Dawson City to Eagle Plains — Old Dog Creek Mining Road
Ogilvie mud, moose, and zero cell signal.
North of Dawson City, before the Dempster swallows you whole, a web of old mining access roads branches east into the Ogilvie Mountains toward Dog Creek and the high benches above the Blackstone River drainage. This route traces one of those forgotten corridors — packed gravel giving way to raw clay, deep ruts carved by D9 Cats decades ago, and river crossings that swell fast in July. The Dog Creek valley itself is moose country through and through, and the views from the upper bench roads looking back toward the Klondike River watershed are the kind that make you stop the truck and just stand there.
This is a high-clearance 4WD route minimum, and a locked differential will earn its keep on the clay descents after rain. Mud tires are not optional. Best run late July through August when creek levels are manageable; spring runoff makes the lower crossings sketchy at best. Fuel up fully in Dawson — there is nothing between here and Eagle Plains on the Dempster. Cell service is zero from the moment you leave the highway. Carry a sat communicator, extra fuel, and at least two spare tires. What you get out of it is complete isolation in some of the most geologically raw terrain in the territory.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4200 ft |
| Best season | July-August |
| Minimum vehicle | Locked 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Dawson City, Yukon |
| Land manager | Government of Yukon — Energy, Mines and Resources |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need lockers?
Stock clearance isn't enough here — you need genuine high-clearance with at minimum a rear locker. The Ogilvie mud sections will swallow a stock rig whole, especially after rain. Skid plates and a recovery kit are not optional.
When does the Old Dog Creek Mining Road actually become passable, and how long is the window?
July through August is the reliable window — snowmelt keeps it sketchy into late June and fall freeze-thaw starts degrading conditions by September. Even in peak season, a single heavy rain can turn the clay sections into a mess that'll park you for hours.
Do I need any permits or special permissions to run this route through Yukon Crown land?
No permit is required for vehicle travel, but portions cross active and historic placer mining tenures managed by Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources — respect any posted claim boundaries and don't disturb mining infrastructure. Dispersed camping is permitted on Crown land with no fee.
What's the hardest section, and what should I actually expect to deal with?
The creek crossings mid-route are the crux — water depth and current vary dramatically with recent rainfall and you won't always know what you're dropping into. Expect soft cutbanks on the exits, boulder-strewn creek beds, and shelf road sections in the Ogilvie section that leave zero room for error with a wide rig.
How much fuel do I need, and is there any resupply between Dawson City and Eagle Plains?
There is zero fuel for the entire 109 km of trail — your only resupply is Eagle Plains Hotel at the end, which has gas but at remote Yukon prices. Leave Dawson City with a full tank plus meaningful jerry can reserves; fuel consumption will spike hard on the technical sections.
Trail track
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