Windy Arm Mining Road — Carcross to Venus Silver Mine and Taku Arm Overlook
Silver rush ghosts above Windy Arm.
In the early 1900s, prospectors swarmed the ridges above Windy Arm chasing silver veins. The Venus Mine was one of the more productive operations in the Southern Lakes district, and the rough track that served it still climbs out of Carcross, pushing south and east above the lake’s narrow arm into the alpine. The route gains elevation fast off the Alaska Highway corridor, switchbacking up exposed shale slopes with expanding views of Windy Arm, Bennett Lake, and the jagged Boundary Ranges beyond. At roughly the 14-kilometre mark you reach the collapsed structures of the Venus Mine site — rusted ore buckets, tram cable fragments, and stone foundations half-buried in snowberry brush. The shelf road beyond the mine narrows to single-lane with significant drop-offs on the east-facing wall.
This is a high-clearance, technical route — the upper switchbacks above the mine require a capable 4WD with good articulation and ideally a locker on the front or rear. The surface is loose shale and hardpack with embedded rock. Do not attempt after rain; the exposed clay sections above the tree line become greased. Best window is late June through September. Carcross is your last fuel and food stop. No permits required but the mine site is on private/heritage claim land — respect it, don’t touch structures. Views from the Taku Arm overlook alone justify the drive.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 19 mi / 30.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5400 ft |
| Best season | Late June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD with lockers recommended |
| Nearest town | Carcross, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Government, Energy Mines and Resources |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| 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 Tacoma or 4Runner run Windy Arm Mining Road?
Not recommended. The upper sections have loose shale ledges, off-camber shelf road, and rocky switchbacks that want lockers or at minimum aggressive tires and a high-clearance lift. A stock rig risks getting stuck well short of the Venus Silver Mine with no one around to pull you out.
When does the trail actually open after winter?
Late June is the realistic window — snowpack above 4,000 ft hangs around well into early summer and the upper road turns to axle-deep mud during melt. September is your hard cutout; early snowfall can close the high sections fast and without warning this close to the sub-Arctic.
Do I need a permit to drive this trail or access the mine site?
No permit is currently required to drive the road. The mine area falls under Yukon Government Energy Mines and Resources jurisdiction — stay on established tracks, don't disturb structures or artifacts, and follow Yukon's standard backcountry rules for fires and waste.
What's the hardest section and what makes it genuinely dangerous?
The shelf road climb to the Taku Arm Overlook is the crux — narrow, exposed, with loose shale that breaks away at the edge and no guardrails. A slip here has serious consequences. Descending is often sketchier than climbing; if you're not comfortable with exposed shelf road with real exposure, turn around before you get there.
Is there any water or fuel between Carcross and the trail end?
Fill your tank and water containers in Carcross before you leave — there's no fuel on route and the 19-mile trail adds up fast with technical low-range driving. Streams exist on the lower sections but water quality at the mine site should be treated or avoided due to historic mining contamination.
Trail track
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