Bonnet Plume River Road — Tungsten Hills to Bonnet Plume Lake
Mackenzie foothills solitude, zero margin for error.
The Bonnet Plume drainage sits northeast of Mayo in the Mackenzie Mountains foothills, and getting there means grinding up unmaintained resource roads through spruce bog, glacial outwash flats, and river-cut gravel benches. The track branches off the North Canol Road corridor and pushes northeast toward Bonnet Plume Lake — a stretch of braided gravel crossings, downed timber sections, and soft shoulders that will swallow an overconfident rig before the halfway mark. The Bonnet Plume River itself is a Canadian Heritage River, and the valley walls close in hard once you’re past the initial plateau, rewarding patient drivers with sweeping views of the Wernecke Mountains.
This is genuine remote Yukon — no cell service, no rescue infrastructure, and no guarantee anyone else is on the road that week. A minimum of a lifted, skid-plated 4×4 with lockers and self-recovery gear is not optional. Bring enough fuel for 400 km of round-trip uncertainty. Best run late June through August when river levels drop enough to make crossings manageable. No formal permit required, but the land is co-managed with Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation — respect the land. What you get is complete solitude, pristine sub-arctic wilderness, and the kind of quiet that reminds you how small a truck really is.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 68 mi / 109.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4800 ft |
| Best season | Late June–August |
| Minimum vehicle | Lifted 4x4 with lockers and skid plates |
| Nearest town | Mayo, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Government / Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation |
| 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
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
What's the minimum rig to attempt this trail?
A lifted 4x4 with front and rear lockers, full skid plates, and at minimum 33-inch all-terrain tires. Stock trucks and SUVs have no business out here — the river crossings alone will stop an unmodified rig cold.
When does the trail actually open and close each year?
Late June through August is your window. Snow lingers in the Tungsten Hills well into June, and early fall storms can close the route by September. River levels are also highest during spring snowmelt — late July tends to be the sweet spot for lower crossing depths.
Do you need a permit or permission to drive this route?
No formal vehicle permit is required, but this route passes through Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation traditional territory — reaching out to their office in Mayo before you go is the right move, not a formality. No fees as of last update, but land management can change.
What's the hardest section and what makes it dangerous?
The river crossings along the Bonnet Plume are the crux — multiple unbridged crossings with rocky, uneven beds and current strong enough to push a vehicle off-line. One wrong line and you're swimming your rig in a drainage that nobody checks. Scout every crossing on foot before you commit.
How much fuel do you need to carry and is there any resupply?
There is zero fuel or resupply between Mayo and the trailhead or anywhere along the 68-mile route — carry enough fuel for the full run plus a substantial reserve for recovery situations, high-idle winching, and the drive back out. Mayo is your last stop for everything: fuel, food, and any mechanical issues.
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.