Moose Creek Mining Road — Dawson City to Moose Creek Airstrip and Gold Camps
Klondike bush country the tourists never see.
Punch north out of Dawson City and peel off the main Dempster corridor onto the Moose Creek drainage, a route that old-timers used to supply outlying placer claims deep in the Ogilvie foothills. The track crosses the Moose Creek several times — rocky, rutted crossings that punish low-slung rigs — and climbs through spruce-covered benches before opening onto the flat airstrip clearing that served bush pilots supplying the camps in the mid-20th century. Remnant sluice boxes and collapsed cabin frames are still visible off the main track. The road is unmaintained past the first few kilometres, and mid-section mudhole fields can swallow a truck to the running boards after rain.
Rated difficult. This is a high-clearance 4WD minimum route, and a locker on the rear axle is strongly recommended for the bog sections. Best window is July through early September. No permits, no services. Fuel in Dawson City before you leave. The Yukon River and Klondike placer country create unpredictable drainage patterns — always scout creek crossings on foot first. No cell service. Dispersed camping along creek benches is excellent and completely undisturbed.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 2480 ft |
| Best season | July–September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with rear locker recommended |
| Nearest town | Dawson City, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Government — Energy, Mines and Resources |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | yukon.ca |
| 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
Can a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner handle Moose Creek Mining Road, or do I need something more serious?
A stock high-clearance 4WD will struggle — a rear locker is strongly recommended, not optional. The trail cuts through active placer mining ground with rutted, soft sections, loose climbs, and creek crossings that will punish open diffs. A lifted Tacoma or 4Runner with a locker is in good shape; a bone-stock SUV is not.
When does this trail open and how long is it actually driveable each year?
July through September is the reliable window. Spring breakup leaves the ground saturated well into June, and early snowfall can close things down in October. Even in July, expect soft ground near creek crossings — the Yukon doesn't dry out fast.
Do I need a permit to drive Moose Creek Mining Road, and are there any restrictions around the active mining claims?
No trail permit is required, but this route passes through active and historic placer mining ground managed by Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources. Respect claim boundaries, don't disturb any equipment or workings, and check current access conditions with the Yukon government before heading out — miners have the right to restrict access across active claims.
What's the hardest section and what am I actually dealing with on it?
The creek crossings are where trips end prematurely — water depth and bottom conditions vary significantly with rainfall, and there's no bridge infrastructure out here. Beyond the crossings, expect deeply rutted mining road with no maintenance, off-camber shelf sections, and soft ground that will swallow a vehicle without lockers. Nobody is coming to pull you out — the nearest help is Dawson City, and you have zero cell service the entire route.
How far is the nearest fuel from the trailhead, and is 34 miles enough range to matter?
Dawson City is your last fuel stop before you head out — fill up there, no exceptions. The trail itself is 34 miles one way, so a round trip is nearly 70 miles of hard low-range driving that burns fuel fast. Carry a jerry can; the nearest pump after Dawson in any other direction is a very long, very empty drive.
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.