Taylor Highway — Tetlin Junction to Eagle
Gold-rush gravel to the end of the Yukon road
The Taylor Highway is the Alaska road almost nobody talks about, and that’s part of the draw. It peels off the Alaska Highway at Tetlin Junction and runs north through spruce and tundra into the Fortymile mining country. It passes Chicken, the old gold camp with more history than residents, and the Jack Wade Junction where the Top of the World Highway splits off toward Dawson City. Stay on the Taylor and the road gets rougher and narrower as it climbs American Summit and follows the Fortymile River. Then it drops to Eagle, a sleepy Yukon River town with Fort Egbert and a front-row seat on the 1898 gold rush.
The surface goes from chipseal to gravel to washboard, with frost heaves and the odd soft spot. Dry weather makes it an easy day for a stock 4WD or even a well-shod AWD. Rain turns the clay greasy and slows everyone down. The road is not maintained past Jack Wade in winter, and fuel is thin: Tok, Chicken, and Eagle, and that’s it. Cell service is none to patchy past Chicken. Carry two spares and extra water. Dispersed camping is allowed on much of the BLM land, and Walker Fork is a solid developed option. Respect the mining claims, because they’re real and people work them. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 160 mi / 257.5 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3500 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD or high-clearance AWD with two full-size spares |
| Nearest town | Chicken, Alaska |
| Land manager | Alaska DOT&PF / BLM Eastern Interior Field Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Alaska 511 road conditions BLM Eastern Interior Field Office |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Tacoma handle the Taylor Highway?
Yes. It's graded Easy, and a stock 4WD with decent tires is plenty. The real threats are sharp gravel and distance from help, so carry two full-size spares, a plug kit, and a compressor.
Is the Taylor Highway open in winter?
Not the whole way. The road is maintained through winter only as far as Chicken, and the stretch on to Eagle is typically closed from about mid-October until spring. Best window is May through September, and you should check Alaska 511 before you go.
Do I need a permit to drive the Taylor Highway or camp along it?
No permit is needed to drive it. Dispersed camping is allowed on most BLM-managed land along the route, usually with a 14-day stay limit, and developed BLM campgrounds charge a small fee. Confirm current rules with the BLM Eastern Interior Field Office.
What's the roughest part of the drive?
The section between Chicken and Eagle. It's narrower and more winding, with steep drop-offs, soft shoulders, and washboard, and it gets slick after heavy rain. It's not technical, but you have to slow down and watch for oncoming trucks on blind corners.
Where do I get fuel, and will I have cell service?
You'll have no cell service on the route, so download maps and tell someone your plan. Fill up in Tok before Tetlin Junction. Chicken and Eagle may have fuel, but hours are seasonal and unreliable, so treat a full tank and a spare jerry can as your plan A.
Trail track
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