Dempster Highway — Blackstone River Valley Dispersed Camp

Pull off the Dempster Highway anywhere along the Blackstone River corridor between roughly kilometre 80 and 110 and you’ll find broad, flat gravel bars that have been used as informal camps since the highway opened in 1979. The Blackstone Plateau towers above you, the river runs cold and clear, and on a calm evening the reflections off the water are something else entirely. No facilities, no signage, no fee — just raw Yukon subarctic. Grizzly and caribou country, so hang your food or use a bear canister.

Access is directly off the Dempster, mostly flat gravel pull-outs. Road surface is maintained gravel but can be greasy and rutted after heavy rain. Season runs late May through September before freeze-up makes the river bars unreliable. Nearest fuel is Dawson City to the south or Eagle Plains to the north. Cell service is nonexistent out here — plan accordingly.

Gravel bars, cold river, zero crowds.