking for your next adventure?

Check out Yellow Yeti Travel for a great range of ADV, guided and self-guided motorcycle tours around the world. We also have a range of rental motorcycles throughout the world that you can check out directly on this site.

Need motorcycle touring travel insurance?

Insurance is a minefield and while we can't specifically recommend companies, we look at some options here.

advmototravel

Rothmans Porche from the #dakarclassic class rolling into the Ha’il bivouac at the #dakar2023.
No luck on a chopper, but a nice view above the Ha’il bivouac at the #dakar2023 after the previous day’s flash flooding on the stage. #dakar #dakarinsaudi
Get to the chopper! Trying to hitch a ride (unsuccessfully) on one of the #dakarrally2023 choppers. Still have time …. #dakarinsaudi #dakar #advrider
As the sun sets on another day of the #dakar2023, @mariopatrao_oficial, in the #originalbymotul class has some work to do before the rally move on to Riyadh. #dakarrally #dakarinsaudi
Navigation is a huge part of the #dakarrally. This is the tower on #39 @benjimelot in the #originalbymotul. #dakarinsaudi
The #dakarrally is a constant hive of activity. #dakar2023 #dakarinsaudi
Much respect for the #originalmotul class riders in the #dakar2023. Each night they service their own bikes while the others rest.
Very jealous of anyone at the Dust 2 Dawson at the moment. Managed to get there a few years ago and had a great time.
Caherdaniel Viewpoint off the Ring of Kerry route in Ireland. 📷 by Tony Webster on Flickr

Follow on Instagram

YELLOW YETI TRAVEL

Yellow Yeti ADV is brought to you by Yellow Yeti Travel. If you are looking for self-guided motorcycle tours or help with your next trip, check out the site and get in touch.

Email Signup

Subscribe to our emails for inspiration and advice for your next ride.

Popular Guides & Articles

Adventure Motorcycle Touring Guide, Best Motorcycle GPS, Best Emergency Transmitters, Tents for Adventure Motorcycle Camping, Travel Insurance for Motorcycle Touring, Motorcycle Insurance for Overlanders

POPULAR DESTINATIONS

Adventure Motorcycle Touring Guide, Iceland, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Norway, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Turkey, Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, Romania, UK, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, USA, Morocco, Georgia (Country),

POPULAR ROUTES

Darien Gap, Simpson Desert, Ruta 40, North Coast 500, Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT), Great Continental Divide Motorcycle Route, Dalton Highway
Copyright Yellow Yeti ADV © 2023. All Rights Reserved

Login

Lost your password?

Sign up for Yellow Yeti ADV

Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy.