Tombstone Range Road — Dempster Highway to Grizzly Creek Trailhead
Subarctic spires and permafrost flats north of Dawson.
Tombstone Territorial Park sits 70 kilometres north of Dawson City along the Dempster Highway, and the side roads threading into the park’s interior give overlanders a taste of the subarctic that sticks with you. The primary access roads off the Dempster — including the track toward Grizzly Creek and the park visitor centre at kilometre 72 — cross tussock permafrost terrain, shallow braided creek channels, and loose shale sidehills with the Tombstone Range’s razor-edge spires overhead. The valley floor is classic Yukon river gravel, and in wet years the creek crossings bite hard even in July.
A stock high-clearance 4WD with good all-terrain tires handles the main Dempster portion, but the secondary spur tracks into the park reward a lifted rig with skid plates. Fuel up in Dawson City — services don’t exist on the Dempster north of town until Eagle Plains, 369 km out. Bear canisters and a bear banger are practical, not optional. Best season is late June through September, but early-season snow is real and the fall colours in late August are worth every muddy kilometre.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 18 mi / 29 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4265 ft |
| Best season | Late June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Dawson City, YT |
| Land manager | Yukon Parks (Tombstone Territorial Park) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | yukon.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Land Cruiser handle Tombstone Range Road without modifications?
Yes — a stock 4WD high-clearance rig is the minimum, and something like a 4Runner or 4x4 Tacoma will handle it fine. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rough sections and creek crossings, but factory clearance gets the job done if you pick your lines.
When does the road actually open, and is snow a real concern?
Late June through September is the reliable window. Snow can close or seriously deteriorate the road outside those months, and even in early June you can hit ice and frozen mud that makes sections impassable. Check current conditions with Yukon Parks before you commit.
Do you need a permit to drive in or camp in Tombstone Territorial Park?
No permit is required to drive the road, but if you're camping in designated sites within the park, you'll need a Yukon Parks camping reservation or to pay the nightly fee. Dispersed camping rules apply — check the Yukon Parks site for current zone restrictions since some areas near sensitive habitat are off-limits.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what should I actually expect?
The roughest stretch comes as you gain elevation toward the higher terrain — loose rock, embedded boulders, and rutted sections that punish low-slung rigs and worn tires. At moderate difficulty it's not a white-knuckle crawl, but one bad tire choice or a soft shoulder can ruin your day fast in this kind of remote.
There's zero cell service — how far is the nearest fuel and how should I plan for a breakdown this far out?
Dawson City is your last fuel stop before heading in, and it's roughly the nearest services — plan your fuel load accordingly for the 18-mile run plus your return. You're in genuine wilderness with no cell coverage, so a satellite communicator (InReach or SPOT) is not optional out here, it's just common sense.
Trail track
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