Casino Trail Road — Dawson Range to Casino Creek Copper Project

The Casino Trail Road starts near Carmacks on the Klondike Highway and climbs relentlessly into the heart of the Dawson Range toward the Casino Creek copper-gold-molybdenum deposit — one of the largest undeveloped porphyry systems in North America. The route covers roughly 160 kilometres of resource road through boreal forest, river valley crossings, and exposed alpine terrain that will remind you exactly how alone you are. The Yukon River watershed drainages cut across the trail multiple times, and the road’s upper reaches sit above treeline in terrain where a breakdown isn’t a story you tell — it’s a survival situation. This is legitimate wilderness travel, not a Sunday drive.

The road is classed as a resource access road and is in varying states of maintenance depending on exploration activity at the time of travel — call ahead to Western Copper and Gold, the project operator, to check current conditions and avoid industrial traffic conflicts. A capable 4WD with high clearance, dual spares, recovery gear, and satellite communication is non-negotiable. No fuel, no services, no cell service from the Klondike Highway to the exploration camp and back. Best attempted July through August when creek crossings are post-runoff and the alpine sections are clear. Permit not required for road use, but notify someone of your itinerary before leaving pavement.