White Pass and Yukon Route Road — Skagway to Carcross via White Pass Summit
Gold Rush ghosts on a 3,300-ft summit road.
In 1898, tens of thousands of stampeders hauled a year’s worth of supplies over this pass on foot. Today the South Klondike Highway (BC-2/Yukon 2) lets you drive it, but the history still hits hard at the summit cairns and Dead Horse Gulch viewpoint — where an estimated 3,000 horses died from exhaustion during the gold rush winter. Leaving Skagway, the road climbs 3,292 feet in under 15 miles through avalanche country and exposed switchbacks above the Skagway River gorge. The US-Canada border sits at the summit; from there the route descends into British Columbia’s high tundra before dropping into Carcross, a Yukon hamlet with deep First Nations history and one of the world’s smallest deserts — the Carcross Desert, a genuine dune field leftover from glacial Lake Bennett.
The pavement is in reasonable shape but the summit zone gets snow any month of the year, and winter crossings require serious preparation. This isn’t a technical 4×4 trail — a stock high-clearance vehicle handles it fine in summer — but altitude, weather, and remoteness demand respect. Fuel up in Skagway before departure; the next reliable stop is Carcross. No permit required, but customs clearance at the international border is mandatory. Drive it in late June through September for the best odds of clear skies. The views across the Skagway River canyon and into the Yukon backcountry are among the finest in the north.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 67 mi / 107.8 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3292 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 2WD (high-clearance preferred) |
| Nearest town | Skagway, Alaska |
| Land manager | BC Ministry of Transportation / Yukon Highways and Public Works / US Customs and Border Protection |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Yukon Highway Conditions Klondike Gold Rush NHP – NPS |
| Verified | |
| 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 2WD truck handle White Pass Road, or do I need 4WD?
A stock 2WD with decent ground clearance can manage this route in dry summer conditions — it's a maintained gravel highway, not a technical 4x4 trail. That said, high-clearance helps on rougher sections, and if you hit rain or early-season mud near the summit, 4WD becomes a real asset.
When does White Pass Road open and close for the season?
The route is generally passable June through September. Snow can linger at the 3,292-ft summit well into late May and return by October — sometimes earlier. Check Yukon highway conditions at dot.gov.yk.ca before you roll out, especially in shoulder months.
Do I need a passport and are there any permits or fees to drive this route?
Yes — you're crossing an international border (US into Canada) at White Pass Summit, so a valid passport is required for all travelers. No trail permit or fee is needed to drive the road itself, but standard Canadian customs rules apply — declare everything and know the rules on firearms, alcohol, and produce limits.
What's the hardest part of the drive and what should I actually expect?
The climb out of Skagway toward White Pass Summit is the most demanding stretch — steep switchbacks, sheer drop-offs with minimal guardrails, and exposure to sudden weather changes at elevation. It's not technical overlanding, but it demands attention; this isn't a road to zone out on.
Is there any gas between Skagway and Carcross, and how far is the total fuel run?
The route is 67 miles with no gas stations between Skagway and Carcross — fill up in Skagway before you leave and plan to top off in Carcross. Most rigs with a standard tank handle it fine, but if you're towing or running a thirsty rig, carry a jerry can as insurance.
Trail track
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