Annie Lake Road — Whitehorse to Annie Lake and Canyon Creek Basin
Whitehorse's backyard — and most skip it.
Most overlanders blow through Whitehorse chasing the Dempster or the Top of the World, but Annie Lake Road is right there — an accessible, honest backcountry drive that starts just south of the city and works its way into the Canyon Creek basin through rolling spruce hills and wetland flats. The road surface is mixed gravel and clay, and the clay sections turn slick and treacherous when wet, with high-centred ruts from previous traffic hardened into axle-busting ridges when dry. Annie Lake itself sits at around 900 metres, clear and cold, surrounded by the kind of quiet you drove all the way up here for. Local pilots use the area; keep an eye out for aircraft on the lake in summer.
Rated moderate — this is an honest beginner-to-intermediate route. A stock 4WD with decent ground clearance handles it in dry conditions; wet conditions push it into difficult territory quickly. The road is roughly 30 km and does not require a permit. Best from June through September. Fuel in Whitehorse. Cell service drops out within the first several kilometres. There is a small territorial campsite at Annie Lake; dispersed camping on the surrounding Crown land is also an option. A solid shakedown route before heading north into more serious Yukon territory.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 19 mi / 30.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3020 ft |
| Best season | June–September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Whitehorse, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Government — Environment |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | yukon.ca |
| 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
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Annie Lake Road, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner handles it fine. The clay sections get slick when wet and there are a few rougher rocky stretches near Canyon Creek Basin, but nothing requiring suspension mods.
When does Annie Lake Road typically open and close each season?
June through September is the reliable window. The clay surface stays a muddy mess well into late May, and early snow can close the upper section by October — sometimes late September in a bad year.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp out here?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping on Yukon Government land is generally free and no reservation is needed — just follow the Yukon's Leave No Trace guidelines and don't camp within 100m of water.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The stretch approaching Canyon Creek Basin has the most sustained roughness — embedded rocks, off-camber shelf road, and creek crossings that can run higher in June snowmelt. Nothing technically extreme, but it'll rattle unsecured gear and punish low-clearance rigs.
Is there any cell service along the route, and how far is it from a gas station if something goes sideways?
Zero cell service once you leave the Whitehorse outskirts — plan accordingly and carry a satellite communicator. You're only about 30km from Whitehorse gas stations, but that's cold comfort with a broken axle, so carry a basic recovery kit.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.