Ketza River Road — Faro to Ketza River Mine Country

The Ketza River Road branches south off the Campbell Highway near Faro and pushes deep into the Pelly Mountains toward the former Ketza River Mine, a gold operation that ran through the late 1980s and early 1990s. The route follows the Ketza River drainage through boreal spruce, open muskeg flats, and creek-cut terrain that demands constant attention. Several unbridged stream crossings — including a notable ford of the Ketza River itself — will test your axles early. The old mine infrastructure still sits out there, rusting quietly in the bush, and the road gets progressively rougher as you close in on it.

This is genuine backcountry Yukon — no services, no cell signal, and mud that swallows tires whole after rain. A high-clearance 4WD with a lift, all-terrain tires, and a full recovery kit is the minimum. Carry enough fuel for at least 200 km of round-trip mileage from Faro. Best run late June through August when the crossings are lower and the mud has firmed. The reward is total isolation, real Pelly Mountain scenery, and the particular satisfaction of reaching a mine ghost site that most Yukoners have never visited.