Dalton Range Road — Pelly Crossing to Riddell River Highlands
Tundra benches and silence above the Pelly drainage.
Starting just east of Pelly Crossing on the Klondike Highway, this unmaintained track climbs away from the Yukon River lowlands and into the rolling uplands of the Selwyn Mountains foothills above the Riddell River. The route was cut for mineral exploration and still sees the occasional prospector rig, but mostly it’s you and the boreal. The Riddell River crossing — about 40 kilometres in — is shallow in late summer but can be a thigh-deep push in June. Above that crossing the road opens onto tundra benches with uninterrupted views toward the Pelly Mountains, and the silence is the kind that makes you check your ears.
The track is rutted and overgrown in sections, with alder brush closing in on both sides after the first 20 kilometres. A lifted 4×4 with skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a winch is the sensible choice — recovery points get used out here. No maintained facilities, no cell coverage, and no emergency services within a reasonable timeframe. Carry extra fuel; the round trip is longer than it looks on the map. Late June through August is optimal — the access spur off the Klondike Highway gets greasy in wet years. This is a quiet, underrated piece of Yukon backcountry that rewards the self-sufficient.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 61 mi / 98.2 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4300 ft |
| Best season | Late June-August |
| Minimum vehicle | Lifted 4WD with skid plates and winch |
| Nearest town | Pelly Crossing, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources |
| 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 pickup or SUV handle this trail, or do I need serious mods?
A stock rig won't cut it here. Minimum is a lifted 4WD with quality skid plates and a winch — the trail throws rutted climbs, soft tundra sections, and underbelly-scraping terrain across 61 miles of no-help-coming backcountry.
When does the trail actually open and close each year?
Late June through August is your window. Snow lingers into June at elevation and early September storms can shut it down fast — the tundra benches above 4,000 feet don't forgive shoulder-season gambles.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp out here?
No permit is currently required to drive or dispersed camp on Dalton Range Road — it falls under Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources management. Confirm current status before you go at yukon.ca, as mining-access roads in Yukon can have access changes tied to active claims.
What's the hardest section and what am I actually dealing with?
The climb onto the upper tundra benches in the Selwyn foothills is where rigs get sorted out — expect deeply rutted doubletrack, loose shale sidehills, and wet crossings that can get ugly after rain. If your recovery gear isn't rigged and ready before you leave Pelly Crossing, you're not ready for this trail.
How many water crossings are there, and can I get a realistic read on conditions before I launch?
There are multiple crossings off tributaries feeding the Pelly drainage — exact count and depth vary heavily by season and recent rainfall. There is zero cell service on the entire route, so talk to locals in Pelly Crossing before you leave — the community there knows current conditions better than any app will.
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.