Livingstone Creek to Scroggie Creek — Victoria Creek Mining Road
Gold-camp ghosts and creek-bottom mud.
West of Stewart Crossing, the Victoria Creek drainage sits in the heart of Yukon placer country — a tangle of creek-bottom tracks and bench roads that served active gold operations through much of the 20th century. The drive threads through spruce and willow flats, crossing Victoria Creek multiple times before climbing onto the benchlands where abandoned mining equipment rusts in the permafrost. The junction at Scroggie Creek is your landmark; from there the route opens into broader valley terrain with wide gravel bars and unobstructed views of the Ogilvie foothills to the north.
Expect soft creek-bottom crossings that can turn into wheel-sucking muck after heavy rain — this is not a road to attempt without a recovery kit and a buddy rig. High-clearance 4WD with aggressive all-terrain tires is the minimum; a locker helps on the steeper bench approaches. Fuel up in Stewart Crossing before you leave; there’s nothing out here. Best window is late June through August. No permit required, but cell service is nonexistent. The payoff is genuine gold-rush solitude and country that hasn’t changed much since the 1930s.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3200 ft |
| Best season | June-August |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Stewart Crossing, Yukon |
| Land manager | Yukon Government, Energy, Mines and Resources |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail, or do I need a lifted rig?
Stock high-clearance 4WD trucks can make it, but you'll earn it — creek-bottom ruts and soft mud sections will bottom out anything with less than 8–9 inches of clearance. Lockers are a serious advantage, not a luxury. A body lift or suspension lift gives you meaningful margin on the worst crossings.
When does this road actually become passable after winter, and is August still safe?
June through August is the window — snowmelt keeps the creek crossings dangerous into late May most years, and early September can bring early snowfall at elevation that turns the clay surfaces into grease. Late July is typically the sweet spot for both water levels and road condition.
Do I need any permits or fees to drive the Victoria Creek Mining Road?
No permit or fee is required to travel the road itself — it's managed by Yukon Energy, Mines and Resources as a mining access corridor. Active mining claims exist in the area, so stay on the road and out of any clearly marked claim infrastructure. Dispersed camping is permitted but respect active operations.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it dangerous?
The creek-bottom stretches near Scroggie Creek are where rigs get stuck — not from a single dramatic obstacle, but from extended soft mud and repeated shallow crossings that saturate your approach angles and hide subsurface voids left by old dredge work. The dredge-scarred ground doesn't drain the way natural creek bottoms do, so what looks firm can swallow a tire fast. Go slow and probe anything that looks off.
How far is the nearest fuel and should I carry extra gas for this run?
Stewart Crossing is your last reliable fuel stop, roughly 60–80 km from the trailhead depending on your approach — carry at least one full jerry can minimum. There is zero resupply on the trail, no cell service anywhere along the route, and self-recovery gear is non-negotiable this far out.
Trail track
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