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Top of the World Highway
A ridge-top gravel road from Dawson City to Alaska — closed half the year, surreal the other half.
Overview
The Top of the World Highway is the 127-km gravel road that runs from the George Black Ferry across the Yukon River at Dawson City, up onto a ridge that follows the spine of the Ogilvie Mountains, to the Poker Creek border crossing — the northernmost land crossing between Canada and the United States. From there, the Taylor Highway descends into Alaska.
The drive is a Yukon institution. The name says it all — for most of the route, you are on a ridge above the tree line, with views in every direction of an unbroken wilderness that runs to Alaska on one side and the Mackenzie Mountains on the other. The road is unpaved, the views are unobstructed, and the border post (open mid-May to mid-September only) is the smallest international crossing in North America.
Combined with the Klondike Highway south from Dawson and the Alaska Highway from Tok, the Top of the World makes a spectacular loop. Plan the Yukon River ferry crossing carefully — lineups in peak July can be hours long, and the ferry shuts down in shoulder season. The road is closed entirely from late September to late May.
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 2 key waypoints along the drive.
Approximate route · 2 of 2 stops mapped
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Dawson City to Poker Creek border
Take the morning George Black Ferry across the Yukon River, climb onto the ridge, and stop at every pullout for the panoramic photos. Reach the Poker Creek border by afternoon.
Border to Chicken, Alaska (or return)
Descend the Taylor Highway into the gold-rush ghost town of Chicken, Alaska — or turn around at the border and return to Dawson for a Klondike loop.
Signature stops
Don't miss
George Black Ferry crossing
Ridge-top panoramic drive
Poker Creek border (smallest in North America)
Chicken, Alaska gold-rush town
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- When is the highway open?
- Late May to mid-September only. The Poker Creek border crossing has limited hours (8 am – 8 pm Pacific in summer) and is closed entirely the rest of the year.
- Is the road suitable for an RV?
- Smaller RVs (under 30 feet) handle it fine in dry conditions. The ferry has a weight and length limit; check Yukon Government ferry guidance before you go. Wet weather can turn the road slick — avoid it after heavy rain.
- Can I loop back via Alaska?
- Yes — the classic loop drives the Top of the World to Chicken, continues on the Taylor and Alaska Highways to Tok, then south via Beaver Creek and back to Whitehorse. Five to seven days, gas planning required.
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