Dawson City to Boundary — Top of the World Connector Road
Ridge-top highway to the edge of the world.
You board the George Black Ferry at Dawson City — free of charge, runs on demand — and within minutes you’re climbing out of the Yukon River valley onto the spine of the Top of the World Highway (Yukon Highway 9). This connector section from the ferry landing west to the Poker Creek/Little Gold border crossing is one of the most exposed ridge drives on the continent. The road literally follows the top of a long mountain ridge, and on a clear day you can see into Alaska, into the Ogilvie Mountains, and back toward Dawson all at once. Watch for the sharp muddy switchbacks climbing out of the Fortymile River valley — that section chews up unprepared vehicles fast.
The road is maintained gravel, passable to most high-clearance vehicles in dry conditions, but two-wheel drive rigs will struggle when it rains. The clay surface turns greasy and rutted fast. The border crossing at Poker Creek operates limited hours — verify them before you go or you’ll camp at the border with no way through. Fuel at Dawson before you leave; there’s nothing useful between there and Chicken, Alaska. Best traveled mid-June through early September. Cell service is zero from ferry to border. It’s not technically brutal — it’s experientially unforgettable.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 79 mi / 127.1 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4265 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD dry / 4WD recommended wet |
| Nearest town | Dawson City, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | gov.yk.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock truck or SUV handle Top of the World Highway, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance truck or SUV is fine in dry conditions — this is a maintained gravel highway, not a rock-crawling trail. In wet conditions the clay surface turns greasy and 4WD becomes essential; low-slung 2WDs will struggle badly when it's muddy.
When is Top of the World Highway actually open and drivable?
The road typically opens in late May or June and closes by mid-October, depending on snowfall. June through September is the reliable window — spring breakup leaves it soft and rutted, and early fall snowstorms can shut it down fast at elevation.
Do I need any permits or pay any fees to drive this route?
No permit required and no road fee. The George Black Ferry crossing from Dawson City is free and operated by the Yukon government, but it runs on a schedule and shuts down seasonally — check gov.yk.ca for current ferry hours before you go.
What's the hardest section and what makes it sketch?
The exposed ridge sections after rain are the crux — the clay-gravel surface becomes slick enough to slide a vehicle toward unguarded drop-offs. There's no guardrail for most of the route, and if you go off the edge on the ridge spine, you're in serious trouble in a very remote place.
How far is it to the nearest gas from the Alaska border at Poker Creek, and is there anything on the route?
There is zero fuel on the route itself — Dawson City is your last reliable fill-up before the border, and the first gas on the Alaska side is in Tok, roughly 175 miles from Poker Creek. Fill up completely in Dawson City and carry extra if your rig drinks fuel.
Trail track
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