Carcross Tagish Teslin Heritage Loop — Tagish Road to Johnson’s Crossing Cutoff
Southern Yukon's gold rush gravel loop.
Start in Carcross — a town with more history per square metre than most places in the territory — and head southeast on the Tagish Road, a well-maintained but lonely gravel corridor skirting the narrows between Nares Lake and Tagish Lake. The route crosses the Tagish River bridge, swings through the tiny community of Tagish, and eventually hooks up with the Alaska Highway near Johnson’s Crossing on the Teslin River. Along the way you pass former NWMP post sites, Tlingit fish camps on the Tagish River, and views across Marsh Lake that stretch to the Coast Mountains. The loop is roughly 230 km return via the Alaska Highway back to Whitehorse, and most of it can be run in a day if you don’t stop — but that would be a waste.
This is an easy to moderate gravel drive — a stock SUV handles it fine in summer. Surface is hard-packed gravel with some washboard on the Tagish Road section. Best season is May through October. No permit required. Gas at Carcross or Teslin — there’s nothing in between. The real value here is the pace: blue glacial lakes, Tlingit history, migratory bird habitat on Marsh Lake, and almost no traffic. A solid entry-level Yukon loop for rigs that haven’t been tested yet, or for crews who want to log miles without hammering their equipment.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2800 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 2WD with reasonable clearance |
| Nearest town | Carcross, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Highways and Public Works |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 2WD car handle this route, or do I need 4x4?
A stock 2WD with reasonable ground clearance — think Subaru Outback or pickup — handles this fine in dry conditions. The gravel is mostly maintained by Yukon Highways and Public Works. A lifted 4x4 is overkill; a low-clearance sedan is not worth the risk on the rougher sections.
When does this route open in spring and close in fall?
May through October is the reliable window. Spring breakup can leave soft, muddy sections into late April, and early snowfall can make the gravel greasy by late October. Check Yukon 511 (511.yukon.ca) for current road conditions before you roll out.
Do I need a permit to drive this route or camp along it?
No permit is required to drive the route — it runs on public roads managed by Yukon Highways and Public Works. Dispersed camping is allowed, but respect First Nations land boundaries in the area; some parcels are Carcross/Tagish First Nation territory, so stay on clearly public land and leave no trace.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
Nothing on this route qualifies as technically hard — it's 87 miles of gravel, not rock crawling. The Tagish Road section can have washboard and soft shoulders after rain, which is the closest thing to a challenge. Drive it like a back road, not a highway, and you'll be fine.
Is there anywhere to fuel up along the route, or do I need to top off in Carcross?
Fuel up before you leave Carcross or top off at Johnson's Crossing, which has a small lodge and fuel stop at the end of the loop. There is nothing in between, and cell service is spotty throughout, so don't rely on finding help if you run dry mid-route.
Trail track
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